$0.00 tolls

[hotdogPi]

You get a toll ticket, but you don't have to pay.

Two examples that I know of:

A trip from I-88 to I-87 north, or the reverse trip, has a $0.00 toll on the Thruway.

Previously, the Mass Pike had a $0.00 toll if your starting and ending destinations were both west of Exit 6, at least for standard cars (I believe trucks still had to pay).

[CNGL-Leudimin]

AP-7 around Girona, Spain. Between Fornells de la Selva to the South and Vilademuls to the North, toll is €0.00 ($0.00 with current exchange rate), but one has still to get a toll ticket.

[jp the roadgeek]

From NY 17 East north on the Thruway to I-84 in Newburgh.  You pay the toll at the end of Route 17, then proceed onto the northbound ramp, where you get a ticket upon entering the mainline, then owe nothing as you surrender the ticket at Exit 17.

[jeffandnicole]

You get a toll ticket, but you don't have to pay.

Two examples that I know of:

A trip from I-88 to I-87 north, or the reverse trip, has a $0.00 toll on the Thruway.

Previously, the Mass Pike had a $0.00 toll if your starting and ending destinations were both west of Exit 6, at least for standard cars (I believe trucks still had to pay).

Does it have to be a legal exit?   

[abefroman329]

The Skyway McDonalds used to have some sort of ticket/barrier system in place to prevent people from using it to make a toll-free U-turn.

[vdeane]

A trip from I-88 to I-87 north, or the reverse trip, has a $0.00 toll on the Thruway.

Also between I-88 and the I-890 exits, but not between I-890 and I-87.  This creates the weird effect where it's cheaper (free, actually) to drive from exit 24 to exit 25A, get off and turn around, and then drive to exit 25, then it is to just drive from 24 to 25 in the first place.

[US71]

Cherokee Turnpike in Oklahoma. if you're EB and stop at the service area, you can exit WB and turn off the the next exit (Alt 412 Rose/Leach) because it's assumed you paid at the toll plaza one mile east.

[briantroutman]

I recall once around 2000 (as a passenger) taking a somewhat circuitous route (I-99 > I-70 > I-81) to visit my brother at Virginia Tech. We picked up a PA Turnpike toll ticket at Bedford, but exiting at Breezewood, the attendant just took the ticket and said "No charge" .

At the time, I was wondering: Did Bud Shuster pull some strings and get the toll suspended between I-99 and I-70 to make I-99 a more attractive N-S route? I seem to recall seeing an article later that tolls had been suspended temporarily between the two interchanges for a specific reason, but now I can't remember what that was. If anyone knows, please remind me.

[Brandon]

The Skyway McDonalds used to have some sort of ticket/barrier system in place to prevent people from using it to make a toll-free U-turn.

I don't recall seeing anything there to stop a U-turn, but the last time I stopped there was 2004.  The McDonald's had a drive-thru and parking on the southwest side of the building.

[1995hoo]

Not sure this counts because it's not a paper "toll ticket," but it does involve roads with distance-based tolls similar in concept to a ticket system: The HO/T lanes in Virginia will post a $0.00 toll if you have an E-ZPass Flex in HOV mode. I don't know what happens with HO/T lanes elsewhere, as the only other ones I've used are in Miami and we paid the 25¢ toll there.

[Mr_Northside]

I recall once around 2000 (as a passenger) taking a somewhat circuitous route (I-99 > I-70 > I-81) to visit my brother at Virginia Tech. We picked up a PA Turnpike toll ticket at Bedford, but exiting at Breezewood, the attendant just took the ticket and said "No charge" .

At the time, I was wondering: Did Bud Shuster pull some strings and get the toll suspended between I-99 and I-70 to make I-99 a more attractive N-S route? I seem to recall seeing an article later that tolls had been suspended temporarily between the two interchanges for a specific reason, but now I can't remember what that was. If anyone knows, please remind me.

It was during a bunch of construction on US-30 in between Bedford and the Everett Bypass.  The Turnpike was the official detour, so I believe PennDOT paid the PTC for this.

