West Virginia Turnpike

[vdeane]

Having both toll by plate and cash/credit cards with no ORT lanes strikes me as very odd.  Then again, if they're getting rid of all manned toll collection at Corridor L, maybe they didn't want separate violation and bill by mail systems.

[Bitmapped]

Having both toll by plate and cash/credit cards with no ORT lanes strikes me as very odd.  Then again, if they're getting rid of all manned toll collection at Corridor L, maybe they didn't want separate violation and bill by mail systems.

I don't foresee ORT coming unless the Turnpike goes to all-electronic tolling at some point. It would be challenging to build high speed lanes at the northernmost Chelyan plaza along Cabin Creek without a lot of blasting.

There have long been issues with massive backups at the toll plazas on holidays. Tandem toll booths, where there are two in each lane to allow for simultaneous transactions, were added in a number of lanes in lieu of building more lanes. I suspect the Parkways Authority wants to push a lot of transactions towards toll-by-plate during busy periods to keep traffic moving.

[SP Cook]

The suggestion that toll-by-plate users should have to use manned lanes is absurd. There's no difference in lane throughput whether it's an E-ZPass user or a toll-by-plate user.

No, its called taking care of your best customers, the regulars if you will.  Standard practice for any business. 

The "throughput" for EZ Pass customers is far better when EZ Pass users have their own lanes, which they should.

Everyone else can wait.  Or get an EZ Pass.

[SP Cook]

https://wvmetronews.com/2024/12/01/new-beckley-travel-plaza-could-open-before-christmas/

BECKLEY, W.Va. — The West Virginia Parkways Authority is getting close to cutting the ribbon on the new Beckley Travel Plaza along the West Virginia Turnpike.

Parkways Executive Director Jeff Miller said it's down to the punch list part of the project.

"We are working on the final touches of a grand opening as we speak and we're going to be making that announcement real soon," Miller told MetroNews.

The construction of the new Bluestone Travel Plaza is a little behind the one at Beckley.

Demolition of the old travel plaza buildings began in the spring of 2023. Paramount Builders, a St. Albans-based contractor, is being paid $122.8 million to rebuild the facilities. Work is anticipated to begin on the Morton Travel Plaza in Kanawha County next spring. Miller told state lawmakers earlier this fall that will cost another $40 million.

"I'm hoping we can capture some Christmas traffic," Miller said. "Beckley is right there. The operator is finishing out the restaurants and putting all of their equipment in there."

Miller said 50 people were hired at a recent job fair.

Work is also underway to stock the Tamarack artists area that will be part of the Beckley plaza.

The Beckley plaza will have several restaurant choices including Wendy's, Starbucks, Popeyes, a 24-hour convenience-type store along with an outdoor dining options with a permanent food truck-looking structure. Areas USA is the food operator.

Miller said Beckley will also have 50 additional parking spaces for tractor trailers and 16 electric vehicle charging stations.

[PColumbus73]

The suggestion that toll-by-plate users should have to use manned lanes is absurd. There's no difference in lane throughput whether it's an E-ZPass user or a toll-by-plate user.

No, its called taking care of your best customers, the regulars if you will.  Standard practice for any business. 

The "throughput" for EZ Pass customers is far better when EZ Pass users have their own lanes, which they should.

Everyone else can wait.  Or get an EZ Pass.

It's no different than toll roads that are all ORT.

As long as all the toll plazas can be consistent about where the ORT / Toll-by-plate lanes are VS the Cash lanes there shouldn't be an issue.

Except for the Ghent toll plaza, the other two toll plazas are conjoined, it seems like the inside lanes and the outermost lanes would be cash while the middle lanes are EZ Pass / Toll-by-Plate. The terrain is going to make it extremely difficult to rebuild the toll plazas.

[vdeane]

The suggestion that toll-by-plate users should have to use manned lanes is absurd. There's no difference in lane throughput whether it's an E-ZPass user or a toll-by-plate user.

No, its called taking care of your best customers, the regulars if you will.  Standard practice for any business. 

The "throughput" for EZ Pass customers is far better when EZ Pass users have their own lanes, which they should.

Everyone else can wait.  Or get an EZ Pass.

It's no different than toll roads that are all ORT.

As long as all the toll plazas can be consistent about where the ORT / Toll-by-plate lanes are VS the Cash lanes there shouldn't be an issue.

Except for the Ghent toll plaza, the other two toll plazas are conjoined, it seems like the inside lanes and the outermost lanes would be cash while the middle lanes are EZ Pass / Toll-by-Plate. The terrain is going to make it extremely difficult to rebuild the toll plazas.

Are they going ORT?  My understanding is that this is just affecting the existing E-ZPass lanes at the existing toll plazas, ie, traffic will still be restricted to 5 mph (which is pretty much a rolling stop), just now with potentially more traffic.

[PColumbus73]

I'm not sure, I don't think the Turnpike is going full ORT. I haven't seen anything about the WV Turnpike rebuilding the toll plazas either.

