A new bill would address Pennsylvania turnpike toll rate signage

Audio By Carbonatix

(The Center Square) – A proposal introduced by a Democrat serving in the state House aims to make changes to signage on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

“How much a customer will be charged should never be a mystery or come as a surprise,” state Rep. Joe Ciresi of Montgomery County wrote in a co-sponsorship memo released on Monday. “This should also be true for the Pennsylvania Turnpike, where drivers currently have no information available while they’re driving about how much their trip will cost.” 

“Motorists should have clear, readily visible information about the toll they will be charged, particularly because tolls are determined by vehicle classification, including axle count and, for certain tolls, vehicle height,” Ciresi continued.

The lawmaker said he plans to introduce legislation which would require the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to install and maintain standardized signage at each toll road entrance and at appropriate intervals displaying the applicable rates for each vehicle classification in a manner, he said, is “readily visible and understandable to motorists.”

While this legislation has not yet been formally introduced, it is not the first time Ciresi has proposed reforms to the Pennsylvania Turnpike. 

Last year, he introduced legislation that would give customers six months to appeal video tolls posted to their accounts. 

“This change would give drivers more time to notice problems and file timely appeals, instead of leaving them stuck with excessive fees that can’t be corrected,” Ciresi explained.

That proposal, House Bill 1916, has a total of nine co-sponsors, including one Republican. It was referred to the House Transportation Committee while it awaits further action.

Ciresi serves as chair of the House Communications & Technology Committee.

In July, the Pennsylvania Turnpike announced a 3.5% toll rate increase, effective Jan. 3, 2027, in accordance with Act 44.

The 3.5% increase is the lowest rate increase since 2014, falls below the current national inflation rate, and will be used to repay Act 44 debt service, according to the Pennsylvania Turnpike. 

Act 44 debt service, which passed in 2007, drives the annual toll increases and is used to help fund highways, bridges and public transportation across the state, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

The tolls, which are calculated per segment and distance traveled across the entire system, will increase the per-mile rate from $.073 to $.075 and the segment fee from $1.13 to $1.17. Toll rates will round up to the nearest penny. 

On all other extensions, where the tolling infrastructure doesn't support a per-segment and distance traveled rate, the Act 44 increase will be a straight 3.5% increase to existing trips, according to the Pennsylvania Turnpike.