A NEW law coming into effect on the first day of 2025 will force drivers to pay $72 to use certain roads.
Motorists using the Ohio Turnpike will notice an increase in rates for toll roads next year.
A new law coming into effect on the first day of 2025 will force drivers to pay extra at the Ohio Turnpike[/caption]
It’s worse for commerical vehicles, who in some cases could pay up to $72[/caption]
According to a report by Spectrum News 1, toll rates on the Ohio Turnpike are to increase, with E-ZPass users with passenger vehicles to see the rate go up from 6.5 to 7.1 cents per mile.
What’s more, cash or credit card users will see an increase from 9.6 to 10.4 cents per mile.
For commercial vehicles, Class 5, E-ZPass users will experience a 22 cents per mile increase, and those paying by cash or credit card will see a 27.6 cents per mile rise.
That means that, from next year, the cost for a full trip westbound of 241 miles, will be $18.50 for E-ZPass passenger vehicles, up from $1.50.
Cash and credit card passenger vehicles will be paying $27, an increase of $1.75.
For commercial vehicles, E-ZPass holders will pay $57.50, which is up $4.25, while cash and credit card payers will fork out a mighty $72.25, an increase of $5.25.
Full eastbound trips are affected as well, with E-ZPass passenger vehicles to pay $15.50, while cash and credit card customers will pay $22.75.
But as before, its commercial vehicle drivers who will again see the biggest increases; E-ZPass holders will cough up $48.50, an increase of $3.50, while cash and credit card paying drivers will pay $61 – up from $4.50.
However, while prices may have risen, the Ohio Turnpike Commission stressed that their toll rates still remain among the lowest in the country.
On average, E-ZPass users save about 33% compared to cash or credit card users.
This comes as tolls at the Elizabeth River Crossing in Virginia are set to jump to nearly $20 from next year – but there’s a way drivers can get away with only paying half.
The route is used by around 100,000 vehicles a day and rakes in millions every year.
But despite that, bosses are raising rates to cope with the rapid inflation that has hit the nation in recent years.
Officials say that the increases have been negotiated as part of the operator’s deal with the state Department of Transportation.
Both the Downtown and Midtown tunnels will be affected when the changes come in on January 1.
Drivers passing through the tunnels, which connect the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth, are separated into two tiers based on the size of their vehicles.
Each of these categories then has two ways to pay, with toll rates varying between them.
Motorists can either “pay by plate” by having their number plate scanned by smart cameras at the toll points or using an EZ Pass, which can be picked up for a $35 fee.
There are also different fees for peak and off-peak hours.
Peak hours are between 5.30am and 9am and 2.30pm and 7pm, with all other times considered off-peak.
While prices may have risen, the Ohio Turnpike says their toll rates remain among the lowest in the country[/caption]
