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January 02, 2025 News Release

PA Turnpike Ready to Flip the Switch to Open Road Tolling


PA Turnpike Ready to Flip the Switch to Open Road Tolling 

ORT activates on eastern portion of system Sunday, along with new statewide rate classification

Middletown, Pa. —This weekend, the Pennsylvania Turnpike (PA Turnpike) brings the future of toll collection worldwide to the Commonwealth with its conversion to Open Road Tolling (ORT).  

The switch to ORT east of Reading and on the Northeast Extension will become active on Sunday, Jan. 5 at 12:01 a.m., along with a new statewide toll schedule that moves the PA Turnpike to a consistent per-mile rate and moves away from weight-based classification to Axle and Height under Automated Vehicle Classification (AVC). Gantry construction in the western section is currently underway ahead of the Jan. 2027 western launch.  

“The launch of Open Road Tolling is perhaps the most significant change since the Pennsylvania Turnpike opened in 1940 as ‘America’s First Superhighway’ and continues our legacy as a national leader in transportation,” said Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary and PA Turnpike Commission Chair Mike Carroll. “The future is now as we bring a safer and more efficient way for motorists to commute, safely transport freight and explore “The Great American Getaway” that is our Commonwealth.”  

In an ORT system, tolls are charged electronically as customers drive at highway speeds without slowing down or stopping beneath overhead structures — called gantries — located between interchanges. Equipment on the gantry and in the roadway processes E-ZPass or Toll By Plate transactions. ORT eliminates the confusion and lane switching associated with traditional, stop-and-go tolling. Removal of toll booths eliminates obstacles, increases sight lines for customers and ultimately reduces stress and distractions when entering and exiting the system.  

ORT allows for the addition of new access points at a significantly lower cost, paving the way for increased economic development and greater access to communities along the PA Turnpike. This helps promote and support tourism and recreation. New access and increased convenience mean freight will move more efficiently and enable the expansion of economic development to more communities.    

“For the past 15-years our team has been working tirelessly to make ORT a reality to further meet customers’ expectations for safe, convenient, and seamless travel,” said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton  “We strive to provide ‘best in class’ service to those who choose to travel the PA Turnpike, and ORT reiterates our commitment to meeting customer expectations for safe, seamless and nonstop travel.”  

Before Sunday’s launch, the PA Turnpike is encouraging customers to take the following steps to support a seamless transition:  

  • E-ZPass customers should properly mount their transponder at all times; 
  • Pre-registered Toll by Plate customers or E-ZPass customers should keep their vehicles, license plates and credit card information up-to-date on their accounts; 
  • Open an E-ZPass account to save 50% on your tolls and take advantage of the most cost-effective way to travel on the PA Turnpike.  

Customers may notice their bill will look different after the launch of ORT, as invoices will show each gantry a customer passes under during their trip. Until ORT fully launches statewide on the mainline Turnpike in Jan. 2027, tolls west of Reading where gantries are not yet operational will still be charged to a customer as an interchange-to-interchange trip like they were before.  

The PA Turnpike will begin removing toll plazas in the eastern sections later this year. The PA Turnpike will have invested a little more than $600 million over nearly two decades into the planning, design, civil infrastructure and new tolling system construction and demolition associated with ORT. This investment is expected to save the Commission at least $25 million per year in future maintenance and operating costs once the conversion program is complete.   

In preparation for Open Road Tolling, PA Turnpike Commissioners approved a new toll schedule that moves the PA Turnpike to a consistent per-mile rate. It also changes how vehicles are classified from weight-based to Axle and Height under Automated Vehicle Classification (AVC), which follows national standards for vehicle classification. Both changes increase predictability and consistency for our customers. Click here to read more about the 2025 toll schedule and AVC changes.  

While a 5% toll increase will also take effect that day, as part of scheduled, annual increases to pay off debt from Act 44, the changes with standardization and AVC classification change will result in nearly 50% of passenger car trips seeing a lower toll rate compared to what they paid prior to Jan. 5. About 84% of E-ZPass and 74% of Toll By Plate trips will see a toll cut or an increase of under $1 in 2025 and about 70% of commercial vehicles will see an increase of $5 or less. The standardization of rates and the move to AVC will not result in additional revenues for the PA Turnpike beyond the 5% increase associated with our Act 44 financial plan, and the toll schedule keeps the PA Turnpike’s rates at mid-range among tolling agencies across the country.  

See 2025 rates and calculate the cost for your route along the PA Turnpike with our Toll Calculator.  

A national transportation leader, the Pennsylvania Turnpike (PA Turnpike) is the second largest tolling facility in the United States with the most miles. The PA Turnpike proudly supports safety and convenience for its more than 550,000 daily customers through 24-7 roadside assistance, round-the-clock food and fuel at 17 service plazas and a dedicated maintenance force and State Police Troop. The PA Turnpike’s approximately 1,400-person local workforce is unified in its mission; to operate a safe, reliable, customer-valued toll road system that supports national mobility and commerce. For more information about the PA Turnpike’s mission, vision and values, please visit Home | PA Turnpike.

 

Media Attachments: 

Video: Soundbites from CEO Mark Compton, Gantry/E-ZPass video (Download link in ⓘ information tab) 

Pictures: Still images of gantry locations 

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Media Contacts:

Marissa Orbanek, Press Secretary: (267) 408-5151, morbanek@paturnpike.com 

Crispin Havener, Assistant Press Secretary: (717) 870-2841, chavener@paturnpike.com