Turnpike toll rates to rise 5% in 2023

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission approved a 5% toll increase next year for all E-ZPass and Toll By Plate customers that will take effect Jan. 8, 2023.

The most common toll for a passenger vehicle will climb from $1.70 to $1.80 for E-ZPass customers and from $4.10 to $4.40 for Toll By Plate customers. For a Class-5 tractor trailer, the most common toll will rise from $13.70 to $14.40 for E-ZPass and from $28 to $29.40 for Toll By Plate.

“The PTC has been forced to increase tolls annually through the foreseeable future to meets its financial obligations under Act 44 of 2007,” Turnpike Commission Chairman Mark Compton said in a release. “It’s worth noting that, even with these ongoing annual increases, our per-mile toll rate continues to be below the midline compared with rates of other U.S. tolling agencies.”

In the 15 years since Act 44 went into effect, the Turnpike has transferred nearly $8 billion to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the vast majority of which was in the form of borrowing (issuance of bond debt) that must be repaid by the Turnpike Commission over 30 years.

“As an organization, I am proud of the fact that we work hard to manage the debt placed upon us by making prudent borrowing decisions and restricting operating-budget growth,” Compton said. “While we are now essentially free from this onerous Act 44 commitment, we must continue to honor the debt-service obligations for 30 years. But a measure of relief is under way, and motorists can expect the level of increases to ease in a few years.”

Based on traffic and revenue projections, the Turnpike Commission’s plan calls for toll increases of 5% through 2025, 4% in 2026, 3.5% in 2027 and 3% annually from 2028 to 2050.

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer