If you have driven on the Pennsylvania Turnpike lately, you may have noticed large overhead structures along the highway.
These are part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s new tolling system, Open Road Tolling (ORT), in which tolls are charged electronically as customers drive at highway speeds without slowing down or stopping. These structures, called gantries, can process E-ZPass or Toll-By-Plate transactions, and beyond mounting an E-ZPass transponder, customers will not need to do anything differently.
According to officials, ORT allows for the addition of new access points at a lower cost paving the way for increased economic development. It is also designed to eliminate distractions while driving, specifically lane switching associated with stop-and-go tolling.
“We’ve already seen a significant reduction of accidents at locations where we’ve transitioned from traditional toll plazas and look forward to that continuing across our system as we implement Open Road Tolling,” said PA Turnpike COO Craig Shuey.
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission officials add that non-stop travel also means lower emissions, less fuel use, and a cleaner environment. The removal of current toll booths and additional infrastructure at interchanges will see the return of green space. Old toll plazas will be removed in 2025.
“Open Road Tolling is the most significant innovation for our customers, our employees, our roadway and the Commonwealth in our 85-year history,” said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton, adding that it “increases access and mobility across the Commonwealth, promotes safety and reliability and better supports our environment.”
For more information on Open Road Tolling, including a map of gantry locations, visit paturnpike.com
