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Pa. Turnpike Takes Next Step Toward Elimination of Its Toll Collectors

By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- Pennsylvania Turnpike officials say they will further explore the possibility of converting to an all-electronic tolling system, after a yearlong study has concluded that such a conversion is feasible (see previous story).

Sixty-five percent of all Pennsylvania Turnpike toll transactions are currently done by E-Z Pass, and turnpike spokesman Carl DeFebo says the decision to hire a program management firm to oversee the next phase of the study and possibly assist the Turnpike Commission in the conversion shows that the agency is serious about it.

"Yes, certainly by expressing our intent to bring a program manager on board, that does mean that we need to take the next step toward considering all-electronic tolling," he told KYW Newsradio this morning.  "It doesn't necessarily mean 100 percent that we are going to get there."

And all-electronic tolling doesn't mean you won't be able to pay cash when you use the Pennsylvania Turnpike.  Cash customers would have photos of their license plates taken and get a bill in the mail.

But DeFebo says issues like that could prove to be the "stop signs" in a conversion to all-electronic tolling.

 

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