
PA Turnpike beginning to build open road tolling infrastructure in Pittsburgh region
According to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, more than 500,000 people drive the Turnpike system every single day.
Bill Howe of Donegal is often one of them.
'How often do you drive the Turnpike?' Channel 11′s Andrew Havranek asked him at the Donegal exit.
'Probably about four or five times a week,' Howe said.
Howe said he takes the Turnpike to Cleveland every other month. He said he's looking forward to the Turnpike getting rid of the toll booths — which haven't been staffed in several years — and moving to the open road tolling system.
'You don't have to stop, and as long as you have an EZ Pass, you get a discount,' Howe said.
Open Road Tolling is already in place on the other side of the state — east of Reading and through Philadelphia. It launched at the start of the year.
Work has started here in western Pennsylvania to make the change. Stone poles — called gantries — will hold the overhead technology to read your EZ-Pass device or capture your license plate.
The Turnpike Commission said it'll make getting on and off the highway safer.
'Rather than having to slow down or try to change lanes to get into the lane with the toll booth that will read the equipment, we'll eliminate that and we'll be able to collect your toll as you're traveling down the highway at your normal speed,' said Crispin Havener, of the Turnpike Commission.
This modernization of the toll system will also allow for more access point interchanges to be built -- like the proposed interchange on Route 130 in Penn Township.
'In fact, we would not be able to build that Route 130 interchange if it weren't for open road tolling because your typical interchange model required a lot larger footprint than we need with open road tolling,' Havener said.
While you might see the gantries being built now — like the ones near New Stanton — the Open Road Tolling system here in the western part of the state won't officially launch until January 2027.
The old toll booths will be taken out after.
Once they're gone, the Turnpike Commission said there will be changes made to those interchanges.
'We'll reconfigure that so that it'll be, we won't need all those lanes, so we'll narrow that down and we'll figure out what to do with the excess space down the line,' Havener said.
Havener said Open Road Tolling will save nearly $25 million a year in maintenance costs.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Barclays Rises 32.3% YTD: Is it the Right Time to Buy the Stock?
Year to date, shares of Barclays PLC BCS have risen 32.3%. The stock has outperformed the S&P 500 index, the Zacks Finance sector, and the industry. Meanwhile, it has underperformed its close peer, Deutsche Bank DB, while outperforming HSBC Holdings PLC HSBC. Year-to-Date Price Performance Image Source: Zacks Investment Research However, lingering uncertainty around tariff policies continues to pose risks. Given this backdrop, let's assess whether Barclays stock is a lucrative bet or not. Restructuring Efforts to Boost Profitability: Barclays has been taking steps to divest unprofitable/less profitable operations and save expenses through business streamlining, while deploying capital into higher revenue-generating February 2025, Barclays sold its consumer finance business in Germany. Last year, the company transformed its operating divisions and divested its Italian mortgage portfolio and $1.1 billion in credit card these efforts, Barclays recorded gross savings of £1 billion in 2024 and £150 million in the first quarter of 2025. The company aims to achieve gross efficiency savings of £0.5 billion this year. By 2026, management expects total gross efficiency savings to be £2 billion and the cost-to-income ratio to be in the high 50s. Its first-quarter 2025 cost-to-income ratio was 57%.The company is investing these savings in high-growth businesses and markets. This April, Barclays entered into a collaboration with Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. to reshape its payment acceptance business with plans to inject roughly £400 million. In March, the bank had announced a capital injection of more than INR2,300 crore (£210 million) into its India operations, following an injection of almost INR3,000 crore (£300 million) in 2021. Last year, the company acquired Tesco's retail banking business, which complements its existing business. In 2023, Barclays acquired Kensington Mortgage, which bolstered its mortgage redeployment of capital into higher-growth businesses and markets through improving efficiency is a multifaceted approach to boosting profitability. Barclays remains committed to this approach, which is likely to help improve profitability over Capital Distributions: As of March 31, 2025, Barclays' liquidity coverage ratio and net stable funding ratio were 175.3% and 136.2%, respectively, well above the regulatory requirements. This indicates a solid liquidity and funding profile. Thus, a solid balance sheet position supports its enhanced capital company has been paying dividends regularly and plans to keep the total dividend payout stable at the 2023 level, with progressive dividend plans to return at least £10 billion of capital to shareholders between 2024 and 2026 through dividends and share buybacks, with a continued preference for bank has increased dividends six times in the past five years with an annualized growth rate of 45.04%. It has a dividend payout ratio of 28%. Barclays Dividend Yield Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Over the past two months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings per share has been revised 6.2% and 3% upward to $2.23 and $2.73, respectively. Estimate Revision Trend Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Barclays' 