“I am very proud of our toll operations, maintenance staff, courtesy patrol, West Virginia State Police Troop 7 and dispatch center for responding quickly to anything that required our attention during this time.” Miller reminds drivers that E-Z Pass is the fastest and most economical way to travel on the West Virginia Turnpike. “The weather cooperated for the most part and we did not experience many wrecks or significant backups at the toll facilities,” he said. Miller is pleased with how everything played out during the 13-day holiday travel period. The college football game on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, featured the West Virginia University Mountaineers and University of North Carolina Tar Heels. Those can also receive a discount through E-ZPass.The Parkways Authority anticipated there would be additional travelers on the Turnpike from Tuesday, December 26, 2023, through Thursday, December 28, 2023, due to people traveling to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. 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 The Parkways Authority has been contacting those E-ZPass customers whose credit cards are no longer active.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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