How the New Kansas Turnpike Cashless Tolling Will Work

If you’ve driven on the turnpike in the last year, you’ve noticed the signage.  A new cashless tolling system is being rolled out and it’s scheduled to be effective July 1. 

Cashless tolling is an increasingly prevalent option for toll revenue collection in the United States. Cashless tolling means there are no manned or unmanned toll booths and that there is no stopping or slowing down to pay for tolls or to pick up toll tickets

Even though the system is called cashless, it doesn’t just not take cash, it doesn’t take any form of payment on the turnpike.  In a cashless system, vehicles using toll roads are billed via a transponder or via a toll-by-plate invoice in the mail. 

How it Works

If you have a KTag or have one of six compatible transponders accepted by the Kansas Turnpike your toll will be billed to that account.  If you don’t have a transponder, the news system uses electronic tag readers to identify the owner of the vehicle.  An invoice is then mailed to the individual at the address identified on the vehicle registration. 

The new system has 21 transponder sensors along the 236-mile turnpike.  Each time you pass a transponder, the system generates a charge.  So instead of one charge for the total length of your trip, you receive a charge for each time you pass a transponder.   It’s similar to tolls where you pay along the way, often tossing your loose change into the hopper.  This is a bill-as-you-go system though versus a pay-as-you-go. 

This system is also reflected in your bill, which will have multiple charges on your bill, depending on how many transformers you pass.    

Fee Structure

The new fee structure is based on a flat dollar amount per mile.  Like the old system, the rates go up based on the number of axles your vehicle has.  Cars, SUVS and pickup trucks have two axles or two sets of wheels.

The per-mile rate for two-axle vehicles is $.096 per mile.  However, if you have a K-tag or a compatible transponder, you save 50%, for a rate of $.048 per mile.  The current KTag discount averages around 35%.

According to Turnpike authorities, 70% of customers currently use a transponder.  It’s a number they expect will increase with the implementation of the new cashless system.

How Do the Rates Compare?

For individuals without a KTAG or a compatible transponder, the new flat rates are consistently higher than current rates.  For individuals with KTAGs or transponders, the rates are pretty consistent with current KTag rates. 

For example, the current rate for driving the full length of the turnpike is $17.00 and $11.35 for KTag customers.  The new rates are $22.72 for image-based tolls and $11.36 for transponder tolls. 

For Wichita, with entry on Kellogg north of Greenwich, to Emporia, the current rate is $5.75 and $3.90 with a KTAG.  The new rate for image-based tolls will be $7.10 and $3.55 with a transponder.   

What You Need to Do

According to turnpike authorities, 70% of customers currently use a transponder.  If you currently have a KTag, you don’t have to do anything.  Your KTtag will automatically roll over to the new DriveKS.com.  Your new bills will come from DriveKS and your bill date will likely change. 

If you have other vehicles registered in your name that don’t have a KTag, you can go online and add them to your account ahead of a trip. If you don’t add them and they use the turnpike,  they will be connected to and billed to your account.   ­However, without a KTag, they will be billed the higher non-KTag rate. 

If you don’t have a KTag or a compatible transponder and use the turnpike, the owner of the vehicle will receive the bill for the toll.   You can be proactive and create an account so your vehicle and payment information are in the system before you travel.  If you don’t make an account before you travel, one will be made for you once you travel the turnpike. 

Once you receive your bill, you have several options for paying in, including paying it online and via the mail. 

Another convenient option allows individuals to add visiting friends, family members or rental cars to your account on a short-time basis. 

Transition

As part of the rollout of the new cashless system, the turnpike customer service centers will be closed and self-service websites will be unavailable June 29-July 7. 

To learn more about the conversion go to ksturnpike.com/cashless-conversion or driveks.com.