Turnpike travel isn't always easy without an EZ Pass

MILAN — Recent sightings have shown increasingly long lines for Ohio Turnpike poll booths, especially at Exit 118 for Norwalk and Sandusky. Sometimes, the lines are so long that even those with EZ Passes are blocked from getting to their respective lanes because of overflowing lines. This, of course, has a lot to do with the flowing of Cedar Point traffic, especially at opening and closing times for the park which is currently from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. "It (Exit 118) is also a Cedar Point exit so in the summer we are going to have a little bit more backups going on. When it is not Cedar Point season there is almost no problem whatsoever," said Brain Newbacher, the on-call worker for the Ohio Turnpike's media relations. Even during busy Cedar Point hours, the toll plaza sometimes does not have enough workers to help with overflow and, as a result, backups that even delays those with EZ Passes is seen. Newbacher says that like other businesses all across the country, the Ohio Turnpike is struggling to hire new workers due to coming out of the pandemic. "It is just difficult to get people hired for people that are retiring that we have in our workforce," Newbacher said. "We are getting people replaced but it is a process. It has not been as smooth of a process but this is typical of what is happening nationwide. Just coming out of the pandemic and people being selective about where they want to work." A lack of in-person workers can create a variety of problems when drivers themselves are relied on to correctly work the tolling machines. "Sometimes the people don't do the transaction right, the automated toll payment machines, they have difficulty with a wrinkled bill and if a ticket is wet that can cause a problem," Newbacher said. As a result, mechanical problems occur and Ohio Turnpike staff must come out to deal with the issue personally. Mechanical problems can take time to fix, meaning slowdowns for travelers who don't have an EZ Pass. The hassle of automated machines and long lines might soon be a thing of the past, however, as the Ohio Turnpike plans to implement a new system soon. "In 2023 we are going to have a modernized open road tolling system so the whole toll collection process will be more efficient," Newbacher said. The Ohio Turnpike announced its plans for this open road tolling system back in 2017 and plans are still under configuration. Open road tolling means that EZ Pass users who are traveling the full length of the turnpike will be able to do so nonstop at highway speeds (70 mph). It also means that they will rid the turnpike of all entrance booths as well as EZ Pass exit booths, meaning the only booths needed will be for non-EZ pass users. For more information on the open road tolling system visit ohioturnpike.org