The Pennsylvania Turnpike is going through a big change. The state has started tearing down its tollbooths as it moves toward a fully cashless toll system. By 2028, drivers will no longer see traditional toll plazas on the turnpike.
This shift is part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s plan to go fully digital. Instead of paying tolls in cash at booths, vehicles will now be billed using the E-ZPass system or the “Toll By Plate” program. Toll By Plate takes a picture of a vehicle’s license plate and sends the bill by mail to the registered owner.
Officials say this change will make traffic flow better and improve safety by reducing stops. Demolition has already started on some older toll plazas, including ones in eastern and western Pennsylvania. Over the next few years, the rest will be removed.
The turnpike started testing this system years ago, but the full switch to cashless tolling happened in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, the focus is on removing the tollbooth structures completely. In some places, drivers might still see old toll plazas while demolition continues.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission says the goal is to be faster, safer, and more efficient. With this update, drivers won’t need to stop or carry cash. Instead, everything will happen automatically, either through E-ZPass or mailed invoices.
By 2028, the entire Pennsylvania Turnpike is expected to operate without a single toll booth. This change reflects a broader trend across the U.S., where more states are moving toward electronic toll collection to modernize highways and reduce congestion.