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July 2015 Facebook Twitter YouTube Flickr
Customer Connection
In This Newsletter
Get collectibles while they last
Giant Eagle offers E-ZPass
60th Anniversary Video
Join us at FREE event
The Ohio Turnpike - A Better Way To Travel®

Readers get first dibs on 60th anniversary collectibles

In a story of national significance heralded by major news organizations including the New York Times, NBC's Today Show and Arthur Godfrey, the Ohio Turnpike opened all 241 miles to east-west traffic on Oct. 1, 1955.

To mark this milestone in the history of transportation, the Ohio Turnpike is offering to readers of the Customer Connection a limited series of gold-plated 60th anniversary key chains and commemorative coins, in partnership with the Ohio State Highway Patrol. (The reverse side of the coin and key chain features the iconic Patrol logo.)

The cost of the key chain and coin is $10 plus sales tax, shipping and handling. Orders are first-come, first-served via the Ohio Turnpike website.

Also offered for sale is a special edition, silver-plated 60th anniversary lapel pin, which costs $5. Proceeds from sales will help the Turnpike defray costs of 60th anniversary activities.

Own a piece of history by purchasing your key chain, coin or lapel pin while supplies last. All three will be available for purchase at the Middle Ridge and Vermilion Valley Service Plazas beginning on Aug. 1.

The Turnpike Commission is also seeking suggestions and submissions for items to include in a 60th anniversary time capsule. Please send your suggestions on information about your Turnpike items to news@ohioturnpike.org.

 

Own a piece of history

For sale to readers of the Customer Connection is a limited edition series of gold-plated key chains and commemorative coins. Lapel pins are also available.



Commemorative key chain with iconic State Highway Patrol Flying Wheel logo on the reverse side.
 
       
60th Anniversary Lapel Pin
 

Giant Eagle becomes first Ohio retailer to offer E-ZPass

Taking the Ohio Turnpike will now be easier than ever. In a move designed to enable convenient access to the E-ZPass® program, Giant Eagle is the first non-turnpike retailer to offer E-ZPass transponders to customers at 90 northern Ohio locations in 13 counties.

In its first five years and eight months of operation on the Ohio Turnpike, E-ZPass saved its customers more than $235 million compared to customers who paid cash over the same period.

"Customer can save both money and time by enrolling in E-ZPass at Giant Eagle," said Ohio Turnpike Executive Director Randy Cole. "The average savings is 33 percent and customers can save up to 50 percent on a single trip. If you already have E-ZPass, tell your family and friends to get in on the savings."

"At Giant Eagle, we are continually seeking opportunities to maximize customer convenience," said Giant Eagle spokesperson Dan Donovan. "We are excited to be the first retailer in Ohio to offer our customers the ability to obtain E-ZPass transponders in-store."

With 26 tolling authorities in 15 states, E-ZPass represents the largest and most successful interoperable tolling network in the world.

  • E-ZPass transponders are $12 at all retail locations.
  • Allow up to 24 hours for activation and use of the transponder in Ohio and 48 hours in other states.
  • A credit card and a minimum balance of $25 per transponder are required to open an account.
  • About 53 percent of all customers currently use E-ZPass.

Randy Cole
Executive Director

Ohio Turnpike waives fee for frequent E-ZPass users

The Ohio Turnpike reminds readers that any E-ZPass® customer who uses the Turnpike at least 30 times a month (15 round-trips or 30 single trips) no longer pays a monthly maintenance fee on their E-ZPass account.

"E-ZPass brings great value to our customers," said Turnpike Executive Director Randy Cole. "Businesses and individual customers save time at interchanges and pay lower toll rates compared to cash-paying customers. The average savings is about 33 percent."

The monthly fee for frequent customers was first waived by the Commission on Jan. 1, 2014.

Watch first edition of 60th Anniversary Video Scrapbook

The Ohio Turnpike recently dusted off its archival materials and discovered film from its construction in the early 1950s. Recently digitized film footage will be shared in short clips starting with this edition.

“The enormity of constructing a 241-mile super highway in  under 36 months cannot be understated," said Jerry Hruby, Chairman of the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission. "Sharing these clips from yesteryear helps us understand and commemorate the commitment it took to build the Ohio Turnpike 60 years ago."

The first scene below captures Ohio Turnpike Commission Chairman James W. Shocknessy leading a group to inspect the Maumee River Twin Bridge project in 1954.

Jerry Hruby
Chairman

“The enormity of constructing a 241-mile super highway in under 36 months cannot be understated."  -- Chairman Jerry Hruby

Join us at our Customer Appreciation Day on July 31

Come one come all! The Ohio Turnpike is hosting a Customer Appreciation Day on July 31 at the Middle Ridge Service Plaza located at Milepost 139.5 Westbound in Amherst, Ohio.

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. There also will be a simulated work zone and a distracted driving simulator present to show how important it is to drive safely in work zones and without distractions.

  Customers enjoy free samples of Ohio-made products at the event on June 19.

Ohio Turnpike highlights positive financial results in 2014

The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission recently reported its financial results for 2014, including a $9.9 million increase in combined passenger and commercial vehicle revenue. The increase was due to growth in vehicle miles traveled and a 2.7 percent toll rate increase. The Commission finished 2014 with toll revenue of $254.62 million, a 3.9 percent increase compared to 2013.

Approximately 40.3 million passenger cars and 10.9 million commercial vehicles drove a total of 2.9 billion miles on the Turnpike in 2014. The results were reported in the Turnpike's 2014 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

"Our 2014 financial results were strong and our efforts to provide a world-class toll road are bolstered by our positive ratings by outside analysts. We are proud to know that we are again one of the highest-rated toll roads in the nation and one of the best-managed toll facilities in the world," said Randy Cole, Executive Director.

Martin Seekely
Chief Financial Officer



On Dec. 28, 1955, the Columbus Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi presented an award to Ohio Turnpike Chairman James Shocknessy "for his outstanding humanitarian policy of non-discrimination in regard to employment on the Ohio Turnpike."

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Copyright © 2015 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.

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

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