Turnpike fees rise by 10%

http://www.foxtoledo.com/dpp/news/local/Turnpike-toll-increase-a-headache-for-drivers-

Route 2 is already a nightmare.

That's a significant amount of money saved taking the Michigan route. Route 2 is a toll of the dice in itself. Almost a death wish: one lane each way, just takes a teen text for a fatal head-on. Still, no better way to get to the islands.

Get the Chinese to build a even faster Jet Express to run out of the Marina District!

To me..it's still worth it. I like the quality of the roads and the direct drive to Chicago.

So we're even paying higher taxes to drive east or west out of Toledo. Now after all the money the Ohio tax payer has put into the turnpike, the damn governor is now going to sell it. Screw that, the tax payers built it and now a corporation get's to buy it to help fund roads in Columbus... Screw that!

I thought the turnpike fees went to turnpike maintenance? I guess like the lottery, funding went elsewhere.

Also, I used to drive frequently from Toledo to Pa via turnpike and can honestly say I never got pulled over once by police in over 2 years.

My opinion; Thank You: We were screwed by the Ohio Turnpike Commission from day one for years. For those who remember, the Turnpike was built with Fed funds (National Defense Highway Act I believe, Eisenhour Admin), and Bonds that, "when due", were to cause the Turnpike to become a standard Interstate Highway. But the politics of the Turnpike i.e. Political Appointed jobs and such caused the Polititions to stop the Turnpike from becoming a public entity which includes the addition of many new interchanges.

Also, if you can find it, you will see that all of the upgrades and paving work goes to pretty much the same contractors at various locations throughout the Pike from border to border.

And the $bazillion$ made off the Turnpike since about '54 or '55 was the cause of NOT building alternative Interstate and/or State routes.

Now it appears that the State wants to pass on the headache of "People Management" off to someone else. In much the same way that certain organizations decided to get out of the people headache business by dumping Labor Unions....

The greatest problem in ownership or custodianship (such as the public trust), is dealing with people. And the government knows this. That is why there is such a great push to privatize those functions that have traditionally been a government function. The Politicians prefer contractors because it's much easier to obtain campaign contributions.

I hope this doesn't get moved to Politics Blog as it isn't my intent to pick on any party. It's is a systemic problem.

Anybody agree (or not)?

Turnpikes can be a pain, but can also help provide highways in areas that need them but are too expensive to operate/construct without guaranteed revenue. As long as 100% of the toll revenue is going to the operation of the turnpike, there shouldn't be any issue. If there is a profit from the toll road, it should be going in to upgrade the road.

A couple things that annoy me about the turnpike...
1) Lack of exits. Yes it is meant to be a quick trip across the Northern part of the state. However, a major interstate that bisects the metro area has less than a half dozen exits with in it. Not to mention it is missing key interchanges like I-475 and The Trail.

2) Non-Uniform Speed Limit. Time to get away from slow speeds for Trucks, which I think are still 65. Restrict trucks to the right lanes only, but speed them up.

3) Outdated ticket system. Get rid of it. There is no reason to have them anymore. Redo the exits of the turnpike to put in a more uniform toll system.

I really like the system we have here in Oklahoma (they are in green in the map below). All turnpikes are 75 mph, except for maybe one. No reduced truck speed. They help provide connections to areas that didn't have any interstates originally built (for the most part). The funds are kept by the OTA and are used for complete operation and upgrades of the turnpikes. The toll system is simplified with the PikePass electronic readers. There is no slowing down for toll booths. PikePass users have a bypass lane or are able to remain in the left lane and maintain speed.

The tolls aren't terrible. If you are going across state from Missouri to Texas it is about $18 total if memory serves correctly. One of the other turnpikes, the Kilpatrick, which provides an outer North loop through North and West OKC is about $2 for the entire trip. They have central toll booths that charge the fee. If you get off at an exit early you pay at the exit (usually exact change readers) and if you get off just after the toll booth before the end you get a refund.

It would be nice of I-80/90 in the Toledo area would take on a form like that to encourage using it as another means to get across town. Instead you are severely limited in your choices and restricted to mainly surface streets to get around going East or West.

