Charges to use Ohio Turnpike to go up Oct. 1


March 14, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Higher tolls are indeed down the road for many drivers using the Ohio Turnpike.

The Turnpike Commission has approved a new toll structure proposed last fall that encourages motorists to use the new E-ZPass electronic payment system.

The current $10.25 cost for a car traveling the entire length of the turnpike will increase to $15 sometime after Oct. 1 — but the tolls won’t go up for people who join E-ZPass.

Tolls will change again in 2012, making a cross-state car trip $11.25 with E-ZPass and $16.50 without.

The rates adopted Wednesday also include an overhaul for truck tolls, no longer basing them on the weight of a big rig but on the number of axles.

Turnpike officials have said that change, along with E-ZPass, could mean lower tolls for many truckers.

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