High gas prices affect Ohio turnpike statistics

May 18, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

BEREA

The first month of the Ohio Turnpike’s new speed limit, which aimed to increase toll revenues, produced mixed results, thanks to inflated gasoline prices.

Lauren Hakos, turnpike spokeswoman, said there were many factors that affected the first-month statistics, including gasoline prices and poor weather.

“It’s been primarily gas prices,” Hakos said. “Traffic normally decreases when gas prices increase.”

Passenger-vehicle traffic fell by about 1 percent in April, the first month of the turnpike’s 70 mile-per-hour speed limit, from 3,128,258 in April 2010 to 3,095,249 last month, according to figures released Tuesday by the commission.

Commercial vehicles, however, saw a slight increase, climbing from 823,755 vehicles in April 2010 to 829,239.

The reason for changing the speed limit from 65 mph to 70 mph in April was to increase traffic and revenues by becoming the freeway with the highest speed limit in the state.

Construction, which also started in late April, was not attributed as a reason for the decrease; the turnpike normally undergoes maintenance this time of year, officials added.