HARRISBURG (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - For over 10 years, the Pennsylvania has increased tolls and 2021 will be no different.
Pennsylvania Turnpike motorists who don't use EZ Pass will get a surprise in the mail starting next year.
For years, turnpike drivers who don't use EZ Pass have paid more.
Starting in January, more will be an average 45 percent surcharged billed by mail along with the toll.
The Turnpike Commission on Tuesday approved a 6 percent toll hike for EZ Pass and Toll by Plate motorists starting January 2.
In May, the commission eliminated cash and credit card payments.
Exempt from the surcharge are pay by plate locations set before this year including the Beaver Valley Expressway, Greensburg Bypass and Southern Beltway.
By legislative mandate, $450 million a year of funds collected by the Turnpike must be paid to PennDOT and almost all of that goes to fund public transit.
There are reports that the commission wants the legislature to reduce that number to $50 million, but there has yet to be any action taken.
"The primary driver of the annual toll-rate increases continues to be our quarterly transit payments to PennDOT and the resulting debt service that comes along with the legislatively mandated funding obligation," said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. "As a result, the PA Turnpike has delivered almost $7 billion in funding to PennDOT in the last decade, primarily to support mass-transit operations in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh."
___Listen to KDKA Radio on the RADIO.COM AppTell your smart speaker to "play News Radio 10 20 KDKA"Receive email updates from KDKA RadioFollow KDKA Radio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
