Ohio Gov. Bob Taft said Monday that tolls would be cut for big rigs using the Ohio Turnpike. The measure is intended to move trucks off overloaded two-lane roads
, the Akron-Beacon Journal reported Tuesday.
Beginning in February, the turnpike will begin an 18-month trial of lower tolls for commercial trucks. For big trucks that most often use the turnpike, the toll will drop from $42.45 to $31 to cross the state. Tolls for the biggest trucks, doubles and triples over 80,000 pounds, will drop by more than half from $72.45 to $31. Tolls for cars will remain the same.
The Ohio Turnpike Commission already has put in place higher speed limits for trucks -- raising it from 55 mph to 65 -- as part of their plan to get more trucks on the turnpike.
Truck traffic began spilling over to smaller roads after an 82% toll increase took full effect in 1999.