PA Turnpike Tolls Could Be Paid Via App Under Proposed Bill

HARRISBURG, PA — Paying Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls could become considerably easier if one state lawmaker's pending legislation is approved.

Sen. Marty Flynn plans to introduce a bill that would mandate the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission accept payment apps such as PayPal, Venmo, Cash App and Zelle for turnpike tolls. Currently, E-ZPass and toll-by-plate billing are the payment forms.

Flynn, a Scranton Democrat and member of the Senate Transportation Committee, is adding to a turnpike reform package he has proposed that calls for increased fines for those who fail to pay their tolls, require the turnpike commission to file financial reports with the General Assembly and reinstate toll collectors at turnpike interchanges.

"Feedback I have received from both constituents and concerned Pennsylvanians on my Turnpike Reform Package indicates that they are frustrated with the method in which the commission conducts its toll-by-plate billing," Flynn wrote in a recent memo to colleagues.

Flynn noted that the commission has acknowledged that a customer's first toll-by-plate invoice isn't generated until 30 days after the travel date, with the payment due date 20 days after the invoice is mailed.

"This sluggish process undoubtedly contributes to the turnpike commission’s low collection rates," Flynn wrote. "My legislation will allow for almost instantaneous payment of tolls by sending invoices to customers' mobile phones and allowing them to pay by popular mobile

payment apps, if they so choose."

More than $104 million in turnpike tolls went uncollected in 2020, when the turnpike got rid of toll booth workers and went to all electronic tolling.

About 11 million individuals all told did not pay in that fiscal year,the Associated Press reported last year. Among those who don't use E-ZPass, there was approximately a 50 percent chance they would pass through the camera system and never pay.

Be the first to know what's happening in your community and region. With a free Patch subscription, you'll always be up to date on local and state news: https://patch.com/subscribe.