TRAFFIC

The Pa. Turnpike keeps increasing tolls, and now it's under review amid 'grave concerns'

Katie Meyer
witf Capitol Bureau Chief
Pennsylvania Turnpike

The beleaguered Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is under review for the second time in less than two years.

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale acknowledged, it's unusual for him to audit an agency twice in such a short time.

But he said he has "grave concerns" about the turnpike's practice of repeatedly raising tolls, largely to pay for its $450 million-a-year obligation to PennDOT. The latest toll hike goes into effect Sunday — a 6-percent increase.

The Turnpike Commission also pays hundreds of millions in debt-service on the money it borrows to make those payments.

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The money goes toward things like public transportation.

"What we want to analyze is their belief...that despite the increase in tolls, they'll have increased traffic," DePasquale said. "Because the concern is, you increase tolls to the point where you actually start losing revenue."

He said his office is also trying to get an accurate estimate of the commission's debt load, and will review its process for awarding construction contracts as well.

Meanwhile, a six percent toll increase is going into effect this weekend -- the tenth hike in as many years.

Toll prices have more than doubled since 2009.

Under the new-for-2018 fares, it will cost $47.55, in cash, to get from Neshaminy Falls — the easternmost start of the mainline's tolls — to Warrendale — the final toll plaza in the west.

E-Z Pass rates remain significantly lower: $34.07 to cross the state.

In a July news release, the Turnpike Commission estimated "the most common toll for a passenger vehicle will increase next year from $1.23 to $1.30 for E-ZPass customers and from $1.95 to $2.10 for cash customers."

This story was published as part of a partnership between witf and the York Daily Record and partners. Joel Shannon contributed to this report.