On Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike) unanimously approved the 2026 Annual Budget and the 2026-2036 Capital Plan. The $459.7 million operating budget represents less than 2% growth from the current year, and the 10-year Capital Plan invests $8 billion in infrastructure – supporting total reconstruction, interchanges, highway maintenance, facilities, bridges and tunnel rehabilitation and IT.
As an independently operated toll road, the PA Turnpike receives no tax dollars and is supported by toll revenue. The PA Turnpike projects $1.8 billion of revenue in the new year, with nearly $1 billion funding debt service.
The burden of the imposed debt from Act 44 of 2007 has made it even more critical for the PA Turnpike to continue its conservative budgeting strategy, focusing on cost management, debt reduction and prioritization of capital plan projects. Act 44 of 2007 mandated that the PA Turnpike fund statewide transportation projects beyond the toll system. For nearly two decades, the PA Turnpike has maintained a flat operating budget and remained consistent to the Act 44 financial plan it laid out in 2007, all while continuing to provide customers with a safe and reliable roadway that supports national mobility.
“We are proud of the work we are doing to control operating expenses, which is key to the financial stability of the PA Turnpike,” said Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary and PA Turnpike Commission Chair Mike Carroll. “We continue to maintain our highway to the highest standards while responsibly managing our finances, this year’s operating budget will see only a 1.9% increase from last continuing to keep the Commission lean while still delivering on our commitments.”
Traffic volume is up 1.4% compared to the same period in 2024. Passenger vehicle traffic remains at 95% of peak 2019 levels while commercial vehicle traffic continues to be 15% above 2019 levels through the most recently completed fiscal year. Toll revenues are projected to grow 7% in 2026 compared to estimates used in 2024 due Act 44 toll increase and growth in traffic volumes.
Advancing Safety
The approved budget allocates $545.8 million of the $900.1M capital plan budget for 2026 into the system’s infrastructure – enhancing safety, reducing congestion and providing a more efficient travel experience for PA Turnpike customers. The Total Reconstruction program is a system-wide initiative that expands the PA Turnpike, increasing capacity while making the corridor safer, smoother and more efficient for incident response and removal. This year’s budget allocates funds for more than 20 reconstruction projects statewide. Beyond the Total Reconstruction program, the PA Turnpike is continuing two major bridge replacement projects at Beaver River and Hawk Falls.
The Hawk Falls Bridge Replacement Project brings a new steel arch bridge over Mud Run, realigning the Northeast Extension onto the new bridge and building a new structure over State Route 534. Crews have returned to work on deck placement for the superstructure of the new 720-foot Hawk Falls bridge in Carbon County. The $88 million project is anticipated to be done by fall 2026.
“Investments in infrastructure are an investment in progress,” said PA Turnpike Commissioner Pat Deon. “This year’s capital plan improves safety and reliability on our roadway, just look at the work we are doing with the bridge replacements on the Northeast Extension to enhance the driving experience for our customers. That commitment carries over as we reconfigure interchanges with the next phase of Open Road Tolling.”
The 2026 budget also supports $76 million for the Pennsylvania State Police Troop T, which provides dedicated, 24/7 coverage.
Ehancing Customer Service
The approved budget includes a $38.7 million investment in 2026 for the PA Turnpike’s Unified Back Office System (UBOS). The PA Turnpike is developing a new back-office system to meet ever-changing consumer needs and provide a more streamlined and seamless customer experience. Once the new system rolls out in 2027, customers will have access to a one-stop shop approach and can expect to see several enhancements:
- Enhanced self-service capabilities
- Increased payment options
- More convenient and accessible communication channels
- More personalized interactions
- More efficient problem-solving
Embracing Growth
As the PA Turnpike prepares to expand Open Road Tolling (ORT) west of Reading, this year’s budget allocates funds to expand its Fiber Optic Broadband Network, supports interchange conversion and reconfiguration, and construct new gantry sites and implement tolling technology.
Now that gantries are live East of Reading and on the Northeast Extension, the PA Turnpike is removing toll plazas from interchange locations. The removal of toll plazas, which will be completed by 2026, is the driving force behind the safety benefits of ORT, allowing for a more natural, free traffic flow. Once the toll plazas are removed, each interchange will be reconstructed to provide an unobstructed traffic flow for customers.
The approved budget and previous budgets can be found here.
The 10-year Capital Plan can be found here.