In regard to the issue of the same contractors getting the paving jobs, I don't feel that is a valid critizism. There are only a limited number of contractors who have the experience and size to be able to bid successfully on a State paving project.

And since any other company is locked out they will never know will they.

Thank You Linecrosser.

Drove the Pike eastbound to PA on Saturday, $11.00....just silly

Linecrosser, You would probably be among the first to complain if the successful bidder on a State paving project couldn't complete the project on time because they did not have sufficient equipment or manpower which would result in huge cost overruns. No company is "locked out". Try a business 101 class, please.

I bow to your superior intellect holland.

holland, I guess I should bow to your superior intellect also.

There are only a limited number of contractors who have the experience and size to be able to bid successfully on a State paving project.

Not only that Holland, but the contractor also has to submit a bond of 10% of the bid amount on every ODOT project, which i think tends to weed out contractors that tend to under bid everything and end up with cost over-runs.

OK... OK... It seems that the discussion is wrapped up in "the contractors." How about this? The only real alternative route to the Ohio Turnpike is US 20. There are some by-passes that have been built over the years, however they were primarily built only to provide a more direct and faster link from other north-south and east west highways to the Turnpike. Such as the Rt 20 By-Pass around Fremont which directs traffic anound Fremont from Rt 20, Rt 53, and US Rt 6. The Jewel of Ohio Highways is the Ohio Turnpike and it has been since it was built. Remember that when other Interstates in Ohio closed for snow, the Pike was open$$$. My point is that if we sell the "Pike" to privatize it, how do we as citizens of Ohio benefit after investing so much in it for so many years. I've worked on the Turnpike in the "Trades" at times and my Dad worked on it during the initial construction. I'm getting a lot of bad feelings about the motive of selling this publically owned enterprise. I believe one of the major motives of selling the Turnpike is to remove all it's maintenance, repair and construction from "Prevailing Wage" requirements. Currently if federal/state funds are involved in funding, prevailing wage laws are enforced.

OK, I'm ranting because I spent many years in government contracting business and observed many things I didn't believe were fair or in the public's best interest.

Now I ask.... What is the true "benefit" to the citizens of Ohio by selling the Ohio Turnpike? And unless there was an opportunity to "profit" from owning such a massive structure, why would anyone want to own it.

Side question. Did you ever wonder who the real owner of a bad service/food, fast food place really is? Maybe these people would like to buy a slightly used Federally regulated Super Tollway...

My husband and sons headed to Green Bay on New Years Eve. Indiana tolls on the way there were $8 something.
Their tolls went up on the 1st. Their return ticket was $32 something. Quite a Hike there, I'd say.
They didn't end up paying it...6 car pile-up stopped that. :( No injuries, though.

Isn't the Indiana turnpike operated by a foreign company?

Great question holland!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Toll_Road

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_Turnpike

Indy and Ohio respectively. Wiki may not have the most correct answers, but it does include some facts.

And the Chicago Skyway.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Skyway

Is there a pattern here? There has to be a lot of money to be gained from the ownership of these highways. Otherwise why would a business in Australia and Mexico want to own them?

Here's info on one of the major investers. They have a business model. If they can make their model work, why can't our Turnpike Commission.

Come on holland keep up the great questions...

That is a bit of a hike. When I first moved here, the price was $7 from here to PA, then another $3 for the PA turnpike.

Last time I went home, believe it was $12.50 one way just for the Ohio turnpike.

At least the road seems to be well maintained and well salted the few times I've been on it during the winter.

Here is an authoritative newspaper article regarding the Indiana Toll Rd. cost increases.

http://chestertontribune.com/Business/75113%20indiana_toll_road_raises_rates_t.htm

According to this article the cost to drive the entire Indiana toll rd., after the increase, is $9.00. Rates were not raised for vehicles with E-Zpass transponders.

At least it's not as bad as Illinois, where rates are going up 88% this year.

I couldn't believe the over $30 they told me! Good to read that it's not that much!

If you really want to be ripped off on the Turnpike, just try to find edible food in one of those "rest stops"...