But it sounded like SP Cook was taking the position of kicking out Toll-by-Plate drivers from E-ZPass lanes, which is why I made the allusion to ORT highways.

[Bitmapped]

Are they going ORT?  My understanding is that this is just affecting the existing E-ZPass lanes at the existing toll plazas, ie, traffic will still be restricted to 5 mph (which is pretty much a rolling stop), just now with potentially more traffic.

They are not. The toll plazas are not being rebuilt.

[hwyfan]

I'm not sure, I don't think the Turnpike is going full ORT. I haven't seen anything about the WV Turnpike rebuilding the toll plazas either.

But it sounded like SP Cook was taking the position of kicking out Toll-by-Plate drivers from E-ZPass lanes, which is why I made the allusion to ORT highways.

Jeff Miller, who is executive director of the West Virginia Turnpike, commented on a recent podcast interview that AET would be something that the Turnpike may pursue in the long term future.   Not now however, beyond the North Buckley ramp.   

[thenetwork]

Are they going ORT?  My understanding is that this is just affecting the existing E-ZPass lanes at the existing toll plazas, ie, traffic will still be restricted to 5 mph (which is pretty much a rolling stop), just now with potentially more traffic.

They are not. The toll plazas are not being rebuilt.

But the toll barriers for the most part are +/- 40 years old and are nearing the end of their lifespans despite a few technological and cosmetic upgrades over the decades. 

[seicer]

They are not at the end of their lifespan, and there are toll plazas that have been around for longer and are in fine condition.

Going back to electronic toll collections, for September, the take rate is 59.1%, an increase of 1.9% from the prior year. Or 66.6% of total toll revenue, a rise of 2.2% from the preceding year. The revenue is increasing more than the overall take if you review older data from the WVPA, which may indicate that commercial trucks are increasingly using EZ-Pass. This would mirror trends with other major toll roads.

--

Unrelated, it appears that there will be a major sign replacement project between miles 36.7 and 59.5 (source).

[hbelkins]

Unrelated, it appears that there will be a major sign replacement project between miles 36.7 and 59.5 (source).

That's the Beckley section, and most of those signs were already replaced during the recent widening. So this makes little sense.

I guess this means they'll get rid of that backlit "Richmond-Charlotte" sign that I've never seen lit up.

[plain]

Unrelated, it appears that there will be a major sign replacement project between miles 36.7 and 59.5 (source).

That's the Beckley section, and most of those signs were already replaced during the recent widening. So this makes little sense.

I guess this means they'll get rid of that backlit "Richmond-Charlotte" sign that I've never seen lit up.

Yeah that's what I'm afraid of. If they do go, I wonder if they will keep those controls on some new conventional signs or will those controls be eliminated altogether? I'm hoping for the former.

[SP Cook]

The "Richmond-Charlotte" signage, is there a term for that, maybe "super control city", never made any sense.  The control cities are Lewisburg and Bluefield, and have been since the road was built.  And each as more control cites after those, Wytheville, Statesville, and then Charlotte; and Lexington, Staunton, Charlottesville, and then Richmond.  There is not similar "Pittsburgh-Cleveland" at the 77-79 JCT, nor does 64-77 get "St. Louis- Pittsburgh-Cleveland".  79-68 doesn't get "Pittsburgh-Baltimore", using the unknow, and a little confusing "Washington, PA-Cumberland". 

If you don't know that Charlotte is south of West Virginia and Richmond is east of West Virginia, you probably need some remedial work.

[plain]

The "Richmond-Charlotte" signage, is there a term for that, maybe "super control city", never made any sense.  The control cities are Lewisburg and Bluefield, and have been since the road was built.  And each as more control cites after those, Wytheville, Statesville, and then Charlotte; and Lexington, Staunton, Charlottesville, and then Richmond.  There is not similar "Pittsburgh-Cleveland" at the 77-79 JCT, nor does 64-77 get "St. Louis- Pittsburgh-Cleveland".  79-68 doesn't get "Pittsburgh-Baltimore", using the unknow, and a little confusing "Washington, PA-Cumberland". 

If you don't know that Charlotte is south of West Virginia and Richmond is east of West Virginia, you probably need some remedial work.

It's just a rare case of long-distance cities, like Atlanta & Miami being mentioned in VA, or NYC being mentioned in OH (though I think that's gone now).

[74/171FAN]

The "Richmond-Charlotte" signage, is there a term for that, maybe "super control city", never made any sense.  The control cities are Lewisburg and Bluefield, and have been since the road was built.  And each as more control cites after those, Wytheville, Statesville, and then Charlotte; and Lexington, Staunton, Charlottesville, and then Richmond.  There is not similar "Pittsburgh-Cleveland" at the 77-79 JCT, nor does 64-77 get "St. Louis- Pittsburgh-Cleveland".  79-68 doesn't get "Pittsburgh-Baltimore", using the unknow, and a little confusing "Washington, PA-Cumberland". 

If you don't know that Charlotte is south of West Virginia and Richmond is east of West Virginia, you probably need some remedial work.

