Community Forums

RickO · 06-28-2010, 07:29 PM

Ok, I'm a born and bred west coast guy but I was shocked today as I exited the Pennsylvania Turnpike and had to pay $43!! What the heck?

I had traveled from Gettysburg across the state so probably used nearly the entire length but holy smokes. Is this common in the east?

Can someone help me understand? I thought I was on Interstate 76 the entire way. Don't they receive the same federal tax dollars as other states? If so, well, you know the questions that follow.

If you can, please help me understand. If this is news to you, be forewarned.

RVThere · 06-28-2010, 07:36 PM

George Carlin once called NJ the 'toll booth capital of the world'!

Basically you can drive from the George Washington Bridge to the NJ Turnpike to the PA Turnpike to the Ohio Turnpike to the Indiana Turnpike - paying ALL the way.

The worst I've seen is the road by the Denver Airport. It seemed I was paying $10 every 5 miles.

John H... · 06-28-2010, 07:37 PM

Being from PA. I do believe they are too pricey. They just raised their rates. If you only got on in Gettysburg, then you probably didn't travel the entire length. It starts at the border of Ohio on the west and exits east at Philly. Sorry it cost you so much. We only use it if we have to.

RickO · 06-28-2010, 08:20 PM

Thanks guys. I guess I have to be more careful when planning my route. I probably thought I'd be tossing a few quarters in a basket or something. The reference to Denver reminds me of driving through France. Same deal every few miles.

Being from California (where the state is nearly bankrupt) I'm really surprised they haven't jumped on this taxation of Interstates 5, 8 and 80 considering all of the goods which arrive in western ports for truck transport elsewhere, not to mention the tourist traffic. At these rates, a few weeks should close the budget gap...

On a kinder, gentler note... we found Pennsylvania to be the most beautiful state we've seen since leaving California and really enjoyed ourselves. Although we also enjoyed that past two months in Va, NC, and SC, we had become a bit claustrophobic driving through the "green tunnels" of the south. What a relief to get somewhere with a little more contour.

MickBrennan · 06-28-2010, 09:16 PM

Oh no! They got me on that too. We live near the PA Turnpike and use it frequently. When you enter the toll road a machine issues a ticket. They do not weigh your vehicle at the entrance. The machine only counts your axles. If you are driving a large vehicle the ticket comes out the upper part of the dispenser and it automatically designates the same toll as a fully loaded, commercial truck of the same axles and size on that slip of paper. The toll person at the exit just matches the amount coded on the ticket with the distance you travelled and charges you accordingly.

We became very tired of sending letters and copies of our registration to the Turnpike Authority to get a refund. There is now an EZ Pass in our windshield which cuts the toll by 75% to what it should be and we don't even need to stop. This EZ Pass had to come directly from the office. They do not mail the specially coded ones to private customers.

So, anybody who gets off the PA Turnpike in an RV should get a receipt for cash and ask the guy for a "Toll Dispute Form." Fill it out and send it in to get your refund.

And friend, that wasn't even half of the wonderful PA Turnpike.

bdaball · 06-29-2010, 09:23 AM

Quote:

So, anybody who gets off the PA Turnpike in an RV should get a receipt for cash and ask the guy for a "Toll Dispute Form." Fill it out and send it in to get your refund.

And friend, that wasn't even half of the wonderful PA Turnpike.

Is this for real????
I doubt many RV'rs realize this.

MickBrennan · 06-29-2010, 09:53 AM

Check it out for yourself. Use the different weight class selections to see if it makes a difference for your vehicle.
PA Turnpike fare calculator.

RickO · 06-29-2010, 06:12 PM

Trust me about it being "for real". At least I'm glad to know that I was caught in some sort of loophole and charged like a big commercial vehicle... I guess.

I'll be not many RVers know about it.

tomgagne · 06-29-2010, 06:41 PM

Ricko if you're heading towards the NorthEast watch out for the tappanzee bridge. If you have a toad the bridge crossing will set you back $24.00 for 2 miles. Good view of the Hudson though

TXiceman · 06-29-2010, 07:10 PM

Yep even the toll roads appeared in Texas a few years back. It was right after we got a massive influx of Yankees...next thing you know, they are talking about toll roads and how once they are paid for, the tolls would go away....well, we still have the tolls ...

Ken

RickO · 06-29-2010, 07:37 PM

And I thought it was the craziest thing I had ever heard of when the toll for crossing the Golden Gate Bridge went up to $5...

Funny how those "temporary" taxes tend to hang around for a while... like federal income tax.

wkdwitch · 06-29-2010, 08:07 PM

Md still has the record for rv penalty fees. MoHo alone 2.50 Toad ALONE 2.50 but hitched as you cross $12.00.........serious penalty so we unhook whenever possible and spend 5 not 12 to get back to heaven in delaware

FleetMan · 06-29-2010, 09:07 PM

If using the Mass. Turnpike and pulling a toad, you can save a bundle if you unhook prior to your planned exit and go through as two seperate vehicles.

Route 66 · 06-30-2010, 05:03 AM

Tolls in the east are a fact of life.

On I 95 in MD at the Susquehanna bridge, there's no toll southbound but the northbound toll is $5 for a 2 axle vehicle, but a MH & toad is considered a 4 axle vehicle and the toll is $23.