[Roadrunner75]

I recall once around 2000 (as a passenger) taking a somewhat circuitous route (I-99 > I-70 > I-81) to visit my brother at Virginia Tech. We picked up a PA Turnpike toll ticket at Bedford, but exiting at Breezewood, the attendant just took the ticket and said "No charge" .

At the time, I was wondering: Did Bud Shuster pull some strings and get the toll suspended between I-99 and I-70 to make I-99 a more attractive N-S route? I seem to recall seeing an article later that tolls had been suspended temporarily between the two interchanges for a specific reason, but now I can't remember what that was. If anyone knows, please remind me.

It was during a bunch of construction on US-30 in between Bedford and the Everett Bypass.  The Turnpike was the official detour, so I believe PennDOT paid the PTC for this.

This was the first thing I thought of when I read the topic.  Here's an article on it:
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2006/01/19/Free-ride-s-over-on-turnpike-from-Bedford-to-Breezewood/stories/200601190445

And yes, Bud pulled some strings...

[jeffandnicole]

If we eliminate the requirement of a toll ticket:

NJ's Garden State Parkway has numerous toll-free possibilities.

On the Atlantic City Expressway, the only real way to travel it toll free is by entering eastbound between Rt. 42 and the Frank Farley toll plaza and making a U-turn at the Frank Farley toll plaza, although there's little reason to do so unless you want some overpriced rest stop food.  If you did this to avoid a ramp toll, even the closest interchange (NJ 50) would take you 12 miles out of your way roundtrip, so the distance to make the U-turn to avoid the 75 cent toll negates any savings.

One could also enter westbound from Atlantic City, make a U-turn at the Welcome Center/Bus Intercept Lot/Sunoco, and then travel back east to pick up the exit for Rt. 322, but again no real reason to do that.

[PHLBOS]

On the Atlantic City Expressway, the only real way to travel it toll free is by entering eastbound between Rt. 42 and the Frank Farley toll plaza and making a U-turn at the Frank Farley toll plaza, although there's little reason to do so unless you want some overpriced rest stop food.
...
One could also enter westbound from Atlantic City, make a U-turn at the Welcome Center/Bus Intercept Lot/Sunoco, and then travel back east to pick up the exit for Rt. 322, but again no real reason to do that.

Unless one's a cheapskate roadgeek needing to drive those sections for clinching purposes. 

[briantroutman]

It was during a bunch of construction on US-30 in between Bedford and the Everett Bypass.  The Turnpike was the official detour, so I believe PennDOT paid the PTC for this.

Here's an article on it:
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2006/01/19/Free-ride-s-over-on-turnpike-from-Bedford-to-Breezewood/stories/200601190445

And yes, Bud pulled some strings...

Thanks for reminding me! A detour makes perfect sense.

That makes me wonder–and I guess it would be pertinent to this thread: Have there been any other occasions where either a construction project on a nearby free road–or perhaps an incident like a major vehicle crash or significant winter weather event–necessitated a detour onto the Turnpike, and the PTC similarly waived tolls for detoured vehicles?

[US 89]

€0.00 ($0.00 with current exchange rate)

However, with the exchange rate a year ago, zero euros was equal to two cents. 

[abefroman329]

The Skyway McDonalds used to have some sort of ticket/barrier system in place to prevent people from using it to make a toll-free U-turn.

I don't recall seeing anything there to stop a U-turn, but the last time I stopped there was 2004.  The McDonald's had a drive-thru and parking on the southwest side of the building.

It was there until it was demolished. If you exited I-90 going east to go to McDonalds, you were given a ticket that you needed to insert in a machine next to a barrier in order to continue on I-90 eastbound. Presumably it was there to prevent people from taking a toll-free ride from IN across the bridge and then back to IN.

[Mapmikey]

That makes me wonder–and I guess it would be pertinent to this thread: Have there been any other occasions where either a construction project on a nearby free road–or perhaps an incident like a major vehicle crash or significant winter weather event–necessitated a detour onto the Turnpike, and the PTC similarly waived tolls for detoured vehicles?

A version of this happens occasionally on the I-95 HOT lanes in Northern Virginia when a major mishap on the main lanes will cause VDOT to open the HOT lanes to all traffic without charge.

