The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) is currently being sued over excessive tolls as well as money being diverted for non-Turnpike uses. Despite that, the PTC has announced that they will be increasing tolls by 6% in 2019. This will mark the 11th straight year of toll increases.
According to the PTC website, an average fare for a passenger vehicle will go up to $1.38 for E-ZPass users and $2.25 for those paying cash. Truckers meanwhile will be paying an average fare of $3.66 using E-ZPass and $16.30 using cash. Toll hikes will go into effect on January 6th, 2019.
A federal lawsuit filed by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) and the National Motorists Association is asking for almost $6 billion in toll revenue to be returned. They claim that the tolls are unconstitutional since money being collected from the Turnpike tolls is being used for other programs like public transportation. The lawsuit claims this is an unconstitutional bar on interstate commerce.
It’s not just trucking groups that are fed up with the tolls. Commuters are getting tired of the constant rate increases as well, claiming that they’ll find alternate routes to use instead. If true, this could be mean more traffic headed to smaller roadways not designed to accommodate it, leading to potentially unsafe driving conditions.
Even the Pennsylvania Auditor General, Eugene DePasquale, is fed up with the PTC. He’s currently doing an audit of PennDOT and the PTC. He previously found that PTC was giving PennDOT around $450 million per year to help pay for public transit.
“As my previous audit and my 2013 special report requested by House Speaker Mike Turzai predicted, until legislators in Harrisburg address the $450 million payment the Turnpike must make to PennDOT annually, tolls are going to continue to rise,” he said. “If they keep raising tolls, middle-class families are going to be forced off the roadway.”
Source: PTC, PTC, phillyvoice, nbc, pittsburgh, wjactv, triblive
Andrew H says
I’ll have to agree here. Money from the tolls is required to be used for turnpike purposes only. Like maybe more pulloffs and places for trucks to park at night, and fixing those potholes, holy cow.
Andrew H says
Plus the Mackinac Bridge toll hasn’t been raised since 2012, and they’re doing decent from what I’ve heard. I know one suspension bridge is far less than the scope of an entire turnpike, but still…
Jon says
A bridge in Michigan compared to PA Pike ? Really ?
Michigan NEEDS TO FIX THEIR HWYs ! My mud flaps would only last 2 – 3 months in MI.
PA needs to deal with Big Truck Parking and their potholes. Not subsidized the commuter non-driving public with Highway freight tolls.
Joe kola says
Jon, Andrew used the Mackinac bridge, only as a comparison of toll increase frequency. At it isnt “just a bridge” in Michigan. You may want to google it to see what it is. Also check out it’s maintenance program. If this were a pissing contest, you would have lost. But… if it were a jumping contest, you would surely win. Excellent job of jumping to conclusions.
Bill C says
As well as stretches of poor road way transitions between road and bridge surfaces and fixing the already bumpy new sections that we’re very poorly built even though the contractors were fully compensated. PA has become a laughing stock for roadways.
Robert L West says
The last 3 increases in the PA fuel tax has gone for Mass transit. Of which is the highest in North America at 74 cents per gallon. Oregon still leads the way at .2048 cents per Mile to run in the state.
The one thing they have in common is they are both run by tax and spend liberals
Bob says
Pa is a republican state that voted for trump. Nice try blaming liberals though!
Rodney Renninger says
The governor, Tom Wolf, is a democrat!
Terry says
Pa. is out of control tax wise,between the fuel tax and the tolls! The roads are some of worst in the country!
Robert says
FIRE the lot of them, problem solved.
James Monger says
if they aren’t doing the maintenance that needed on the road think about the two tunnels you go through on the turnpike.its a matter of time before they cave in and then what turnpike shut down until further notice.
James M. says
if they aren’t doing the maintenance that needed on the road just think about the two tunnels you go through on the turnpike.its a matter of time before they cave in and then what turnpike shut down until further notice.raise toll even higher to replace money spent to get out that mess.SAFETY FOR ALL TRAVELERS IS THE CONCERN.
