The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission recently voted to make the entire interstate network a cashless system and lay off 500 toll workers as a result, according to a report from The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The agency that once primarily relied on fare collectors has been transitioning to a system that uses E-ZPass, as well as automated license readers, for several years and will finalize this with the latest move.

The agency made the conversion to all-electronic tolling in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has decided to make it permanent.

The Turnpike stated that traffic has gone down by almost half compared to a year ago, which played a role in the decision.

Additionally, the agency wanted to avoid a situation where it would have to shut down entire interchanges after a worker tested positive for COVID-19.

“I deeply regret that we have reached this point, but the world has been irrevocably changed by the global pandemic,” said chief executive Mark Compton. “This pandemic had a much greater impact than anyone could have foreseen.”

The job losses will begin on June 18.

Read more about the Pennsylvania Turnpike in The Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.

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Top photo credit: SchuminWeb Sign at the entrance to the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Breezewood [02] via photopin (license)

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