https://www.ohioturnpike.org/about-us/toll-collection-system-modernization

Ohio Turnpike Prepares to Launch New Toll Collection System: Here’s How It Will Work

BEREA, Ohio (March 22, 2024) – The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission’s new toll collection system, which started as a vision and a study in 2016, is nearing the final stages of completion. The switch to the new system – which began last year – will be phased in gradually over the next several weeks.

To accommodate all travelers on the 241-mile Ohio Turnpike – designated as I-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.

In 2023, combined E-ZPass use by the Ohio Turnpike’s passenger vehicle and commercial truck customers was 74.1%, up 0.7% from 2022.

The modernization of the toll collection system is the largest construction project in Ohio Turnpike history since its completion in October 1955.

E-ZPASS ENTRY 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.

More significantly, 127 lanes at these interchanges 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.

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 the new system goes live, following the completion of testing, the exit gates in all dedicated E-ZPass lanes from Toll Plaza 52 to Toll Plaza 209 will be opened.

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.

NINE TOLL PLAZAS WILL BECOME NON-TOLLED

As part of the new toll collection system, nine toll plazas will become non-tolled. These nine interchanges will still be accessible, but there will be no toll collection staff on site.

The following nine toll plaza interchanges will cease 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; and
Toll Plaza 234 (Youngstown-Poland) in Mahoning County.
The overhead signs on the gantry will read, “NO TOLL, KEEP MOVING.”

NEW WESTGATE TOLL PLAZA OPENS AT MILEPOST 4

When the new system goes live, the current Westgate Toll Plaza at milepost 2 in Williams County will close and the new Westgate Toll Plaza at milepost 4 in Williams County (near the Ohio/Indiana border) will open.

New flat rate tolls will be assessed for both E-ZPass and cash customers traveling in both eastbound and westbound directions through the new mainline toll plaza.

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) will 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.

New flat rate tolls will be assessed for both E-ZPass and cash/credit card customers traveling westbound through the renovated toll plaza.

TWO NEW MAINLINE TOLL PLAZAS WILL 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, will open as part of the new system. The two plazas will be the new ends of the ticketed toll system.

E-ZPass customers will be able to 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

When the new system goes live, additional toll schedules will go 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; and
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 will be implemented when the new toll collection system goes live.

The current $12 per trip fee for LCVs will be replaced by the new Class 8 toll schedule.

LCV configurations include a commercial truck pulling double or triple trailers.

CAMERAS WILL CAPTURE LICENSE PLATE IMAGES

Cameras to read license plates will be used to 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-ZPass lane 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.

BENEFITS OF E-ZPASS

E-ZPass customers will continue to save money on tolls and reduce their travel times.

E-ZPass customers with passenger vehicles (Class 1) can save an average of about 33% on Ohio Turnpike tolls compared to customers who pay by cash or credit card.

In addition, E-ZPass is accepted by tolling agencies in another 18 states.

E-ZPass toll rates are calculated and deducted electronically from prepaid account balances. To compare the savings on tolls with E-ZPass to tolls paid by cash or credit card, check out the Ohio Turnpike’s Fare Calculator.

SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY

The new toll collection system and the technology behind it are a big step forward in safety, efficiency, and convenience for the Ohio Turnpike’s passenger car and commercial truck customers to reach east and west destinations along the northern corridor of Ohio and beyond.

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More at the link

I read this as when (not if) their sensors have issues detecting your EZpass (there are plenty of issues currently), you aren't ticketed, but you get charged a higher rate automatically. Sounds like this is going to be a problem.

Wow. I'm glad I never have and probably never will use the Ohio Turnpike.

That happened to me in the Chicago area. It didn’t pick up my EZPass mounted on the windshield. I got a bill in the mail based on my plate for more than the EZPass rate. Dicks.

I probably should move the EZPass closer to the rear view mirror.

The electronic pass system was pretty flawless in Washington.

Make sure your account has money in it or you will get higher charges and fines

Make sure you remove all passes from cars you get rid of.

Out there-pay the extra 5 bucks for the turn on turn off pass to use hov lanes when high occupancy applies, dont see that coming here.



My only question everytime toll roads are discussed is, "When will the bond be paid off so they can remove all this shit".


Seems like this cost will be added to the original cost and they will never remove this charge. Glad I never ever go on the turnpike.

Seems like it's a lot of trouble for a road that was originally supposed to stop charging a toll.

Man, I remember my grandparents complaining about this in the 90s. My grandmother would complain about the tolls every time we got on (which was often as they raised/showed Labs and traveled the turnpike a lot to different dog shows) - "they were supposed to stop the tolls after X". I can't remember when or after how many years, but it surely got under her skin.

Now I complain and it helps me remember them...

Old rate $0.50 to cross from PA into OH and get off a few miles thereafter.

Now: $4.00. Fuck. That.

I deal with this... all the time. I have like... 200 ez pass units in the field. Everyone of my trucks, everyone of my sales vehicles, essentially nation wide.


Chicago is the worse to deal with, as they literally hire the handicapped to handle their ez pass / ipass stuff.


If you get a missed gate notice, there should be a website you can go on, put your ez pass account stuff in and it will fix the toll to the ez pass rate.

I think there is in Ohio

Idk about Illinois bc I won't go there.

Yes, an EZ Pass transponder with an active account bought in one state will(should) work in any state that accepts EZ Pass.

Justo place the computer screen privacy stuff over your plate.  Worked for me.  No issues and no fees

Can you recommend one?