MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — Open road tolling (ORT) will begin along Pennsylvania's Turnpike Eastern and Northeast extension starting in 2025, The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) announced.
ORT is a cashless free-flowing method of collecting tolls without booths by charging drivers electronically. Sensors attached to metal overhead structures, called gantries, will scan drivers E-ZPass readers to charge them.
The PTC claims implementing ORTs will have many benefits, some of which are improving access, safety, mobility and sustainability.
Access
As toll booths are taken down, it is projected about 100 acres will be restored. This will allow the PTC to build new connections with existing interchanges to allow more adjacent communities to use the turnpike. The PTC has also set up a system for those without credit cards, bank accounts and cash-payment preferences to use the turnpike by using the KUBRA network available in convenience stores to pay.
Safety
The removal of toll booths will allow drivers to keep driving at highway speeds through the gantries, thereby reducing the confusion of switching lanes and stop-and-go tolling.
Mobility
With more access points and drivers being able to keep highway speeds thereby reducing congestion, this allows for more timely and efficient trips.
Sustainability
With the removal of toll booths, less land will be used to construct new access points. In addition, about 100 acres will be restored. Furthermore, with traffic flowing more and less vehicle idling, ORT is projected to bring down CO2 emissions by 7%, or 11-ton-per-year, according to PTC.
The project, headed by Senior Project Manager Steve Brouse is broken down into several phases and will cover all 564 miles of the Turnpike. It is expected to be fully completed in January 2027.
