PA Turnpike Activates Cashless Tolling on Findlay Connector (Toll 576)

HARRISBURG, PA – The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) is reminding motorists the Findlay Connector (Toll 576) in Allegheny and Washington counties has now been converted to a cashless tolling system.

Cashless Tolling allows customers to pay without stopping at the Findlay Connector’s six on/off ramp toll plazas, which will start being removed this week. Trips that were once tolled between Exits 1-2 and Exits 4-6 are now free. It’s only when vehicles pass under the overhead gantry located at milepost 2.6 on the Findlay Connector that tolls will be assessed electronically.

Customers in this area must pay tolls using E-ZPass or PA Turnpike TOLL BY PLATE. E-ZPass customers will have their toll deducted from their pre-paid account as usual. Customers without E-ZPass will receive a PA Turnpike TOLL-BY-PLATE invoice.

“Tolling agencies across the country are introducing cashless systems and we owe it to customers to continue to use the best technology available in every facet of our operations,” said PTC CEO Mark Compton. “At the same time, our system is somewhat unique, and we want to be sure that the technology makes sense for our customers and operations.”

Compton noted that the PTC is committed to a series of staged cashless pilot projects. This approach ensures that the system will be tested under different circumstances.

With the Findlay Connector conversion, the Turnpike will operate four cashless tolling pilot locations. Last month, it converted the Keyser Avenue and Clarks Summit tolling points on the Northeastern Extension. Last spring, it converted the Beaver Valley Expressway (Toll 376). In January 2016, it opened a cashless tolling point near the Turnpike Bridge over the Delaware River at the New Jersey border. The PTC assured employees there will be no layoffs with the pilot projects.

Vehicle Classification System Upgrade

As part of the upgrades on the Findlay Connector, the PTC replaced its axle and weight-based vehicle classification system with a new axle and height-based system. This system is currently used by other tolling agencies such as in New York and Ohio, and offers improved accuracy, efficiency and predictability.

The axle/height system will detect the number of axles and height between the first two axles to assess the toll; vehicles under 7.5 feet are considered low profile (“L” designation) while those over 7.5 feet are considered high profile (“H” designation).

Along with the classification changes, Findlay Connector drivers will see new toll rates. The new rates reflect an increase implemented on most other PA Turnpike sections in January. Findlay Connector rates did not increase at that time and have not increased in more than five years. The new rates are available at the Turnpike’s online toll calculator. Visit https://www.paturnpike.com/toll/tollmileage.aspx.

For more information on the project, including a cashless tolling video, visit www.nocashzone.com.

CONTACT:
Renee Vid Colborn
Phone: 724.755.5260
Rosanne Placey
Phone: 717.675.4362