PA Turnpike Tolls To Be Raised By 5 Percent

PENNSYLVANIA —With more motorists driving again as the pandemic winds down, the Pennsylvania Turnpike is looking to get their financial status back on track.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission on Tuesday approved a $425.2 million operating budget and a $651 million capital budget, effective June 1. The turnpike also plans to raise tolls by 5 percent in 2023.

The commission unanimously approved the budget presented by Richard Dreher, chief financial officer.

The turnpike has been rebuilding the highway for a decade, including widening the lanes and adding more toll booths.

Locally, the turnpike is in the midst of the first phase of a $117.9 million project to wide a two-mile stretch of the turnpike at the Valley Forge Interchange at Route 422, Upper Merion Township to the Valley Forge overpass, Tredyffrin Township.

The new budget no longer includes an annual $400 million annual payment to PennDOT for public transit. The agency, however, is $14 billion in debt from borrowing to make payments to PennDOT for 12 years.

Dreher reported that the turnpike is ahead on revenues with $250 million left to spend in fiscal year 2022.

The turnpike was losing revenues when the pandemic hit in March 2021, laying off 500 toll collectors and speeding up the installation of a cashless system.

There was also a reduction in payment to state police, unemployment and retirement costs since the pandemic hit.

The commission is expected to raise tolls again by 5% in 2023.