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HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has improved its financial position since a 2022 audit, but continues to face challenges involving debt and hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid tolls, according to a new performance audit released by state Auditor General Timothy DeFoor.
The audit, which covers June 1, 2022, through May 31, 2025, includes five findings and 19 recommendations aimed at improving the commission's finances and its ability to collect unpaid tolls.
"I am pleased to say that a lot has improved since our first audit in 2022," DeFoor said.
Among the improvements, DeFoor said the commission has made progress paying down debt, improved its credit rating and worked with the General Assembly on measures designed to make it more difficult for motorists to avoid paying tolls.
However, auditors found the commission continues to carry significant debt, much of it associated with requirements imposed under Acts 44 and 89 to provide funding to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
According to the audit, the Turnpike Commission is still required to pay PennDOT another $1.6 billion through 2057.
Auditors found the financial structure continues to put pressure on the commission to raise enough toll revenue to meet its PennDOT obligations, make debt payments and fund capital projects.
The audit also found toll increases associated with Acts 44 and 89 continue to affect travelers, with annual toll increases expected through 2055. However, the commission's required annual payments to PennDOT have decreased, allowing it to improve its credit rating and invest more in Turnpike improvements beyond routine maintenance.
Auditors also examined the Turnpike's implementation of Open Road Tolling, finding the change resulted in a mix of increases and decreases in rates for passenger and commercial vehicles. The new tolling formula aligns Pennsylvania with industry standards that calculate tolls based on vehicle height and number of axles, according to the audit.
Unpaid tolls remain a significant concern.
Auditors found bad debt expenses and the amounts reported as uncollected and unbillable tolls have increased significantly since the Turnpike moved to all-electronic tolling in June 2020.
From June 2024 through May 2025, the commission was owed $229 million in unpaid tolls from in-state and out-of-state travelers, according to the audit.
Although the General Assembly and Turnpike Commission have implemented additional enforcement measures since the 2022 audit, auditors found those efforts have not resulted in the actual collection of much of the outstanding money.
"We made 19 recommendations to improve the financial status of the Turnpike and collect the money it is owed," DeFoor said. "The fact remains, the Turnpike Commission didn't get into this situation alone, and the legislature and Governor need to help improve its financial viability."
Recommendations include creating a task force to develop legislation aimed at reducing the Turnpike's debt burden and closely monitoring the performance of debt collection agencies.
Auditors also recommended considering additional payment options, including Venmo and Cash App, and exploring ways to have unpaid toll bills affect a traveler's credit score in a manner similar to other unpaid debts.