Posted on 01/04/2009 8:15:34 PM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
People who use the Pennsylvania Turnpike will now have to shell out more cash for that privilege.
The toll fee for all drivers went up by 25 percent on Sunday, part of a plan that has been a long time in the making.
WFMZ's Jackie Shutack talked to drivers whose ire was raised, along with those tolls.
George Moyer/pittston: (gasps) "6 bucks -- it used to be to go down to Philly, now it's 8, that's ridiculous!"
Luke witts, jr.:quakertown: "It's going to be tough."
Ira goosay/scranton: "I thought the rate they had was pretty high."
Greg strus/quakertown: "We just went to visit my mom in Wilkes Barre - we paid $3.25 coming up, now we're paying $4.10 coming back, it's ridiculous."
Reporter: PennDOT officials explain the toll increase will help pay for repair projects.
Carl defebo/PennDOT: "90% of the monies from this increase, will be used by PennDOT to finance off turnpike road and bridge projects as well as mass transit operations across Pennsylvania."
Reporter: From exit to exit, passenger vehicle drivers will now pay 95 cents instead of 75 cents. Many drivers are now plotting alternate routes in order to avoid shelling out the extra cash.
"I've figured out ways around the turnpike---- to get down to Philly, there aren't too many ways around the turnpike."
Alice jones/maryland: "Probably not use the turnpike as much."
Watch their actual revenues fall WAY below projections.
I used the PA turnpike last week, but I can get to that destination another way.
so many alternatives - at least east of harrisburg. i definitely wont be taking the turnpike any more.
Toll hike? For what. The last time I went through there is was like paying to drive on a secondary road and a bad one at that!
The worst part is that the rest stops aren't great for that kind of money....
At least there is always I-68. :)
One of the consistently worst roads in the country.
They already collect an obscene amount of tolls and they still can’t maintain the road properly.
Parts of the PA Turnpike will be 70 years old next year.
And why would’nt we want to pay more for such great, smooth, well maintained...
(In my best Gilda Radner as Emily LaTella voice)...’never mind.’
Seriously...don’t know how the roads are on the eastern side of the state (don’t that way much) but coming in from OH...across the ‘Gateway’ (with that lovely banner of Fast Eddie Welcoming You To Pennsylvania) is amazing. OH Turnpike...smooth, well maintained...pot holes? What pot holes? Cross into PA WITH THE SAME WEATHER PATTERN...AND YES ITS FLAT AT THE WESTERN ENTRANCE and the road sux!!! Awful...in like less than three miles. Please...somebody who cashes a PENNDot paycheck splain that to me.
And it cost me 95 cents to go one friggin exit yesterday (needed to make good time). Rrrrrrrrr....
To drive the general public onto other routes...
outrageous...
Wasn't there a time when trucks weren't allowed on the turnpike?
Wait until inflation goes through the roof as the value of the dollar declines. People won’t have the money for these tolls.
Irwin to Monroeville (I had the car that we don’t have EZ Pass on...and I hate to have a second one).
I've never had the pleasure of driving I-68...
Rendell doesn't care about that.
Yah. They’re talking about new tolls on the Lake Washington bridges (includes I-90, the western terminus of Boston’s corrupt Big Dig). Not worried about it; I’ll just go and spend money in Seattle even less than I do now. I say let the locals support their infrastructure, I’m going to reduce my wear&tear on their “environment”...
ping
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