The Pennsylvania Turnpike (PA Turnpike) brings the future of toll collection worldwide to the Commonwealth with its conversion to Open Road Tolling (ORT) as the switch to ORT east of Reading and on the Northeast Extension will become active on Sunday, January 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.
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.
Full details are available at https://www.paturnpike.com/news/details/2025/01/02/pa-turnpike-ready-to-flip-the-switch-to-open-road-tolling
