C  O  M  M  I  S  S  I  O  N       N  E  W  S       R  E  L  E  A  S  E

Contact:  

Sept. 11, 2000 

PA TURNPIKE LAUNCHES E-ZPASS WEBSITE
WWW. PATURNPIKE.COM
Begins Online Enrollment Program

Ft. Washington (PA) – Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Executive Director John Durbin today launched the Turnpike’s E-ZPass website and encouraged customers who travel between interchanges 18 and 33 to begin enrolling in the program immediately. At the launch – held at the Ft. Washington Expo Center – Durbin helped several employees of the Ft. Washington Business Park enroll in the E-ZPass program online.

"The Turnpike’s E-ZPass website at www.paturnpike.com is the easiest way to enroll in our program. Or you can call our toll free number – 1-877-PENN-PASS," said Durbin. "Either way, the message is enroll today to enjoy the benefits of E-ZPass. Enroll by November 2 and receive your tag by December 2."

Durbin also said informational brochures and applications will soon be available at interchanges.

After a three month enrollment period, the Turnpike plans to launch E-ZPass for passenger vehicles only on Dec. 2, 2000, between interchanges 18-Harrisburg West and 30-Delaware River Bridge along the east-west mainline, and interchanges 25A-Mid County through 33-Lehigh Valley where that stretch of the Turnpike has been transformed into a commuter highway. In fact, 64% of Turnpike customers travel between those interchanges on a daily basis, and 90% of those vehicles are passenger vehicles.

E-ZPass will be available for passenger vehicles statewide in 2001. Trucks will be included in the program in 2002.

"E-ZPass is convenient, easy and safe," said Durbin. "But it will also help reduce congestion at our interchanges, and provide our customers who travel in surrounding states with a way to pay tolls wherever they see the E-ZPass sign."

Durbin emphasized that customers should enroll by November 2 to ensure they receive an E-ZPass tag by December 2.

E-ZPass electronic toll collection, the convenient way for customers to pay tolls without stopping and fumbling for change or tickets, is currently being used by millions of people who travel up and down the Northeast corridor through Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia.

After customers enroll in the Turnpike’s E-ZPass program and establish a prepaid account they will receive an E-ZPass tag, about the size of a deck of cards. Customers mount the tag on the windshield of their car, behind the review mirror. Once properly mounted, the tag registers customer entry and exit, and charges the appropriate toll, which is electronically transmitted to the Turnpike E-ZPass customer service center. Customer accounts are automatically adjusted.

Account status will be available 24 hours a day at www.paturnpike.com or by calling 1-877-PENN-PASS. Account statements will be available online at no charge. For more information on the Turnpike’s E-ZPass program, or to enroll, visit www.paturnpike.com.

###

 P.O. Box 67676, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7676         Phone: (717) 939-9551         Fax: (717) 986-9649