I believe there is getting ready to be a nighttime construction detour from mainline I-395 onto its HOV/HOT lanes...

[Joe The Dragon]

no ticket
I-94 (IL)
IL-21 to IL-132

[hbelkins]

The last time I used the US 231 (Exit 9) northbound exit on the Natcher Parkway at Bowling Green, there was no toll. This was one of the old cloverleaf toll booths (it still has that configuration) with the toll booth beneath the bridge. I don't remember the purpose of my trip, or why I was exiting there, but I pulled into the right lane to exit, and told the attendant I was "getting off." I was told there was no charge.

[cjk374]

Lake Ponchartrain Causeway is toll-free northbound & tolled southbound.

[theroadwayone]

That makes me wonder–and I guess it would be pertinent to this thread: Have there been any other occasions where either a construction project on a nearby free road–or perhaps an incident like a major vehicle crash or significant winter weather event–necessitated a detour onto the Turnpike, and the PTC similarly waived tolls for detoured vehicles?

A version of this happens occasionally on the I-95 HOT lanes in Northern Virginia when a major mishap on the main lanes will cause VDOT to open the HOT lanes to all traffic without charge.

I believe there is getting ready to be a nighttime construction detour from mainline I-395 onto its HOV/HOT lanes...

I think it happens with other HOT facilities as well. I was going home from working the night shift one morning and was getting on the I-15 HOT lanes from a transit station when I saw the SB toll was "open to all." I found out why the hard way.

[RobbieL2415]

That makes me wonder–and I guess it would be pertinent to this thread: Have there been any other occasions where either a construction project on a nearby free road–or perhaps an incident like a major vehicle crash or significant winter weather event–necessitated a detour onto the Turnpike, and the PTC similarly waived tolls for detoured vehicles?

A version of this happens occasionally on the I-95 HOT lanes in Northern Virginia when a major mishap on the main lanes will cause VDOT to open the HOT lanes to all traffic without charge.

I believe there is getting ready to be a nighttime construction detour from mainline I-395 onto its HOV/HOT lanes...

People will drive in the HOV lanes on I-84 and I-91 if there's enough snow to hide the lane markings. They will even drive in the divider area!

[US 89]

That makes me wonder–and I guess it would be pertinent to this thread: Have there been any other occasions where either a construction project on a nearby free road–or perhaps an incident like a major vehicle crash or significant winter weather event–necessitated a detour onto the Turnpike, and the PTC similarly waived tolls for detoured vehicles?

A version of this happens occasionally on the I-95 HOT lanes in Northern Virginia when a major mishap on the main lanes will cause VDOT to open the HOT lanes to all traffic without charge.

I believe there is getting ready to be a nighttime construction detour from mainline I-395 onto its HOV/HOT lanes...

People will drive in the HOV lanes on I-84 and I-91 if there's enough snow to hide the lane markings. They will even drive in the divider area!

When it snows, the lanes aren't painted on the road; they're where the cars in front of you have gone.

[SSR_317]

That makes me wonder–and I guess it would be pertinent to this thread: Have there been any other occasions where either a construction project on a nearby free road–or perhaps an incident like a major vehicle crash or significant winter weather event–necessitated a detour onto the Turnpike, and the PTC similarly waived tolls for detoured vehicles?

A version of this happens occasionally on the I-95 HOT lanes in Northern Virginia when a major mishap on the main lanes will cause VDOT to open the HOT lanes to all traffic without charge.

I believe there is getting ready to be a nighttime construction detour from mainline I-395 onto its HOV/HOT lanes...

People will drive in the HOV lanes on I-84 and I-91 if there's enough snow to hide the lane markings. They will even drive in the divider area!

When it snows, the lanes aren't painted on the road; they're where the cars in front of you have gone.

In snowy conditions, most drivers will follow the tracks from previous drivers right off a cliff, or into a tree or other obstruction, because they are STUPID! Even on roads they drive on almost every day and thus should instinctively know where the lanes are without any guidance from pavement markings. As such, this is one of the very few situations where I believe that automated driving or driver assistance might be useful.