If your travels take you along the Ohio Turnpike, here's a closer look at all the changes after the multi-year modernization has finally taken effect.
BEREA, Ohio — After five years in the making, the Ohio Turnpike officially launched its new toll collection system as of 2 a.m. Wednesday.
TRAFFIC IN NORTHEAST OHIO:Check the map near you
“The modernization of the toll collection system has been a long, challenging, and complex project. But the moment we have anticipated -- following meticulous testing of the electronic tolling system over the past several months -- has arrived,” according to Ferzan M. Ahmed, P.E., executive director of the Ohio Turnpike Infrastructure Commission.
So what’s different?
“To accommodate all travelers on the 241-mile Ohio Turnpike -- designated as Interstate 80, I-90, and I-76 -- the new toll collection system will feature a combination of open road tolling lanes for E-ZPass customers and a gated exit system for non-E-ZPass customers who prefer to pay by cash or credit card,” according to the Turnpike’s site.
The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission launched its new toll collection system today, April 10, 2024. “The...
Posted by Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission onWednesday, April 10, 2024
Below is an outline as posted by the Ohio Turnpike of all the changes you can expect:
E-ZPASSENTRY AND EXIT GATES REMOVED AT 20 TOLL PLAZAS
Motorists entering the Ohio Turnpike with E-ZPass have been experiencing features of the new toll collection system since early 2023.
The first phase, which permanently opened the entry gates in all E-ZPass toll booth lanes, was successfully deployed at 20 interchanges from Toll Plaza 52 (Toledo Airport-Swanton) in Lucas County to Toll Plaza 209 (Warren) in Trumbull County. The exit gates in all dedicated E-ZPass lanes were opened.
More significantly, 127 lanes at these interchanges were upgraded with new electronic tolling components, including sensors and other equipment to read E-ZPasstransponders, and to classify vehicles by the number of axles and vehicle height.
Automated toll payment machines, which accept cash and credit cards, were installed at all 20 toll plaza interchanges as well as the four mainline toll plazas.
The lane conversion process also included the installation of message signs, which provide travelers with messages in the toll booth lanes when entering and exiting the toll road.
When driving through the toll booth lanes, even though the gates are up, motorists are reminded to always follow the posted 10 mph speed limit for their safety, the safety of other motorists, as well as the safety of Ohio Turnpike staff.
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NINE TOLL PLAZAS SHIFT TO TOLL FREE
Under the new toll collection system, nine toll plazas no longer charge tolls. These nine interchanges will still be accessible to motorists. Toll booths will no longer be staffed.
The following nine toll plaza interchanges have ceased toll collection, which means cash customers entering and exiting at these locations will no longer stop to take a toll ticket or pay a toll, and E-ZPass transponders will no longer be read:
- Toll Plaza 13 (Bryan-Montpelier) in Williams County
- Toll Plaza 25 (Archbold-Fayette) in Fulton County
- Toll Plaza 34 (Wauseon) in Fulton County
- Toll Plaza 39 (Delta-Lyons) in Fulton County
- Toll Plaza 215 (Lordstown-West) Trumbull County
- Toll Plaza 216 (Lordstown-East) in Trumbull County
- Toll Plaza 218 (Niles-Youngstown) in Mahoning County
- Toll Plaza 232 (Youngstown) in Mahoning County
- Toll Plaza 234 (Youngstown-Poland) in Mahoning County
The overhead signs on the gantry now read, “NO TOLL, KEEP MOVING.”
NEW WESTGATE TOLL PLAZA OPENS AT MILEPOST 4
As part of the new system, the old Westgate Toll Plaza at milepost 2 in Williams County has closed and the new Westgate Toll Plaza at milepost 4 in Williams County (near the Ohio/Indiana border) has opened.
E-ZPass and cash customers traveling in both eastbound and westbound directions through the new mainline toll plaza will be charged flat rate tolls.
E-ZPass customers can travel nonstop at highway speeds on the dedicated open road tolling lanes. Customers without an E-ZPass will be required to drive through the cash lanes on the right side of the plaza, stop, and pay their toll.
