Kansas Turnpike’s new cashless tolling will charge drivers differently: What to know
If you’re planning to take a road trip on or after July 1, you may get to your destination faster than usual.
That’s because the Kansas Turnpike is switching to cashless tolling on that date, which means you will no longer have to stop by a toll booth to pay.
So, what exactly are the changes? Here’s a rundown on the new system and what you should know next time you hit the road.
How does cashless tolling work?
The current tolling system tracks tolls by entry and exit locations, and tolls are paid via toll booths.
Starting July 1, drivers will not have to stop at a toll booth to pay. The new system allows drivers to keep moving, and cashless readers track the vehicles whenever they pass a checkpoint. Every time a driver passes a checkpoint, a new transaction is added to their trip.
So instead of being charged based on where you enter and exit, your cost will be based on the distance you drive.
Where are the toll readers?
The new cashless readers will not necessarily be at the usual exit/entrances that the previous systems’ toll booths were. Instead, the placements were selected by topography and connectivity to power and fiber, according to Rachel Bell, director of business services and customer relations with the Kansas Turnpike Authority.
During your next trip on the Kansas Turnpike, you will see a reader on each segment of the roadway between the entry and exit ramps.
The turnpike includes Interstate 70 from Bonner Springs to Topeka, I-335 from Topeka to Emporia, and I-35 from Emporia through Wichita to the Kansas-Oklahoma border.
Will my KTAG still be useful?
You can still use your KTAG once the cashless tolling is in place. KTAG users will save 50% on tolls starting July 1.
If you don’t have a KTAG yet and are interested in getting one, you can order one on KTAG’s website. KTAGs work on toll roads in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Florida.
Toll amount is determined by not only if the vehicle has a KTAG but also the axle number. Most four-wheel passenger vehicles fall under Class 2.
Take a look at the toll rates per mile below:
- Class 2: 4.8 cents for KTAGs; 9.6 cents if based on an image of your license plate
- Class 3: 6.6 cents for KTAGs; 13.2 cents for image based
- Class 4: 13.2 cents for KTAGs; 18.4 cents for image based
- Class 5: 13.8 cents for KTAGs; 27.6 cents for image based
- Class 6: 18.7 cents for KTAGs; 37.4 cents for image based
- Class 7: 25.8 cents for KTAGs; 51.6 cents for image based
- Class 8: 30.3 cents for KTAGs; 60.6 cents for image based
- Class 9: 33.4 cents for KTAGs; 66.8 cents for image based
KTAGs are not the only transponders that work in Kansas. So do BestPass, PikePass, PrePass Plus, EZ Tag, TxTag, TollTag, SunPass and Express Toll, according to KTA’s website.
How can I pay my tolls?
The Kansas Turnpike will move to an online payment system called DriveKS.
Drivers will be able to see the history of their toll travels on a single account.
If you don’t have a KTAG or something similar, you can create an account before you travel, but that’s not necessary. If you do have an account, you can pay the toll before you receive a mail bill. If you don’t create an account, you can wait for your mail bill, and DriveKS will automatically make an account based on your vehicle information.
Payments on your KTAG will be pretty much the same — your KTAG account will automatically move to DriveKS.com, and you will use your KTAG information to pay, just as before.
How will cashless tolling work for rental cars?
While intended to be a simple process in your own car, cashless tolling may get a little bit more complicated when you’re driving a car that’s not registered to you.
If you’re taking a trip using a rental car, the Kansas Turnpike Authority recommends checking with the rental company about tolls before hitting the turnpike.
Drivers can temporarily add the license plate of the rental car to your DriveKS account once you have one set up. If the rental company has a transponder on the car, tolls are usually charged to that account and the fees are added to the driver through the rental company.
How does the new cashless tolling system compare to other states?
Kansas is not the first state to adopt a cashless tolling system. In fact, the system was designed with other states’ systems and practices in mind. States like Pennsylvania, Maryland and Oklahoma all have cashless tolling systems in place.
“KTA has implemented best practices and lessons learned of other systems, in addition to feedback from existing customers, to build the account management system that customers will use after cashless tolling begins in July,” Rachel Bell told The Eagle via email.
Do you have a question about cashless tolling in Kansas? Send them to lsmith@wichitaeagle.com.
This story was originally published June 17, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
