PA Turnpike All-Electronic Interchanges

[jeffandnicole]

Next Week, the PA Turnpike is opening another all-electronic (EZ Pass only) interchange with Rt. 29 (new Exit 320).  This is one of a few that the PA Turnpike has created over the past several years.

However, one annoying feature (at least to me) with these interchanges is that they keep putting barriers between the lanes.  There's no future for manned booths, plus the islands are too narrow for a booth anyway.  The sole purpose appears to be to install the gantry between the two lanes.  Like any other 2 lane ramp, or any express EZ Pass plaza, the lanes could easily be kept together with a single gantry over the lanes.  From a safety point alone, the barrier is needlessly there.

http://www.paturnpike.com/constructionprojects/r29ramp/project-overview.aspx

[PHLBOS]

I could easily see myself using that interchange from time-to-time instead of Valley Forge.

Now if the PTC can only build one at where US 202 crosses over I-476 (the Northeast Extension).

[roadman]

I see a couple of advantages to the barriers.  First, the presense of the physical divider will tend to slow traffic down, which IMO is a good thing for locations like this one.  Remember, these are exit and entrance ramps, and not the Turnpike mainline.

Second, the barrier allows the use of the "butterfly' uprights for the lane lights and related equipment, as opposed to typical cantilever or full span support gantries.  This design, especially the foundation, is easier and less costly to construct than more "traditional' supports are.  As the barriers have impact attenuators, they are considered "protected" locations, so the installations conform to current MUTCD guidance for support installation.

[cpzilliacus]

Now if the PTC can only build one at where US 202 crosses over I-476 (the Northeast Extension).

How about one in Bedford County, at the (non)connection to I-70 East?

[Beltway]

Now if the PTC can only build one at where US 202 crosses over I-476 (the Northeast Extension).

How about one in Bedford County, at the (non)connection to I-70 East?

Breezewood !!

[jeffandnicole]

I see a couple of advantages to the barriers.  First, the presense of the physical divider will tend to slow traffic down, which IMO is a good thing for locations like this one.  Remember, these are exit and entrance ramps, and not the Turnpike mainline.

Right, but then why aren't barriers built on all ramps?  There are tens of thousands of miles of highway with thousands of ramps, almost all of which don't have barriers between lanes.  So why here?

Second, the barrier allows the use of the "butterfly' uprights for the lane lights and related equipment, as opposed to typical cantilever or full span support gantries.  This design, especially the foundation, is easier and less costly to construct than more "traditional' supports are.  As the barriers have impact attenuators, they are considered "protected" locations, so the installations conform to current MUTCD guidance for support installation.

I don't necessarily agree with this either.  Maybe the support itself is cheaper, but all that other stuff - the curbing, the attenuators, etc - adds a lot more to the cost.  The overhead gantry typically used for BGSs or used on all-electronic toll roads would work just as well here as well.

In fact, the signage itself is almost as useless.  All-electronic roads don't have separated lanes with signs detailing when a lane is open or closed.  Why here?

[PHLBOS]

There are a cople of recent photos in the PTC's website that show the new BGS' past the toll gantries for the two I-76 directions.  Breaking w/usual PTC tradition, Exit number ranges are not shown on the BGS'.

Included in the eastbound BGS messages are TO 276 references but no I-476/Northeast Extension references that are shown at the Downington (PA 100) & Valley Forge (I-76 East) interchanges.  The numeral font in the I-276 shield are of the narrow series B rather than the series C font.  The font used for the I-76 shield numerals are the usual series D.

Direction cardinals are in Clearview (a design no-no) in addtion to the control cities (authorized use of Clearview).  Control cites use the usual/expected Harrisburg & Philadelphia.

I'd be curious to know how the exit BGS' look.  Time will tell.

[vdeane]

I think the reason for the barriers is so the PTC doesn't have to spend money on tag readers that can deal with lane changes.

[cpzilliacus]

I think the reason for the barriers is so the PTC doesn't have to spend money on tag readers that can deal with lane changes.

But if they want to transition to all-electronic toll collection with gantries between interchanges, they had better figure that out. 

Md. 200 has gantries that read the transponder regardless of what lane a driver is in (including the shoulders).

[PHLBOS]

Given the way this particular interchange is designed (trumpet w/a connector/feeder road); had this been 15 to 20 years ago, it would've been a regular toll plaza constructed there.

[cpzilliacus]

Now if the PTC can only build one at where US 202 crosses over I-476 (the Northeast Extension).

How about one in Bedford County, at the (non)connection to I-70 East?

Breezewood !!

Umm, yes.  I consider that place name to be an obscenity, and try not to mention it if I can.

[NJRoadfan]

Breezewood !!

Whats sad is that one can be fixed without touching the existing toll plaza by adding just two ramps.

[Zmapper]

I think the reason for the barriers is so the PTC doesn't have to spend money on tag readers that can deal with lane changes.

But if they want to transition to all-electronic toll collection with gantries between interchanges, they had better figure that our. 

Md. 200 has gantries that read the transponder regardless of what lane a driver is in (including the shoulders).