NO TOLLS FOR ALL EASTBOUND TRAVELERS AT EASTGATE TOLL PLAZA
As part of the new system, Eastgate Toll Plaza at milepost 239 in Mahoning County (near the Ohio/Pennsylvania border) has become a one direction flat rate toll plaza.
All customers traveling eastbound on the Ohio Turnpike will not be charged a toll at Eastgate Toll Plaza.
A flat rate toll will be assessed for both E-ZPass and cash/credit card customers traveling westbound through the renovated toll plaza.
RELATED: ODOT installing 'state-of-the-art technology' at 13 sites throughout Ohio in effort to reduce serious crashes: See which locations were selected
TWO NEW MAINLINE TOLL PLAZAS OPEN AT MILEPOSTS 49 AND 211
Two new plazas, Swanton Toll Plaza (milepost 49) in Lucas County and Newton Falls Toll Plaza (milepost 211) in Trumbull County, have opened as part of the new system. The two plazas are the new ends of the ticketed toll system.
E-ZPass customers can travel nonstop at highway speeds on the dedicated open road tolling lanes in both directions.
Customers without an E-ZPass traveling eastbound to Swanton Toll Plaza or westbound to Newton Falls Toll Plaza will be required to drive into the cash/credit card lanes on the right side of the plazas, stop, and take a ticket.
Customers without an E-ZPass traveling westbound to Swanton Toll Plaza or eastbound to Newton Falls Toll Plaza will be required to drive into the cash/credit card lanes on the right side of the plazas, stop, and pay their toll.
ADDITIONAL TOLL SCHEDULES BEGIN
Under the new system, additional toll schedules have gone into effect to account for:
- The change in the number of toll plazas from 31 to 24
- The new tolling points on the mainline at Swanton (milepost 49) and Newton Falls (milepost 211) toll plazas
- The flat rate tolls at Eastgate (milepost 4) and Westgate (milepost 239) toll plazas
The overall toll rate per mile traveled will not change at this time.
Click here for the additional toll schedules.
NEW CLASS 8 TOLL SCHEDULE
The commission’s new Class 8 toll schedule for long combination vehicles (LCV) more than 90-feet in length was implemented.
The current $12 per trip fee for LCVs was replaced by the new Class 8 toll schedule.
LCV configurations include a commercial truck pulling double or triple trailers.
VIDEO CAMERAS WILL CAPTURE LICENSE PLATE IMAGES
Video cameras to read license plates will identify customers who travel through an E-ZPass only lane when a valid E-ZPass transponder is not detected.
These customers will be handled as follows:
- E-ZPass customers who have listed their license plate(s) on a valid E-ZPass account will have their toll charged to their E-ZPass account at the new V-Toll rate, which is higher than the E-ZPass rate.
- All other customers will receive a mailed invoice for the new Unpaid Toll rate. Customers without an E-ZPass who mistakenly travel through an E-ZPasslane can pay their toll online. Customers will have 25 days to pay their toll once it is invoiced. If payment is not received within 30 days, a second invoice will be mailed with an additional $5 charge per unpaid toll. Customers who have not paid their toll after 90 days will be sent to collections and their vehicle registrations at the Ohio BMV will be blocked. Customers will not be permitted to register any vehicles or renew their license plates with the Ohio BMV until their past due tolls are paid.
TRAFFIC MONITORING EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON TOLL ROAD
Other new toll collection system related projects on the Ohio Turnpike include the installation of automated traffic recorders to count and determine vehicles by class, and weigh-in motion recorders to determine the weight of moving vehicles.
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If you don't currently use the E-ZPass system, the Ohio Turnpike says customers with passenger vehicles can save an average of about 33 percent on tolls within the state when compared to those who pay by cash or credit card.
E-ZPass is also accepted by tolling agencies in 18 other states.
Officials say the modernization of the toll collection system is the largest construction project in Ohio Turnpike history since its completion in October 1955.
Ahmed said the nearly $250 million cost to modernize the toll collection system has been completed within the planned budget. It was funded exclusively by toll revenue.