It's just a rare case of long-distance cities, like Atlanta & Miami being mentioned in VA, or NYC being mentioned in OH (though I think that's gone now).

New York is still mentioned in Ohio.  This photo is on US 422 WB at OH 711 from October 5, 2024.  (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10221251640721069&set=a.10221251825365685)

[hbelkins]

The "Richmond-Charlotte" signage, is there a term for that, maybe "super control city", never made any sense.  The control cities are Lewisburg and Bluefield, and have been since the road was built.  And each as more control cites after those, Wytheville, Statesville, and then Charlotte; and Lexington, Staunton, Charlottesville, and then Richmond.  There is not similar "Pittsburgh-Cleveland" at the 77-79 JCT, nor does 64-77 get "St. Louis- Pittsburgh-Cleveland".  79-68 doesn't get "Pittsburgh-Baltimore", using the unknow, and a little confusing "Washington, PA-Cumberland". 

If you don't know that Charlotte is south of West Virginia and Richmond is east of West Virginia, you probably need some remedial work.

It's just a rare case of long-distance cities, like Atlanta & Miami being mentioned in VA, or NYC being mentioned in OH (though I think that's gone now).

Well, in all honesty, Lewisburg never made a lot of sense to me. I've always thought it was goofy since the first time I saw it. I always thought Lexington (or Lexington VA, to avoid confusion with a different Lexington I-64 passed through 240 miles to the west) would make more sense, since it's at the intersection of I-81.

[SP Cook]

I-80 is a long discussion, and different.  If you didn't use New York, what would you use?  It is hundreds of miles of woodland.

This is a one of sign, you won't see Charlotte mentioned again until the 77-81 split outside Wytheville, and I don't think you see Richmond until you are past Charlottesville, although it has been a long time since I traveled that way. 

We can argue WV, or other states (North Carolina, anyone?) provincial control cities, but WV is consistent, the last in-state control city is the major town in the border county the road leaves the state in.   

[seicer]

They could swap it out for "Myrtle Beach"😏

[Mapmikey]

This is a one of sign, you won't see Charlotte mentioned again until the 77-81 split outside Wytheville, and I don't think you see Richmond until you are past Charlottesville, although it has been a long time since I traveled that way

Richmond is the control city leaving I-81 Staunton.  Richmond mileage signs appear regularly starting just past the Virginia Welcome Center leaving West Virginia

[hbelkins]

We can argue WV, or other states (North Carolina, anyone?) provincial control cities, but WV is consistent, the last in-state control city is the major town in the border county the road leaves the state in.   

Not entirely; I-64's westernmost county is Wayne (county seat is Wayne, which is south of the interstate on WV 152) yet the control city west of Huntington is Ashland.

(I know, I'm picking nits.)

[SP Cook]

Not entirely; I-64's westernmost county is Wayne (county seat is Wayne, which is south of the interstate on WV 152) yet the control city west of Huntington is Ashland.

(I know, I'm picking nits.)

Huntington is a two county city, the Westmoreland neighborhood is inside the city limits of Huntington, but in Wayne County.

Nitro and Weirton are also two county cities.

[Bitmapped]

https://wvmetronews.com/2025/01/01/new-toll-rate-in-effect-for-west-virginia-turnpike/

Tolls went up on the West Virginia Turnpike for 2025. Mainline plazas are now $4.50 for anything other than WV's unlimited use E-ZPass, an increase from the $4.25 rate that had been in effective since 2022. The unlimited use pass is still $26.25/year.

The North Beckley plaza on US 19 had been $0.75. I haven't seen any info on its new rate.

[wriddle082]

https://wvmetronews.com/2025/01/01/new-toll-rate-in-effect-for-west-virginia-turnpike/

Tolls went up on the West Virginia Turnpike for 2025. Mainline plazas are now $4.50 for anything other than WV's unlimited use E-ZPass, an increase from the $4.25 rate that had been in effective since 2022. The unlimited use pass is still $26.25/year.

The North Beckley plaza on US 19 had been $0.75. I haven't seen any info on its new rate.

Indeed, I got to pay the new $4.50 rates today, after paying $4.25 on Monday.  Happy New Year to me!  So I'm seriously considering asking my boss if I can buy a flat yearly rate WV EZPass on the company's dime since it looks like I'll be working in OH a good bit for the foreseeable future.

Also, I stopped at the brand new Beckley service plaza today.  Very nice!  The landscaping was still muddy, as this is not the time of year to lay sod or grass seed down, but they'll get to it.  Bathrooms had the combination soap dispenser/sink/hand dryer that I've recently seen in airports.  I would have gotten lunch at Popeye's but it was the heart of lunch hour and pretty busy, so I got food in Princeton instead, after seeing some nice snow cover around Ghent (road was clear, thankfully, though sleet did fall a few times).

[ARMOURERERIC]

I passed through the exit 48 toll by plate on the 23rd and yesterday.  I wonder how long it will take for the bill to arrive.