By Beth Sergent, Charleston Gazette-Mail
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Credit cards will be accepted at toll facilities along the West Virginia Turnpike next year — joining existing cash and E-ZPass payment options — all of which will be available to pay for another toll increase, also on the horizon for 2025.
The addition of credit cards, a toll increase, and an update on the Beckley and Bluestone travel plaza upgrades were discussed at Tuesday’s legislative interim meeting of the Joint Legislative Oversight Commission on Dept of Transportation Accountability.
Toll increases
Jeffrey A. Miller, executive director of the West Virginia Parkways Authority, told committee members that the Authority will follow state code for toll increases, which allows for no more than a 5% increase no less than every three years. The last increase was in 2022. Currently, motorists pay $4.25 at each toll station. Unlimited use of the E-ZPass transponder is $26.25 per year.
“We’ve seen an inflationary increase in goods, materials, and this goes all the way down to paving projects, construction projects,” Miller said. “I think it’s necessary for us to keep up our capital funds, and debt service requirements, liquidity requirements, to maintain those funds, and it’s necessary to implement that previously approved increase.”
