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Author: Lower Southampton Township

PA Turnpike Launches Open Road Tolling

PA Turnpike Launches Open Road Tolling

This January, the PA Turnpike launched Open Road Tolling (ORT) east of Reading and along the Northeast Extension. The rest of the PA Turnpike will adopt the change in 2027.

Under the ORT system, tolls are charged electronically as customers drive at highway speeds beneath overhead structures called gantries without slowing down or stopping at toll booths. Equipment on the gantry and in the roadway classifies and identifies the vehicle and electronically processes tolls, allowing for free-flowing traffic, while also reducing accidents, improving the environment and enabling new access points. You will begin to see toll booth demolition this spring.

ORT Requires Your E-ZPass Transponder to Be Properly Mounted

Properly mounting your E-ZPass transponder is critical for its functionality and roadway safety. A properly mounted transponder is needed to ensure that your E-ZPass is accurately read and that you are charged the correct toll.

Transponders are 99.5% effective when installed properly. Here is how to mount a transponder:

  • Clean the area on the windshield before mounting.
  • Remove the transponder from its packaging.
  • Mount the transponder horizontally under the rear-view mirror, below shaded or black-dot areas, by pressing the suction cups against the windshield or removing the adhesive strip on the Velcro mounting strips and pressing to the windshield.

When you are mounting the transponder, there are three important things you should avoid:

  • DO NOT place the transponder vertically.
  • DO NOT mount it inside of black dots or the shaded area on your windshield.
  • DO NOT manually hold the transponder or leave it on your dashboard.

Call the PA Turnpike’s Customer Service Center if you have any questions or suspect your transponder may need replaced. Check out this video to learn more about properly mounting your transponder.

ORT Will Change the Way Your E-ZPass and Toll By Plate Invoices Look

E-ZPass statements or Toll By Plate invoices for travel in ORT areas may be longer and show individual charges for each gantry passed. This toll-point formatting will be familiar to those regularly traveling through the Clarks Summit, Keyser Avenue, Southern Beltway and Delaware River Bridge exits, where ORT is already live.

West of the Reading Interchange, a single trip charge will be displayed based on your entry and exit.

If your trip includes both ORT and traditional tolling points, your bill will list individual gantry charges for travel east of the Reading Interchange and display a single trip for your western travel either with an entry point of T291, if you are traveling west, or an exit point of T291 if traveling east.

When the entire system moves to Open Road Tolling in 2027, all charges will be assessed at gantries and single trip charges will cease.

To learn more about ORT, visit www.PATurnpike.com/ORT.

PA Turnpike to Launch Open Road Tolling on Eastern Portion of
System in January 2025

PennState Extension Offering Residential Stormwater Solutions: Watershed-Friendly Tips Live Webinar

Stormwater runoff contributes to flooding and water pollution across Pennsylvania, leading to significant economic and environmental challenges.  If you care for property – residential or otherwise – it’s crucial to understand how runoff impacts your land and how to manage it effectively.  Residential Stormwater Solutions: Watershed-Friendly Tips will introduce Penn State’s Watershed-Friendly Property Certification Program and Stormwater Basics Series, offering practical guidance on implementing stormwater management best practices.  Learn how to protect water resources on your property or rental unit and reduce the harmful effects of runoff.

Register by: February 25, 2025.  This event if FREE of charge.  To register, click HERE.

The webinar is Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.  Registration is required to receive the link to access the webinar.  A link to the recorded webinar will be emailed to registrants within ten business days after the live event.  The recording will be accessible for six months from the event date.

Who is this for?

The webinar series is designed for anyone who owns or manages residential property, including:

  • Single-family detached homes
  • Multi-family housing structures
  • Condominiums/HOA members
  • Apartment dwellers who care of open space outside their building
  • Anyone interested in learning more about residential-scale stormwater best management practice

What will you learn?

  • Where stormwater originates on your property and where it flows
  • How stormwater pollutes local streams and rivers
  • Resources from Penn State Extension to help you manage stormwater
  • How to get Watershed-Friendly Certification for your property

 

February 12, 2025 Board of Supervisor Meeting Video

Access to recordings of Board of Supervisors meetings are available on the Township’s YouTube Channel the day after a public meeting.

All meeting videos provided are for reference only.  Official actions of the Township Board of Supervisors are documented in approved meeting minutes and will be posted on the Township website the day following approval.

Click HERE to view the meeting.

Snow Event – February 11, 2025-February 12, 2025

Due to the impending storm, Chief of Police Krimmel has declared a Snow Emergency that will be in effect from 7 PM, February 11, 2025 until 7 AM, February 12, 2025.  During this Snow Emergency, it shall be unlawful at any time for any person to park a motor vehicle or to allow that vehicle to remain anywhere on any designated snow emergency route (any township street). Failure to remove vehicles may result in fines and or towing of vehicles.

We need the vehicles removed so our Road Crew and PENNDOT can effectively plow your streets.

A snow emergency DOES NOT mean you can ride your ATVs and snowmobiles in the street.

Please clear any fire hydrants near your homes and help your older neighbors with shoveling if you can.

Thank you for your cooperation.

February 12, 2025 Board of Supervisor Meeting Information

The Board of Supervisors are holding their next meeting on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at 7:30 PM in the Township Administration Building, 1500 Desire Avenue.  The meeting will be televised on the Township Cable Channel 22 for Comcast customers, 28 for Verizon customers.  The publis invited ot attend the meeting.

Click HERE to view the meeting.  Click HERE to view the accounts payable reports.