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Ohio Turnpike News

Started by thenetwork, December 23, 2015, 08:02:57 PM

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Rothman

Eesh.  Ohio Turnpike's a disaster.  People should probably also complain to the Governor.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.


Bitmapped

Quote from: JREwing78 on August 08, 2024, 06:31:23 PMThe "customers are stupid" argument only gets you so far if you can't get 29% of your customer base to do the thing they're supposed to do.

The signs are clear that the through lanes are "E-ZPass Only." Signage here is similar to what I've seen used in Ohio states that had express versus cash lanes. OTIC needs to beef up their customer service phone support but this is a driver error issue.

To be blunt, the problems here just reinforce my view they should have gone to AET versus the substantial amount they spent building out this hybrid tolling scheme.

thenetwork

Not saying it's the main root cause (not even close), but it doesn't help matters if they label the manual toll lanes with a numbered EXIT tab on the BGSs.

I guess my logic is why would someone want to take an "Exit" on the Turnpike to pay a toll when I want to continue on the Turnpike.

The exit tabs on the overheads are not needed -- chop them off!




vdeane

Quote from: Bitmapped on August 09, 2024, 08:17:23 AM
Quote from: JREwing78 on August 08, 2024, 06:31:23 PMThe "customers are stupid" argument only gets you so far if you can't get 29% of your customer base to do the thing they're supposed to do.

The signs are clear that the through lanes are "E-ZPass Only." Signage here is similar to what I've seen used in Ohio states that had express versus cash lanes. OTIC needs to beef up their customer service phone support but this is a driver error issue.

To be blunt, the problems here just reinforce my view they should have gone to AET versus the substantial amount they spent building out this hybrid tolling scheme.
Quite frankly, the Ohio Turnpike has always been behind the times on this.  They didn't even begin accepting E-ZPass until 15 years ago.  At least they have ORT.  The Indiana Toll Road still forces everyone to stop at booths with gate arms.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

wanderer2575

Quote from: thenetwork on August 09, 2024, 10:17:11 AMNot saying it's the main root cause (not even close), but it doesn't help matters if they label the manual toll lanes with a numbered EXIT tab on the BGSs.

I guess my logic is why would someone want to take an "Exit" on the Turnpike to pay a toll when I want to continue on the Turnpike.

The exit tabs on the overheads are not needed -- chop them off!

They have been.  I drove through the Swanton Toll Plaza (west end of the closed system, west of OH-2) about a month ago and there were no exit tabs on the signs in either direction.  It was around midnight so I didn't get any photos.  I'm assuming the same was done at the other mainline plazas, but I won't see the two on the eastern side until October.  Curious to know whether the exit tabs were removed before the new plazas went into operation, or sometime after.

Great Lakes Roads

Quote from: wanderer2575 on August 09, 2024, 01:13:12 PM
Quote from: thenetwork on August 09, 2024, 10:17:11 AMNot saying it's the main root cause (not even close), but it doesn't help matters if they label the manual toll lanes with a numbered EXIT tab on the BGSs.

I guess my logic is why would someone want to take an "Exit" on the Turnpike to pay a toll when I want to continue on the Turnpike.

The exit tabs on the overheads are not needed -- chop them off!

They have been.  I drove through the Swanton Toll Plaza (west end of the closed system, west of OH-2) about a month ago and there were no exit tabs on the signs in either direction.  It was around midnight so I didn't get any photos.  I'm assuming the same was done at the other mainline plazas, but I won't see the two on the eastern side until October.  Curious to know whether the exit tabs were removed before the new plazas went into operation, or sometime after.

The exit tabs for the toll plazas were removed AFTER the new plazas went into operation.
-Jay Seaburg

tigerwings

Part of issue could be is that you need to pull a ticket at Exit 52 (OH-2), then west bounders need to stop and pay and pull another ticket 3 miles later.

I have EZP on the company truck so I never stop at the plaza.

Mr_Northside

Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on August 09, 2024, 04:31:12 PM
Quote from: wanderer2575 on August 09, 2024, 01:13:12 PM
Quote from: thenetwork on August 09, 2024, 10:17:11 AMNot saying it's the main root cause (not even close), but it doesn't help matters if they label the manual toll lanes with a numbered EXIT tab on the BGSs.