According to personal observation, E-470 in Denver does not charge you if you change lanes under the gantry. A single (note: not double) white line exists beneath the gantry, and for about 500' or so afterward to discourage people from changing lanes there.

It seems like the problem could be easily fixed by installing readers between the lanes, and on the shoulder.

[vdeane]

I think the reason for the barriers is so the PTC doesn't have to spend money on tag readers that can deal with lane changes.

But if they want to transition to all-electronic toll collection with gantries between interchanges, they had better figure that out. 

Md. 200 has gantries that read the transponder regardless of what lane a driver is in (including the shoulders).

What makes you think that they want to switch to a barrier system if/when they go all-electronic?  Maybe they plan to retain the ticket system with toll gantries at interchanges.  It does make toll collection a lot simpler, especially since the interchanges are already set up for it.

[Mr_Northside]

What makes you think that they want to switch to a barrier system if/when they go all-electronic?  Maybe they plan to retain the ticket system with toll gantries at interchanges.  It does make toll collection a lot simpler, especially since the interchanges are already set up for it.

Actually, one of the articles I read (can't remember exactly from where at the moment) indicated they were studying a plan that there would only be toll "readers" along the mainline, and not at exits... so it would somewhat resemble a "barrier system"... but they'd be placed between each exit (it didn't mention anything about the current "free" stretch between Cranberry (I-79) & New Castle (Toll I-376) retaining that status or not), so the tolls should still represent a "per mile" fare the way the ticket system does now.

[vdeane]

It's still more complicated to collect though.  You either have to wait a long time and group several tolls into one or have each vehicle rack up an entire statement's worth of barrier tolls in one trip.

[cpzilliacus]

It's still more complicated to collect though.  You either have to wait a long time and group several tolls into one or have each vehicle rack up an entire statement's worth of barrier tolls in one trip.

Maryland's Route 200 (ICC) works that way - if you drive several segments, the tolls are computed as if it was a "closed" ticket-type toll road on my E-ZPass statement.

[vdeane]

Yeah, but as noted in another thread, the system has a huge lag in order to group all the barriers into a single trip.

[cpzilliacus]

Yeah, but as noted in another thread, the system has a huge lag in order to group all the barriers into a single trip.

Usually a day.

[cpzilliacus]

Next Week, the PA Turnpike is opening another all-electronic (EZ Pass only) interchange with Rt. 29 (new Exit 320).  This is one of a few that the PA Turnpike has created over the past several years.

TOLLROADSnews: Penn Pike opening third new all-electronic interchange - IC320 SR29 Malvern

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett will open the state Turnpike's third and most ambitious all-electronic interchange Tuesday (Dec 11) at Mile Post 320 (MP320) in the Great Valley, Chester County PA on the northwest outskirts of the Philadelphia area. The new interchange known as SR29 E-ZPass Only is 21 miles, 34km as the crow flies from downtown Philadelphia and provides access to a major corporate center, medical services, a campus of Penn State University as well as scattered residential development that have grown up around once rural villages in the Malvern area - East Whiteland Township.

[KEVIN_224]

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/video/8056976-corbett-opens-turnpike-interchange-outside-philly/

Here's the interchange story from KYW-TV (CBS) channel 3 of Philadelphia. Gotta get used to the BPS (big PURPLE sign).

[Ian]

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/video/8056976-corbett-opens-turnpike-interchange-outside-philly/

Here's the interchange story from KYW-TV (CBS) channel 3 of Philadelphia. Gotta get used to the BPS (big PURPLE sign).

Those purple signs are certainly interesting to say the least. I believe there are a few at the new exit 352 (PA 132/Street Road) interchange in Bensalem as well.

I may head over to the new PA 29 interchange this weekend and get some photos.

[NE2]

That sign bips.

[hbelkins]

On my just-concluded trip to PA for Steve's US 202 meet, I did something I don't usually do -- I relied on my GPS for routing to my motel. It was located on PA 132 (Street Road) and the GPS directed me to use the E-ZPass only exit at 352. My GPS didn't know whether I had an E-ZPass or not. It should have routed me off the Turnpike at 351 and then had me take US 1 to PA 132. I can see this causing problems for someone who is more overly reliant on the GPS than I usually and doesn't have an E-ZPass. Thankfully I do.

And there are purple signs on PA 132 approaching the ramp.

[MASTERNC]

On my just-concluded trip to PA for Steve's US 202 meet, I did something I don't usually do -- I relied on my GPS for routing to my motel. It was located on PA 132 (Street Road) and the GPS directed me to use the E-ZPass only exit at 352. My GPS didn't know whether I had an E-ZPass or not. It should have routed me off the Turnpike at 351 and then had me take US 1 to PA 132. I can see this causing problems for someone who is more overly reliant on the GPS than I usually and doesn't have an E-ZPass. Thankfully I do.

And there are purple signs on PA 132 approaching the ramp.

It was enough of a problem that the PTC sent out a warning via the media that some GPS devices might lead motorists to E-ZPass slip ramps.