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October 26, 2000

PA TURNPIKE URGES CUSTOMERS TO ENROLL IMMEDIATELY
To Receive E-ZPass Tag For Dec. 2 Launch

Carlisle (PA) – The PA Turnpike Commission today urged all customers who travel between interchanges 18 and 33 to enroll in the Turnpike’s E-ZPass program by Nov. 2, 2000 to receive their E-ZPass tag for the Dec. 2 launch.

"We want as many of our customers as possible to be enrolled and enjoying the benefits of E-ZPass on Dec. 2, that means customers must enroll by Nov. 2," said PA Turnpike Executive Director John Durbin. "So far, the response has been great – we have over 16,000 tags ready to be sent to customers – but we know more of our customers want the ease and convenience of E-ZPass. To those customers I say, what are you waiting for? Enroll now!

"Establishing an E-ZPass account is easy, particularly on our website www.paturnpike.com. We want to be sure our customer service center has enough time to process applications, set up customer accounts and prepare E-ZPass tags to function properly on the PA Turnpike and the other E-ZPass roadways," Durbin said.

Customers who enroll in the PA Turnpike’s E-ZPass program and establish a prepaid account by Nov. 2 will receive their E-ZPass tag before the Dec. 2 launch. Customers enrolled in another agency’s program will also be able to use their E-ZPass tag on the PA Turnpike beginning Dec. 2, 2000.

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 along the northeast extension where that stretch of the Turnpike has been transformed into a commuter highway. In fact, 64 percent of Turnpike customers travel between those interchanges on a daily basis, and 90 percent 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 electronic toll collection is the convenient way for customers to pay tolls without stopping and fumbling for change or tickets. It is currently being used by millions of people who travel up and down the Northeast corridor through Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and West Virginia.

Customers can find out more information about the PA Turnpike E-ZPass program, enroll or check account status 24 hours a day at www.paturnpike.com or by calling1-877-PENN-PASS. Account statements will be available online at no charge.

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