Law enforcement rolls out RNC hotline for suspicious activity

Local, state and federal law enforcement recently rolled out a phone hotline number dedicated to security of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. 

If you see suspicious activity, such as surveillance, unattended packages, or a person that questions others at a level beyond curiosity about a building's security, for example, you are asked to call 1-800-225-5324. This number is specifically for suspicious activity related to the RNC.

For emergencies such as a traffic accident or breakdown on the Ohio Turnpike, the number to call is *990. Safe travels!

Randy Cole
Executive Director

Prevent car thefts from heating up this summer

In 2014, Ohio ranked eighth in stolen vehicles (with 18,015 stolen) according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) recent theft report of all model year-vehicles stolen during calendar year 2014.
 
Did you know? Passenger cars make up about 75 percent of all stolen vehicles and July is when more are stolen than any other month.

• About 45 percent of all stolen vehicles are never recovered.
• A vehicle is stolen about every 46 seconds somewhere in the United States.
• There were 689,527 vehicles stolen  in 2014.  

• Always take your keys and never leave them in your vehicle.
• Close windows and lock doors.
• Park in well-lit areas.
• Never leave valuables in your vehicle, especially where they can be seen.
• Never leave the area while your vehicle is running.

Congratulations to the Toledo Air Show Ticket Winner!

Congratulations to Irene Kopp of Cleveland for winning four free tickets to the Toledo Air Show. She entered to win the contest while reading last month's edition of the Customer Connection and was the lucky winner chosen from 964 entries. 

Keep watching the Customer Connection for additional contests in future editions!

VIDEO: How to properly mount your transponder 

Tired of getting stuck in E-ZPass-only lanes? This video will show you how to install your E-ZPass transponder. Improper installation is the number one reason transponders do not read correctly (holding it up/waving it around; especially past the "read zone").  Mounting your E-ZPass transponder is a must to guarantee fast, hassle-free transactions.

Ohio Heartland Stores feature Great Lakes Smoked Meats

With remodeling complete and new and more products in additional Ohio Turnpike Service Plazas, customers have more opportunities to pick up their favorite Ohio-made delicacies.

Great Lakes Smoked Meats, for example, offers seven delicious flavors at the Middle Ridge and Vermilion Valley Service Plazas in Amherst. Now, they also offer four flavors from the Fligner family's specialty recipes at all Travel Marts inside the plazas at Portage and Brady's Leap; Towpath and Great Lakes; and Commodore Perry and Erie Islands Service Plazas. Offered at the additional Service Plazas are Original, Home BBQ, Beef and Cheddar, and Jalapeno. 

Look for additional profiles on Ohio Heartland Stores' products in future editions of Customer Connection.
 

Join us at Customer Appreciation Event on Aug. 5  

Come one come all! The Ohio Turnpike is hosting a Customer Appreciation Day on Aug. 5 at the Middle Ridge Service Plaza located at Milepost 139.5 Westbound in Amherst, Ohio. The event is being held in conjunction with Sturgis Bike Week.

Travelers will be treated to free samples from Ohio Heartland Stores and $1 hot dogs from AVI Food Systems from 10:00 a.m.until 3:00 p.m. Scheduled to participate are Great Lakes Smoked Meats of Lorain, Heini's Cheese of Berlin, Ohio, Schlecter Brothers Country Harvest of Amherst, Figg's Apple Pie of Mansfield and Udderly Smooth of Salem, Ohio.

The Ohio Turnpike, Ohio State Highway Patrol and Sunoco will participate with children's activities, coupons and safety information. 

Fitch affirms Ohio Turnpike's ratings at AA and A+

Fitch Ratings has affirmed its ratings on revenue bonds sold by the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission. The ratings of 'AA' for $526 million in senior lien revenue bonds and 'A+' for $1.04 billion in junior lien revenue bonds, was announced with a stable outlook for both ratings.

The Fitch rating of AA on the senior lien bonds makes the Ohio Turnpike the highest rated toll road in the nation.

Key rating drivers that Fitch used include the fact that the Ohio Turnpike is a key east-west interstate connector that faces limited competition and has a stable traffic base of commercial traffic compared with other toll roads. The report also recognized that the Commission has historically produced consistently sound financial results. For example, traffic and revenue were up 4.1 percent and 5.9 percent, respectively, in 2015.

"Fitch recognizes the Ohio Turnpike is a strategic asset with low revenue volatility and is deserving of its ratings affirmation," said Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission Chief Financial Officer Marty Seekely.
 

Marty Seekely 
Chief
Financial Officer

Kids in hot cars are a deadly combination to prevent

Vehicles heat up quickly. The Ohio Turnpike, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and other safety advocates have recognized the safety threat heatstroke poses for leaving children in hot cars.

Here are the key facts: Heatstroke is the leading cause of passenger vehicle non-crash related fatalities for children 14 and younger. From 1998-2015, 661 children died due to heatstroke.

Of the 661 deaths:
• 54% child “forgotten” by caregiver (356 children)

• 29% child playing in unattended vehicle (186 children)

• 17% child intentionally left in vehicle by adult  (111 children)

• 1% were unknown cases (5 children)

In 2015 there were 24 heatstroke deaths of children in vehicles.

• Children are at a higher risk than adults of dying from heatstroke in a hot vehicle especially when they are too young to communicate.

• A child’s temperature heats up 3 to 5 times faster than that of an adult’s. 

In 10 minutes a car can heat up 20 degrees. Rolling down a window does little to keep it cool. 

Heatstroke prevention tips:

Stay informed on changing traffic patterns due to accidents, work zones and construction delays,
E-ZPass® updates and other Turnpike news by following us on Twitter and Facebook.

Copyright © 2016 Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you have a past relationship with the
Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission.

Published by the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission,
Randy Cole, Executive Director
Adam Greenslade, Director of Government Affairs, Marketing and Communications
Questions or suggestions? Contact Brian Newbacher, Editor, brian.newbacher@ohioturnpike.org.

Our mailing address is:
Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission
682 Prospect Street
Berea, OH 44017
440-234-2081

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