The Turnpike board met this morning to outline the WV Turnpike toll hikes ostensibly to pay part of Gov. Justice's "roads to prosperty" borrowing program. Legally public hearings have to be held, but, of course, nothing said there is considered. Final approval will be in June, apparently to go into effect in January. The news story I got had some gaps in it.
Standard car cash tolls will double from $2 to $4 per booth and from .40 to .80 for the US 19/Corridor L connector (this is the only ramp that is tolled, unlike most other toll roads the turnpike ended "side tolls" decades ago at legislative direction). This means a round trip for the whole road will $24 and those using the Corridor L to I-77 system (the direct way from Toronto, Buffalo, Pittsburgh to Florida) round trip would be $9.60.
It is not clear from the article if other rates are also doubling, but I assume they are. Currently an RV is $2.50 booth and .80 for the ramp, and 18 wheeler is $6.75 and $1.60.
This is very much a "soak the strangers" program, as two discounts will be offered. The current discount for using a WV EZ pass transponder (other authorities' ones do not get it) cuts the current tolls to 1.30/booth and .26 for the ramp. The article is not clear but these appear to double to 2.60 and . 52.
But here is the big discount. Prior to January 1, 2019 anyone (even non-residents) can buy a EZ Pass based yearly pass for special discount price $24 for three years, after which it will be $25/year. You have the option of depositing additional funds on the account to make it be a standard EZ Pass out of state.
At $24 for three years, and even thereafter for the standard $25/year, anyone who even passes through the state once or twice a year would be crazy to not get a pass.