Significant Pennsylvania Turnpike toll hike now in effect

Drivers using the Pennsylvania Turnpike should expect to pay more in toll fees in 2022.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) implemented a 5% toll increase for both E-ZPass and Toll By Plate customers traveling on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, effective at 12:01 a.m. on January 2, 2022.

The toll increase will be effective on the entirety of the Turnpike except for the Southern Beltway (PA Turnpike 576) west of Pittsburgh.

According to the PTC, the most common toll for a Class-5 tractor trailer will increase from $13 to $13.70 for E-ZPass and from $26.60 to $28 for Toll By Plate users.

While PA Turnpike tolls are going up for the 14th year in a row, the PTC says that the rate increase is lower than in years past because the agency owes less money to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) this year.

The PTC has been required to make a $450 million annual payment to PennDOT under 2007’s Act 44. However, starting next year, the PTC will only be required to pay PennDOT $50 million per year, with $400 million of funding to come from the Commonwealth’s Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax.

“Today’s action is the first time in six years that the rate of increase is under 6%,” explained PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “Starting in July 2022, our transit funding requirement to PennDOT under Act 44 of 2007 will be cut to $50 million annually. Finally, we are seeing a light at the end of this very long tunnel. In addition to breathing a huge sigh of relief ourselves, it enables us to begin to offer some relief to customers from those heftier toll increases and refocus on essential improvements to our roadway.”

The PTC has made payments to PennDOT since 2007 and has increased the toll rates every year since 2009 in order to make the payments. During that 14 year period, the PTC has paid PennDOT $7.45 billion in toll-backed funding.

You can click here to access a PA Turnpike toll calculator for more info on how much you can expect to pay.