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| A '''toll road''' or '''turnpike''' is a ] on which a toll authority collects a fee for use. Similarly there are '''toll ]s''' and '''toll ]s'''. Other non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically ] funds. Tolls have been placed on roads at various times in history. | A '''toll road''' or '''turnpike''' is a ] on which a toll authority collects a fee for use. Similarly there are '''toll ]s''' and '''toll ]s'''. Other non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically ] funds. Tolls have been placed on roads at various times in history. | ||
| Early references include the Greek Ferryman ] charging a toll to ferry people across the river ]. ] and ] refer to tolls in Arabia and other parts of Asia. In ], before the ] the ] notes the use of tolls. Germanic tribes charged tolls to travelers across mountain passes. Tolls were used in the ] in the ] and ]. | Early references include the Greek Ferryman ] charging a toll to ferry people across the river ]. ] and ] refer to tolls in Arabia and other parts of Asia. In ], before the ] the ] notes the use of tolls. Germanic tribes charged tolls to travelers across mountain passes. Tolls were used in the ] in the ] and ]. | ||
| Tolls became popular in ] in the late ] following the decline of roads after the ] (Catholic monks no longer maintained the roads). By the end of the ] the intercity road network in England was primarily a toll road network. Tolls did not require the use of ] or the ] system. Toll roads eventually died out in the late ] due to competition from ]s and complaints from users making longer and longer trips (thus stopping more and more to pay tolls). | Tolls became popular in ] in the late ] following the decline of roads after the ] (Catholic monks no longer maintained the roads). By the end of the ] the intercity road network in England was primarily a toll road network. Tolls did not require the use of ] or the ] system. Toll roads eventually died out in the late ] due to competition from ]s and complaints from users making longer and longer trips (thus stopping more and more to pay tolls). | ||
| In the ], toll roads began with the ] in the ], connecting ] with ]. Toll roads peaked in the mid ], and by the turn of the ] most toll roads were taken over by state highway departments. | In the ], toll roads began with the ] in the ], connecting ] with ]. Toll roads peaked in the mid ], and by the turn of the ] most toll roads were taken over by state highway departments. | ||
| After ] with the ], toll roads saw a resurgence, this time to fund limited access highways. By 1956, most limited access highways in the eastern United States were toll roads. In that year, the ] program was established, funding non-toll roads with 90% federal dollars and 10% state match, giving little incentive for states to expand their turnpike system. | After ] with the ], toll roads saw a resurgence, this time to fund limited access highways. By 1956, most limited access highways in the eastern United States were toll roads. In that year, the ] program was established, funding non-toll roads with 90% federal dollars and 10% state match, giving little incentive for states to expand their turnpike system. | ||
Revision as of 22:30, 25 October 2003
A toll road or turnpike is a road on which a toll authority collects a fee for use. Similarly there are toll bridges and toll tunnels. Other non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically gas tax funds. Tolls have been placed on roads at various times in history.
Early references include the Greek Ferryman Charon charging a toll to ferry people across the river Styx. Aristotle and Pliny refer to tolls in Arabia and other parts of Asia. In India, before the 4th century BC the Arthasastra notes the use of tolls. Germanic tribes charged tolls to travelers across mountain passes. Tolls were used in the Holy Roman Empire in the 14th century and 15th century.
Tolls became popular in England in the late 17th century following the decline of roads after the Protestant Reformation (Catholic monks no longer maintained the roads). By the end of the 18th century the intercity road network in England was primarily a toll road network. Tolls did not require the use of statute labor or the corvee system. Toll roads eventually died out in the late 19th century due to competition from railroads and complaints from users making longer and longer trips (thus stopping more and more to pay tolls).
In the United States, toll roads began with the Lancaster Turnpike in the 1790s, connecting Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Toll roads peaked in the mid 19th century, and by the turn of the twentieth century most toll roads were taken over by state highway departments.
After 1940 with the Pennsylvania Turnpike, toll roads saw a resurgence, this time to fund limited access highways. By 1956, most limited access highways in the eastern United States were toll roads. In that year, the Interstate highway program was established, funding non-toll roads with 90% federal dollars and 10% state match, giving little incentive for states to expand their turnpike system.
Since the completion of the interstate highway program, states are again looking at toll financing for roads, as federal dollars are not as available.
Outside the United States, many countries use private (or public) toll road companies to build their intercity roads. These companies have often fallen in and out of the public sector, and many have had financial problems.
The term turnpike refers to the pike or long stick that was held across the road, and only raised when the traveler paid the toll.
While toll roads have often been disliked by travelers for the toll, they have also caused great annoyance due to the delay at toll booths. New technology, electronic toll collection is eliminating the delay, as travelers can go past toll collection devices at full speed and have their accounts debited electronically without stopping.