The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission’s new toll collection system has gone live on a 241-mile route comprising Interstate 80, I-90 and I-76.
The $250 million construction project, funded by toll revenue, is the largest in Ohio Turnpike's history and includes upgrades to electronic tolling in some places and new message signs for motorists.
The system now features a combination of open-road tolling lanes for E-ZPass customers and a gated exit system for non-E-ZPass customers who can pay by cash or credit card.
E-ZPass entry and exit gates have been removed at 20 toll plazas. In 2023, combined E-ZPass use on the network by car and truck customers was 74.1%, a rise of 0.7% from 2022.
Nine toll plazas no longer charge tolls, which means cash customers don't have to stop to get a ticket or pay a toll, and E-ZPass transponders will no longer be read. Overhead signs on the gantry now read: “NO TOLL, KEEP MOVING.”
This modernisation has been five years in the making; the first contract was approved in 2019. The first phase of the project, which permanently opened the entry gates in all E-ZPass toll booth lanes, was 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.
At these interchanges, 127 lanes were upgraded with new electronic tolling components, including sensors and other equipment to read E-ZPass transponders, 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.
Two new plazas, Swanton Toll Plaza (milepost 49) in Lucas County and Newton Falls Toll Plaza (milepost 211) in Trumbull County, have opened, forming the new ends of the ticketed toll system.
E-ZPass customers can travel non-stop at highway speeds on the dedicated open-road tolling lanes in both directions.
“The modernisation of the toll collection system has been a long, challenging and complex project," said Ohio Turnpike executive director Ferzan Ahmed.
“The launch of the new toll collection system, which includes open-road tolling, the removal of all gates in E-ZPass entrance and exit lanes, and enhancements to our customer service centre, and more, are significant milestones."
Ahmed emphasised the economic benefits of modernisation. "The local, regional and national economic benefits of our top-performing facility will be immense for our commuters, travellers, as well as the commercial freight industry," he said.
“In the coming weeks and months, we will continue to monitor the performance of the new system, and close out various projects as they are completed.”