2025 and 2026 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 21.2% and 22.6%, respectively. (Find the latest EPS estimates and surprises on Zacks Earnings Calendar.) BCS stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month price/earnings (P/E) of 7.17X. This is below the industry's 9.4X, reflecting an attractive valuation. Price-to-Earnings F12M Image Source: Zacks Investment Research On the other hand, Deutsche Bank and HSBC have a forward P/E of 8.31X and 8.64X, respectively. This reflects that Barclays is trading at a discount compared to its peers. Entering 2025, a major rebound in mergers and acquisitions (M&As) was expected, with deal-making activities likely to grow in the mid-20s. This optimism stemmed from pent-up demand, stabilizing or declining interest rates, tightening credit spreads, and strong public market valuations. Also, the Trump administration was perceived as business-friendly, with an expected removal of stringent oversight that could mark the end of the prolonged regulatory of these has transpired till now. Deal-making activities have been muted as ambiguity over the tariff and ensuing trade war has resulted in extreme market volatility. These developments have led to economic uncertainty. Against such a backdrop, companies are rethinking their M&A plans despite stabilizing rates and having significant investible management expects investment banking risk-weighted assets (RWAs) to be 50% of the Group RWAs in 2026. Further, the delay in the M&A rebound will impact the IB business of other global banks, including HSBC and Deutsche Bank, impacting revenue growth to some extent. Barclays' restructuring efforts to boost efficiency and redeployment of capital to higher revenue-generating businesses are likely to help the company's financials. Further, a solid liquidity profile enables sustainable capital distributions. Bullish analyst sentiments and attractive valuations are other the bank's core operating performance remains a concern. Net interest income (NII) and net fee, commission, and other income have been witnessing a volatile trend over the last several quarters owing to a tough operating backdrop. Though NII and net fee, commission, and other income rose in 2024 and in the first quarter of 2025, in light of structural hedges and Tesco bank buyout, the uncertainty about the performance of the capital markets might weigh on the company's top line, which makes us apprehensive about its growth prospects. Further, the likelihood of a significant IB rebound this year remains low amid concerns regarding tariff policies, making BCS stock a cautious shareholders may benefit from holding for strong long-term returns, while potential investors should wait for greater macroeconomic clarity before taking a currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Barclays PLC (BCS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft (DB) : Free Stock Analysis Report HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
DBI Q1 Earnings Call: Management Focuses on Cost Controls Amid Soft Consumer Demand
Footwear and accessories discount retailer Designer Brands (NYSE:DBI) missed Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales falling 8% year on year to $686.9 million. Its non-GAAP loss of $0.26 per share was significantly below analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy DBI? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $686.9 million vs analyst estimates of $732.9 million (8% year-on-year decline, 6.3% miss) Adjusted EPS: -$0.26 vs analyst estimates of -$0.06 (significant miss) Adjusted EBITDA: $14.36 million vs analyst estimates of $32.05 million (2.1% margin, 55.2% miss) Operating Margin: -1.1%, down from 1.3% in the same quarter last year Locations: 669 at quarter end, down from 675 in the same quarter last year Same-Store Sales fell 7.8% year on year (-2.5% in the same quarter last year) Market Capitalization: $148.9 million Designer Brands' first quarter results were shaped by a challenging retail environment and weaker consumer sentiment, which pressured both store and digital traffic. CEO Doug Howe cited 'increased uncertainty and reduced planning visibility, particularly around consumer behavior,' leading to an 8% drop in comparable sales. Management attributed the softness in the U.S. and Canada to macroeconomic factors and unfavorable weather, particularly in February, which further dampened seasonal demand. The shift in consumer preferences toward value and heightened caution among discretionary shoppers forced the company to increase markdowns and adjust its approach to inventory and promotions. Howe noted that the team implemented a 6% reduction in operating expenses, with a broader plan to save $20 million to $30 million this year. Looking forward, Designer Brands withdrew its forward-looking guidance due to ongoing volatility and unpredictability in consumer demand. Management emphasized a near-term focus on cost controls, tariff mitigation, and enhancing the value proposition for customers. Howe stated, 'This volatility makes any future forecast highly unpredictable,' explaining the decision to refrain from providing projections. The company is prioritizing expense reductions, optimizing inventory levels, and diversifying sourcing to manage tariff impacts. Investments will continue in growth brands like Topo and Keds, which management believes are well-positioned even as discretionary spending remains under pressure. CFO Jared Poff highlighted ongoing efforts to 'operate the business as optimally as possible during this time,' with capital spending and inventory investments being tightly managed. Designer Brands' leadership attributed the quarter's results to persistent consumer softness, cost-cutting measures, and a strategic shift toward value and