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July 24, 2001

PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE ISSUES 100,000^th E-ZPASS TAG
Launches Promotional Program and Awards First E-ZPass Customer Care Package

Harrisburg (PA) July 24, 2001 – The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission today announced it has issued its 100,000^th E-ZPass tag, more than tripling the number of tags distributed since the Commission launched electronic toll collection on Dec. 2, 2000, surpassing enrollment goals.

James A. Mauger of Maheim, PA, received the 100,000th tag and was awarded an E-ZPass Customer Care Package. The E-ZPass Customer Care Package includes coupons for vendors along the Turnpike and other specialty items. As part of a new promotion, the package will be awarded to every 10,000^th customer to enroll in the program.

"Our customers love E-ZPass. They enjoy the convenience of paying tolls without cash or tickets. And E-ZPass has reduced congestion at some of our busiest interchanges saving our customers time, particularly during the morning and evening commute," said Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Executive Director John Durbin. "And now they have a chance to win an E-ZPass Customer Care Package simply by enrolling in the program."

During peak hours at some of the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s busiest interchanges more than 50 percent of customers – passenger vehicles only – are using E-ZPass. In April, 52 percent of customers exiting between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. at the Fort Washington interchange used E-ZPass. At the Philadelphia interchange, 51 percent of customers used E-ZPass, and at the Norristown and Valley Forge interchanges the average was 50 percent. (Note: peak hour statistics available upon request, see chart below for percentage of total traffic by interchange for May 2001)

An E-ZPass lane can process 4-to-5 times more cars per hour than a ticket lane. Nearly two million tolls were processed using E-ZPass in May, including Pennsylvania Turnpike and E-ZPass customers from surrounding states.

"As enrollment numbers continue to grow, we want to remind our customers to pay close attention to all signs, particularly at interchanges and in lanes with E-ZPass where the speed limit is 5-miles per hour," explained Durbin. "The safety of our employees and customers is of the utmost importance."

The Pennsylvania Turnpike recently expanded the E-ZPass program to include six additional exits, and plans to offer E-ZPass statewide by December 2001. Currently, E-ZPass is available to passenger vehicles only – no trucks or buses – between exits 16-Carlisle and 37-Wyoming Valley Toll Plaza on the northeastern extension. Passenger vehicles traveling between those interchanges represent 70 percent of all traffic on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

"We expect continued success as more customers enroll and our program expands," said Durbin. "If you don’t have E-ZPass I urge you to visit our website at www.paturnpike.com, call our customer service center at 1-877-PENN-PASS or ask for a brochure at an interchange. It just takes a few minutes to enroll."

E-ZPass, the convenient way for customers to pay tolls without stopping and fumbling for change or tickets, is being used by millions of people who travel up and down the Northeast corridor through Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and West Virginia.

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E-ZPass Customers as a Percentage of Total Non-Commercial Customers
Note: E-ZPass is not available to commercial vehicles - trucks and buses
 are not included in the E-ZPass or total customer figures.

May 2001

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 P.O. Box 67676, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7676         Phone: (717) 939-9551         Fax: (717) 986-9649