I guess my logic is why would someone want to take an "Exit" on the Turnpike to pay a toll when I want to continue on the Turnpike.

The exit tabs on the overheads are not needed -- chop them off!

They have been.  I drove through the Swanton Toll Plaza (west end of the closed system, west of OH-2) about a month ago and there were no exit tabs on the signs in either direction.  It was around midnight so I didn't get any photos.  I'm assuming the same was done at the other mainline plazas, but I won't see the two on the eastern side until October.  Curious to know whether the exit tabs were removed before the new plazas went into operation, or sometime after.

The exit tabs for the toll plazas were removed AFTER the new plazas went into operation.

Just had a family thing in Hartville (a bit outside of Akron), and the signs approaching Eastgate after entering Ohio do have tabs on them right now.
Since they're still in the midst of converting Eastgate to the one-direction ORT/Traditional lanes hybrid model, all of the signs (including the tabs) are still greened out (or yellowed out)- so it's quite possible they'll just remove them when it is time to uncover the rest of the signs
I don't have opinions anymore. All I know is that no one is better than anyone else, and everyone is the best at everything

thenetwork

And now, to add salt to the wound of the new ticket plazas, there was a multi-accident occurrence at the cash/EZ-Pass plaza split that killed several people this morning:

https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/ohio-turnpike-fatal-crashes-timeline/512-9254ca6e-169d-4757-bb93-28c282120229?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0VnPCtXNPiIuFC283q5i6VY2xq3gkSKHrWfvZ1F6c-FqJ6Xio-pW83ppc_aem_WtfbubDGddRv1h_boJS3CA

Great Lakes Roads

Quote from: thenetwork on August 15, 2024, 06:14:28 PMAnd now, to add salt to the wound of the new ticket plazas, there was a multi-accident occurrence at the cash/EZ-Pass plaza split that killed several people this morning:

https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/ohio-turnpike-fatal-crashes-timeline/512-9254ca6e-169d-4757-bb93-28c282120229?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0VnPCtXNPiIuFC283q5i6VY2xq3gkSKHrWfvZ1F6c-FqJ6Xio-pW83ppc_aem_WtfbubDGddRv1h_boJS3CA

I would say speeding and distracted driving played a role in these crashes. To be honest, I would rather have the Ohio Turnpike go towards all-electronic tolling than deal with this crap!
-Jay Seaburg

lstone19

Quote from: vdeane on August 09, 2024, 12:57:36 PMAt least they have ORT.  The Indiana Toll Road still forces everyone to stop at booths with gate arms.

Yep. Collecting that toll is far more important even if it comes at the expense of the massive backups that occur when a non-EZ-Pass car ends up in the EZ-Pass lane.  :-(  And while it's been a few years since I've been on either of those roads, at the time, the Indiana Toll Road had separate car and truck EZ-Pass lanes and I was charged a 5-axle truck toll when I used the truck EZ-Pass lane because the only car lane (at the mainline plaza at the west end of the Toll Road) was backed up with a car stuck at the gate.

thenetwork

#136
Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on August 15, 2024, 10:12:26 PM
Quote from: thenetwork on August 15, 2024, 06:14:28 PMAnd now, to add salt to the wound of the new ticket plazas, there was a multi-accident occurrence at the cash/EZ-Pass plaza split that killed several people this morning:

https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/ohio-turnpike-fatal-crashes-timeline/512-9254ca6e-169d-4757-bb93-28c282120229?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0VnPCtXNPiIuFC283q5i6VY2xq3gkSKHrWfvZ1F6c-FqJ6Xio-pW83ppc_aem_WtfbubDGddRv1h_boJS3CA

I would say speeding and distracted driving played a role in these crashes. To be honest, I would rather have the Ohio Turnpike go towards all-electronic tolling than deal with this crap!

The photo used in that article about the fatal crashes the other day cover a few things previously mentioned:

1) YES...the confusing exit tabs that many non-EZ-pass drivers may have mistook for actual exits, resulting in mailed bills (with penalty fees) are gone (but were kinda-sorta Incorporated into the main sign)

2) Especially for the western end of the ticketing system -- the listing of TOLL PLAZA 49 is still confusing as, on the other end of the western "Free Zone" is an un-numbered exit for SR-49!!!

