This means that each plaza can be bypassed (with varying degrees of inconvenience) by exiting the highway and using back roads. The WV turnpike differs from most others in that there are no toll booths at any of the the entrance or exit ramps (at Route 19 being the lone exception). Since exploring country roads is a pasttime of mine, I've known about these for years - so I thought it was amusing that they're now getting mentioned in the media. Thanks to some news articles this week, apparently the cat is now out of the bag about the Turnpike's 'bypasses', for those who don't already know about them. That's a no-brainer for just about anyone who uses the road more than a couple times a year. If you get the transponder, your toll only increases 5 cents per plaza to $1.30. Notwithstanding, getting an EZ Pass transponder will all but eliminate the increase for those who choose that route. It seems more fitting that those who are actually using the road pay their share for it. If it isn't tolls, it would be with taxes - so I guess we have to take our pick. My opinion? I have no problem at all with the increase - someone has to pay for the upkeep of the road. While I'm not a frequent user of the turnpike by any means (as in not a daily or weekly commuter), I do drive it many times per year for storms and weather (particularly in the winter to cover snow in the higher elevations around Beckley, Flat Top, Sandstone Mountain and Lewisburg). After the increase, that will rise to $6 (for the sake of brevity I won't describe in detail the North Beckley plaza at the Route 19 exit, which currently is 25 cents). There are three main plazas on the route, so the current price to travel the entire length one-way is $3.75 per car. Those can also receive a discount through E-ZPass.In a couple of weeks (on August 1), the tolls on the West Virginia Turnpike will go from $1.25 per car per plaza to $2.00 per car per plaza. The new toll rates for most tractor trailers will be $14.25 per toll. “We encourage everyone to take advantage of that.” “The benefits that you receive versus the cost for unlimited use of the Turnpike is unlike any program offered in the entire country and we’ll happy to do that,” Miller said. Miller said the new annual rate of $26,25 is still the best toll road deal in the nation. He said there’s not a drop dead date of Jan. Miller said renewal can occur at any time. The Parkways Authority has been contacting those E-ZPass customers whose credit cards are no longer active. “You won’t have to maintenance your account, you won’t have to contact customer service.” “For anyone that has an active and valid credit card on file and they have clicked the ‘auto renew’ button when they did their account it will automatically renew you won’t have to do anything,” Miller said. Miller said most of those accounts should automatically renew. He said those registered will be rolled over to the regular WV E-ZPass and the $26.25 annual cost. Approximately 180,000 motorists took advantage of the $24 rate that covered three years of tolls. Three years ago thousands of state residents flocked to Parkway Authority headquarters in Charleston or went online to sign-up for the one-time early enrollment program for the West Virginia E-ZPass. The fee will increase to $26.25 annually on Jan. Miller said the best antidote is to take advantage of the Parkways Authority single fee discount program that provides unlimited use of the highway for $25 a year. “We must maintain the Turnpike because it’s a bonded road and we have to keep it in good shape,” Miller said. Miller said the new toll increase is a modest attempt to keep up with cost of maintenance and construction on the Turnpike along with inflation. The additional money is being used to pay for bonds that will finance $595 million in road construction projects in 10 southern West Virginia counties. The cash tolls went from $2 to $4 for passenger vehicles in January 2019. “By doing this every three years we are essentially avoiding a significant increase in 10, 12, 15 years,” Miller told MetroNews this week. Miller said the Parkways Authority agreed to do so after the legislation was approved. Parkways Authority Executive Director Jeff Miller said legislation approved by state lawmakers in 2018 opened the door for gradual increases of toll rates. Approximately 75% of Turnpike traffic is made up of drivers from outside of West Virginia. The rates will also go up 5% for commercial traffic. The increase will take cash tolls for passenger vehicles from $4.00 to $4.25 per toll plaza. It’s a planned 5% increase approved by the West Virginia Parkways Authority in 2018. Beginning next week message boards on the West Virginia Turnpike will let motorists know that tolls will increase on the 88-mile highway beginning Jan.
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