Lady DOE says
WAKE UP PEOPLE JUST LOOK HOW BAD THE ROADS IS, THEY POCKET THE MONEY. THATS WHY THEY HAVE LARGE HOUSE AND HIGH DOLLARS CARS AND BEACH HOUSES AND SEND THERE KIDS TO THE BEST COLLEGS WITH UNLIMITED CREDIT CARDS. THEY GET RICH OFF THE POOR, THE MIDDLE PEOPLE WHO ARE CARRY THE COUNTRY ON THEIR SHOULDERS.
Iriemonarch says
Too many gullible stooges out here to not know the obvious !!!
GEO says
AS A TRUCKER I ALWAYS TRY TO AVOID THE TOOL ROADS , RAISING TOLLS WILL INCREASE TRAFFIC TO THE NON TOLL ROADS , I THINK ALL DRIVERS CAR DRIVERS AND TRUCKERS SHOULD BOYCOTT THE TOOL ROADS , PA GAS TAXES ARE THE SECOND HIGHEST IN THE NATION , ONLY CALIFORNIA IS HIGHER, AND PA HAS ONE OF THE WORST ROADS IN THE NATION , ENOUGH IS ENOUGH , I KNOW ONE THING ,
I AM NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR TOM WOLF IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION .
MrYowler says
Ifvwe did that, they would just build toll booths into the alternate routes to fund the then-necessary maintenance of them – and again divert the money for other purposes. The problem has to be addressed, not avoided.
Truck owner says
It’s a scam…I work for a company with 100 tractor trailers… Our typical monthly invoice for the PA turnpike (keep in mind we run nationally not just local) is 20k plus a month.
Iron Horse and Wooden Men says
Just don’t use it whether 4 wheeler or truck and demand accountability then see how quick they change their tune. Don’t need to strike on these issues, just show them that we can make do and do without them until they can be reasonable.
Eric B says
Way easier said than done. There are not many options for big trucks and if a truck has a deadline, they cannot take back roads and hope to be on time.
??? says
Screw pa turnpike glad I no longer go up there
jack k says
Talking about a big rip off.Try going across the Chicago Skyway bridge.A average semi costs over $40.00.
Joshua Weiser says
I put a call into the governor and told them they will be forcing big trucks on to other roads and that 11 years in a row of toll hikes is crazy. I even said I don’t see why they needed to raise them again. All the woman did was say I will pass your concerns on to the governor
Sick of Tolls says
The turnpike commission doesn’t want to send the money to Harrisburg. It’s the Republican state legislature that is redirecting the money.
Stephen J Easton says
I don’t use the turnpike. The price is theft. There are other routes and I use them. That TP is a bad road full of horribly slow twists and turns. It could have been straightened but they chose not to. It is so expensive that any extra fuel money spent using I80 and dipping down through Harrisburg is easily offset. If you use the turnpike you are merely encouraging their behavior – don’t do it, avoid the damn thing.
Troglodyte says
Plenty of money for cops in Pa
Jim says
I refuse to vacation in o c Maryland due to the fact i have to take the pa turnpike to get there so pa is losing out on me going though there state spending my hard earned money on food and gas.upstate ny trucker.
D says
Ah who cares … We’re spineless, do whatever.
Randy says
Stay off the pa turn pike
dan says
Seems to me they are simply attempting to subvert the right to transit by way of placing a financial burden on anyone that needs to get from point A to point B.
50 bucks to travel 50 miles eats up all profit that would be gained on that stretch of road.
No wonder nobody wants to travel the east coast.
Good rates going in, crap going out, unless you happen to be a company or driver based on the east coast, then they get prime rates.
Let them come and get their own goods.
There are other, better fish to fry on the west side of the Appalachians, and less traffic.
NotStormrider says
I hope they keep raising it. Nobody will do anything about it. Just bend over folks. It’s what truckers do.