Made that mistake once, now I stay away from 30 coming into Philly. That road is small, full of lights, goes right through major towns, and is not made for long travel.
Yep. 76 is the only real east west choice you have in PA if you actually wish to travel long distances and not take forever. The other option is 80, which is not tolled, but is further north and generally in horrific repair and out of the way to most folks end points on their long trips.
Every time tolls go up, you get this outcry, yet every year the turnpike has more traffic than the year before. Short distancers and commuters certainly can go an exit or two without using it, but that’s not the bulk of the Turnpike’s revenue and the state knows it.
I completely agree the turnpikes tolls, if not the, are among the highest in the nation per mile, but I also know that it isn’t going to matter, folks will still use it because it is the absolute best choice to get east and west in a state that is 360 miles across.
Some people will change their travel patterns, but they are more than made up for by new users of the turnpike from general traffic growth. Like it or not, the Turnpike is the east west corridore from the entire NYC,NJ and even DC area to Ohio, and no other route exists that is going to get you there as quickly or conviently.
Avoiding the turnpike can be done, but that “moral” victory will costs you far far more time than the $20 or $30 you will save.