Ohio Extends Lower Truck Tolls Through Year’s End

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he Ohio Turnpike Commission voted late last week to extend through the end of the year a toll reduction for commercial vehicles, the Associated Press reported. The reduction was due to expire June 30.

The toll road raised its truck speed limit to 65 mph from 55 mph in September 2004, and in January 2005 it rolled back its commercial-vehicle toll by an average of 25%, AP reported.

Commercial vehicle traffic last year rose 12.3% along the 241-mile toll road, to just over 11 million vehicles, AP said. But revenue dropped 7.7%, to $102.2 million.

In a resolution approving the rate rollback extension, the commission said it will seek additional data, such as accident rates, AP reported.

The turnpike authority does not anticipate receiving supplemental payments from the Ohio Department of Transportation for the last six months of 2006 to assist in the funding the temporary reduction, AP said.