207-871-7771 877-682-9433

FAQ

General


Why are tolls charged for driving on the Maine Turnpike?
 
Tolls are the only source of revenue used by the Maine Turnpike Authority (MTA) to maintain and operate the Turnpike as well as pay back bondholders who loan private capital to finance safety improvements, and major reconstruction projects. No federal or state tax dollars have ever been used on the Maine Turnpike.
 
Why is MTA separate from the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT)?
 
In 1941, the Maine Turnpike Authority was created by the state legislature as an independent state agency and directed to construct and maintain a turnpike from Kittery to Fort Kent. The legislature intentionally delegated the responsibility for turnpike construction, operations and maintenance to the Maine Turnpike Authority. The MTA sells bonds to finance construction projects. The bonds are sold to investors, many from Maine, and are secured by the projected toll revenues from the Pike. In 1982, once the initial bonds to build the Turnpike were paid, elected officials in the Maine Legislature passed a bill that the governor signed into law authorizing continuance of the Turnpike Authority and tolls to operate, maintain and rebuild the Turnpike. New bonds have since been issued for financing safety improvements, upgrading and major reconstruction projects.
 
Could the road be turned over to the state?
 
If the state legislature prefers to turn the Turnpike over to MaineDOT and have tolls removed, the Turnpike would then be supported by taxes.  That first would require the state to pay $380 million in outstanding Turnpike bonds. First, by asking voters to approve a bond issue borrowing the money to pay off existing Turnpike debt rather than simply assuming it. Subsequently, the state would likely need more federal and state tax revenue to continue capital improvements and maintenance to prevent the highway from falling into disrepair.
 
When will the bonds be paid off?
 
All outstanding Maine Turnpike Authority bonds are scheduled to be paid off by 2042. Future capital planning projects approved by the Maine Turnpike Authority and decisions by future state legislatures and governors could push any conversion from a toll supported facility to a tax-supported highway further into the future.
 
Why do some interchanges have an entrance fee and others do not?
 
In 1999, the northern end of the Turnpike was converted from a closed to open barrier system. The open system has mainline toll plazas only located at New Gloucester and West Gardiner. As a result of the change, toll plazas were removed from the Lewiston and Auburn interchanges to create more efficiency in toll collection and improve movement of traffic. The Sabattus interchange was constructed in 2004. In addition, southbound Turnpike travel when entering at Wells and northbound entrance from Gray have no tolls due to respective proximity to mainline toll plazas.
 

Toll Violations


I accidently went through the E-ZPass lane and do not have an E-ZPass.  What do I do?
 
If this is the first time you have had this accidental occurrence in the state of Maine, and were not driving a rental vehicle, you may mail the toll payment to the following address:
 
Maine Turnpike Authority
2360 Congress Street
Portland, ME 04102
ATTN: One-Time Toll Payment
 
When sending payment, please include a note with the date, time, toll plaza and license plate number of the vehicle you were driving so we may remove the images from our violation database.
 
I was driving a rental car and went through the E-ZPass lane.  What do I do?
 
As you were driving a rental vehicle, it is very likely that they will charge your credit card for the transaction.  As the registered owner of the vehicle, the rental company will receive a notice stating that one of their vehicles passed through an E-ZPass lane without payment being recorded.   
 
Contact the rental company to see if they have already billed your credit card.  If they have not, and instruct you to pay us directly, please mail the toll to:
 
Maine Turnpike Authority
2360 Congress St.
Portland, ME, 04102
ATTN: Violations
 
Please include a note with the date, time, toll plaza and license plate number of the vehicle you were driving so we may correctly identify the data. 
 
I went through the E-ZPass lane but didn’t have the transponder in my car.  What do I do?
 
If the license plate of the vehicle you were driving is listed on the account, you do not have to worry.  When the E-ZPass lane does not register a valid E-ZPass transponder reading, a photograph is taken of the license plate. The system then searches all active E-ZPass accounts for a matching number.  If a match is found, the toll is posted to the account using that data. If a match is not found, a violation notification is issued to the registered owner.
 
Can I pay my toll violation online?
 

Yes. You can make non-account payments online.  If your license plate is currently in violation or has past violations you are not eligible to use this payment method. Please contact Customer Service at 1-888-MTA-PASS (1-888-682-7277). 


E-ZPass


How do I sign up for E-ZPass?
 
You can signup online 24/7

OR 

You can download everything you need to sign up for an E-ZPass Personal Account or Business Account by clicking here.

OR
 
You may also have materials sent to you by calling the E-ZPass Customer Service Center or Business Department at 1-888-MTA-PASS (682-7277) or by providing your name and address online.
 
You can also visit our customer service center at 2360 Congress Street between 8 am and 5 pm Monday through Friday to purchase your new tag and leave with it ready to travel.  We are located off of exit 46, the Portland Jetport exit, behind the Park and Ride lot.
 
What does a yellow light mean when going through the E-ZPass lane?
 
This indicates that your remaining balance is low.  You will see the yellow light if:
  • you have a personal account with one transponder and your balance goes below $15.
  • you have a personal account with two transponders and your balance goes below $20.
  • you have a personal account with three transponders and your balance goes below $30.
  • you have a business account and have reached 25% of the minimum balance required.
 
Can I have more than one vehicle on an E-ZPass transponder?
 
Yes, you can.  If you would like to add an additional license plate to your existing transponder you can call our Customer Service center (1-888-MTA-PASS) to add it. 
 
How do I add an additional transponder to my account?

If you would like to add an additional tag to your account, you may order a new tag in one of the following ways:
  • Login to your account at www.ezpassmaineturnpike.com.  Click on “Check Your Account” to bring up the login screen.  Once you access your account, look at the top of the page for “Tags.” Click on that link and then look for the link that brings up the page to order the new device and have it shipped to the address on file. 
  • Call our customer service center at 888-682-7277, Monday – Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. to order the tag and have it shipped to the address on file.
  • Visit our customer service center at 2360 Congress Street during the same business hours listed above to purchase your new tag and leave with it ready to travel.  We are located off of exit 46, the Portland Jetport exit, behind the Park and Ride lot. 
How do I access my E-ZPass account online?
 
If you have not previously gone online to change your login method to the optional username and password, your login will be your account number and the four-digit PIN that you would have provided to us.  If you cannot remember what four numbers you would use for a PIN, please click on “Forgot PIN?” and a hard copy will be mailed via USPS to the address on file the next business day. 
 

Park and Ride


May I leave my car at an MTA Park and Ride longer than 24 hours?
 
Parking is not allowed for more than 24 consecutive hours between November 1st and April 30th. May 1st to October 31st parking for up to 7 days in permitted. We do not make exceptions to this rule. The use of the park and ride lots are at your own risk.