Traveling into Ohio from Pennsylvania? Open Road Tolling at Eastgate Begins on Nov. 20, 2024

The newest open road tolling plaza on the Ohio Turnpike is coming to Eastgate – the first toll plaza heading west from Pennsylvania. Soon, driving westbound through Eastgate will change. If you have an E-ZPass, stay to the left and keep on driving. Everyone else: Stay to the right and stop and pay your toll to avoid additional fees. Remember … Pennsylvania has Toll By Plate, which means no stopping. But in Ohio, if you don’t have an E-ZPass, you have to stop to pay the toll. The Ohio Turnpike – A Better Way To Travel.

Mount Your E-ZPass Transponder to the Windshield Correctly to Avoid Additional Charges

Many changes have occurred across the 241-mile Ohio Turnpike that require E-ZPass customers to properly mount their E-ZPass transponders to the windshield behind the review mirror and away from any tinted areas.

These changes include the new open road tolling lanes for E-ZPass customers to travel nonstop at highway speed; the removal of all gates in the entrance lanes and E-ZPass exit lanes at 20 toll plaza interchanges; and the installation of video cameras to capture images of license plates, which is required to mail invoices for unpaid tolls.

Numerous tolling points to detect an E-ZPass were added to the Ohio Turnpike’s new open road tolling system, so waving an E-ZPass transponder by hand is ineffective and unsafe. If an E-ZPass transponder is not read properly by the system (no entry point was detected), the likely outcome is a max fare charge.

To avoid other potential billing issues, E-ZPass customers should also keep their online accounts up to date, including a listing of vehicle license plate number(s), a valid credit card as well as full contact information and email address.

To pay a toll online, visit www.ezpassoh.com or call customer service at 440.971.2222.

For more details about the Ohio Turnpike’s new tolling system, visit www.ohioturnpike.org/openroadtolling2024. 

Click the image below to view a video on how to properly install your E-ZPass transponder.

Toledo Blade: Ohio Turnpike committed to resolving customer service delays

Ferzan M. Ahmed
AUG. 11, 2024

The men and women in our customer service center take immense pride in helping our customers. Although the wait times are currently high, they do not rush callers off the phone. They are taking the extra time needed to address all questions and concerns as well as assist with online account issues.

Our staff is also taking the time necessary to explain that the nationwide texting scam is not related to the Ohio Turnpike. This may cause other callers to wait on hold for longer, but our staff wants to ensure that every customer is satisfied.

We understand that many customers are frustrated with the long wait times, but we have never received any negative feedback about an interaction between our customers and one of our professional and dedicated customer service representatives.

I want to assure our customers that we will handle all discrepancies. Unfortunately, it is taking more time than expected, but we will take care of all our customers.

In the meantime, we will suspend all late fees and collections and will not send any previously billed invoices to collections until the current issues have been resolved and our customers have become used to the new open road tolling system.

To resolve a billing issue, use the self-service option in your account at www.ezpassoh.com, email us through the “Contact Us” section at the website, or contact customer service at 440-971-2222. For more information, visit www.ohioturnpike.org.

Ferzan M. Ahmed is executive director of the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission in Berea, Ohio.

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What Customers Should Do If They Think They Have Been Victimized.

• Mobile device owners who receive suspicious tolling text messages should delete them without clicking on the link.  
• Anyone who may have clicked on a fraudulent link and provided any personally identifiable information should immediately contact their bank or credit card provider to secure their information and financial accounts. 
• Victims of SMS tolling text scams should file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and be sure to include the phone number from where the text originated and the website listed within the text. 
• Individuals with questions about tolls incurred should check their account using the toll agency’s legitimate website or contact the toll agency’s customer service phone number.

Source: Tolling Points (International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association)

Adopt a New Mindset Behind the Wheel – Be Safe Together

By Ferzan M. Ahmed, P.E.
June 24, 2024

To reduce vehicle crashes on roadways everywhere, tolling agencies from across the globe have issued a call-to-action urging motorists to be self-aware of unsafe driving behaviors behind the wheel – such as speeding, distracted and impaired driving, and not wearing a safety belt.

It is part of a new global roadway safety campaign, Be Safe Together, led by the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA).

IBTTA’s first Global Road Safety Week, which runs from June 24-28, 2024, is highlighting the steps the tolling industry is taking to make our highways safer as well as urging motorists to drive in ways that are both responsible and safe.

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