3) Regarding the accruing late/penalty fees for those who mistakenly blew the get ticket/pay toll plazas, until they can fix the customer service lines, where people have waited HOURS for a live person, late fees and collection calls are on hold until they can fix the customer service problems.

4) Perhaps the OTC should either re-design the lanes at the split so the EZ-Pass lanes are striped as the EXIT and the cash/ticket lanes are striped as the main carriageway. As well as installing rumble strips across ALL lanes leading up to the split, if not installed already.

5) This is a good place for the Turnpike to use the one arrow per lane overhead signage as well, further eliminating any confusion that may occur to people thinking the toll plaza is an EXIT.


*EDIT*
I guess I'm not the only one thinking of these questions...the NTSB is now involved in the crash AND is looking to see why this set up is so hard for people to understand:

https://www.wtol.com/article/news/investigations/11-investigates/new-swanton-plaza-among-ntsb-investigation-deadly-ohio-turnpike-crashes-four-dead/512-45af718e-0cbc-4a4c-af7a-13b4908fe739?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3b3v_3SjkGsc7K9hb7_sor89DudOfZfflP0Y_4VsgB_XP2oq6q74Haek4_aem_gijzCTMnG6RmcRE4vF8nHw

vdeane

Quote from: thenetwork on August 16, 2024, 04:58:11 PM2) Especially for the western end of the ticketing system -- the listing of TOLL PLAZA 49 is still confusing as, on the other end of the western "Free Zone" is an un-numbered exit for SR-49!!!
Honestly, the fact that it still doesn't have an exit number is one thing that doesn't make sense.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

Great Lakes Roads

-Jay Seaburg

Ted$8roadFan

#139
Wonder why they haven't thought to call it the Swanton Toll Plaza or Swantom Township Toll Plaza to eliminate any confusion.

thenetwork

Quote from: Ted$8roadFan on September 01, 2024, 02:01:16 PMWonder why they haven't thought to call it the Stanton Toll Plaza or Stanton Township Toll Plaza to eliminate any confusion.

That would be too easy, despite the name being SWANTON.

Great Lakes Roads

-Jay Seaburg

Rothman

Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

JREwing78

Turnpike Director Ahmed has had plenty of opportunity to rebut, and can at any time. This isn't a case of the poor little charitable roadway being poorly treated by the big bad journalists and the general public. They have PR staff.

As much as people bitch and moan about ISTHA's fares and the general incompetence of the current lessors of the Indiana Toll Road, once issue I almost never run into is not having my transponder get read. That's Toll Road 101 stuff - you can't have a toll road if you can't collect tolls.

The Ohio Turnpike, being late to the game on Open Road Tolling, and already having the rest of the infrastructure necessary for EZ-Pass, should've been able to pull this transition off smoothly. The fact that months later they're STILL having problems tells me they didn't do their homework prior to deployment.

Ted$8roadFan

Quote from: thenetwork on September 02, 2024, 12:06:33 PM
Quote from: Ted$8roadFan on September 01, 2024, 02:01:16 PMWonder why they haven't thought to call it the Stanton Toll Plaza or Stanton Township Toll Plaza to eliminate any confusion.

That would be too easy, despite the name being SWANTON.


Darn that spellcheck.

wanderer2575

I drove westbound on the Turnpike a couple weeks ago on my way home from Baltimore.  I was surprised that Eastgate looked like construction had begun just recently.  The non-stop ORT lanes looked they were just finished but they weren't yet open.  All traffic was going through the gates (still lowering and raising for each vehicle) at the old tollbooth and I saw no sign that construction of a new tollbooth for non-E-ZPass traffic had even begun.  Is that supposed to happen?

The exit number tabs were removed from the signs at the Newton Falls toll plaza (eastern end of the closed system), but they're still potentially confusing.  What does "GET TICKET" mean?  The signs have always said that and it was no big deal when all traffic went through the tollbooths, but I can see where now it's a problem.  The right sign should read "CASH OR CREDIT" and then Get Ticket signs can be posted downstream for those lanes.



OTC still insists on showing toll plaza names based on mile markers, which is pointless.  And, as has been pointed out, Toll Plaza 49 on the west side of the state can be confused with the OH-49 interchange.



Approaching I-680's southern terminus at the Turnpike.  "PREPARE TO STOP" has been yellowed out here.



"CHECK BRAKES / STOP AHEAD" has been overlaid with a new message.




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