sourcing diversification. Consumer demand volatility: Management emphasized that lower store and online traffic reflected ongoing weakness in consumer sentiment, which was exacerbated by unfavorable weather early in the quarter and continued economic uncertainty for discretionary shoppers. Cost structure adjustments: The company implemented a 6% reduction in operating expenses for the quarter and expects $20 million to $30 million in annual savings as part of a broader cost management initiative in response to revenue pressures. Product assortment strategy: Designer Brands is reducing its choice count while increasing depth on key styles, prioritizing higher-converting products, and leveraging partnerships with top brands. This approach has shown improvement in store conversion rates and better inventory productivity, according to management. Brand performance divergence: While the overall Brand Portfolio segment saw lower sales, specific brands like Topo achieved 84% year-over-year growth, driven by expanded distribution and new product launches. Keds also improved gross margins by shifting production in-house and cleaning up excess inventory, despite top-line headwinds. Sourcing and tariff response: Management accelerated efforts to diversify sourcing away from China due to higher-than-anticipated tariffs, aiming for less than half of sourced products from China by year-end. They noted that only about 20% of products are directly sourced, limiting their ability to adjust for all categories. Management's outlook centers on continued cost control, sourcing diversification, and focusing investment on key growth brands amid consumer demand uncertainty. Tariff mitigation and sourcing shifts: Designer Brands is prioritizing diversification of its supplier base to reduce reliance on China, especially in anticipation of ongoing tariff pressures. Management expects less than half of all sourcing to come from China by the end of the year, which should help limit cost increases, though some categories—like dress footwear—remain more dependent on established Chinese suppliers. Expense discipline and capital allocation: The company aims to deliver $20 million to $30 million in expense savings this year, with further reductions in planned capital expenditures. CFO Jared Poff noted that every dollar of spend is being "highly scrutinized," and inventory investments are being managed for flexibility to respond quickly to demand shifts. Brand investment and product focus: Despite near-term headwinds, management is investing in brands like Topo and Keds, which are seen as long-term growth drivers with pricing power. The company will also relaunch its VIP Rewards program next year, aiming to deepen customer engagement and drive more targeted promotions, even as overall consumer sentiment remains volatile. In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will watch (1) whether cost reduction efforts yield sustained margin improvement, (2) the effectiveness of sourcing diversification in mitigating tariff and supply chain risks, and (3) further growth in brands like Topo and Keds. The relaunch of the VIP Rewards program and any stabilization in consumer demand will also be important milestones for tracking the company's recovery. Designer Brands currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 12.2×. At this valuation, is it a buy or sell post earnings? See for yourself in our full research report (it's free). Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs. While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data


Business Wire
12 hours ago
- Business Wire
Baskin-Robbins Gives Parents a Sweet Summer Break with New 'Parent Pass' Promotion
CANTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Baskin-Robbins ® is coming to the rescue of parents everywhere with a new limited-time offer designed for the busiest—and possibly most chaotic—weeks of summer break. Introducing the Parent Pass: a scoop-sized sigh of relief for moms and dads who find themselves in survival mode when school's out and camp hasn't quite started yet. From June 16 through June 27, Monday through Friday only, the brand will exclusively offer Baskin-Robbins Rewards ® members $1.99 scoops* at participating locations nationwide—because sometimes parents need permission to give up and give in to ice cream for lunch. 'The days between the last school bell and the first day of summer camp can be long, loud, and full of 5 a.m. wake-up calls,' said Nicole Boutwell, vice president of brand marketing & culinary at Baskin-Robbins. 'That's why we're giving parents a break with the Parent Pass. It's our way of saying, 'You've got this—and we've got the ice cream to help you through it.'' Whether it's a spontaneous treat, a midday moment of peace and quiet, or just a chance to catch your breath, the Parent Pass is your permission slip to keep things cool during summer's most unpredictable stretch. And don't worry – scoops are not just for kids, enjoy one yourself. Parent Pass Details: What: $1.99 scoops (any flavor), available exclusively to Baskin-Robbins Rewards members When: Weekdays, June 16–27, 2025 Where: Participating Baskin-Robbins locations nationwide So go ahead, have ice cream for lunch. This summer, Baskin-Robbins has your back—and your scoop. For more information and to find a participating location, visit * Valid at participating U.S. Baskin-Robbins stores for Baskin-Robbins Rewards members. Terms and exclusions apply. For full offer details, visit the BR App. For full rewards program terms, visit About Baskin-Robbins Baskin-Robbins, founded in 1945, is the world's largest chain of ice cream specialty shops, with more than 7,800 retail shops in 36 global markets. Baskin-Robbins is part of the Inspire Brands family of restaurants. For more information, visit and