WAYNE, PA — Military veterans traveling the Pennsylvania Turnpike will now find dedicated parking spaces at every service plaza across the toll road system following a new initiative unveiled Monday by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
What This Means for You
- All 17 Pennsylvania Turnpike service plazas now include reserved parking spaces for veterans.
- Veterans do not need a placard, registration, or special designation to use the spaces.
- The initiative is part of broader veteran outreach efforts by the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
The new program designates two “Veterans Parking” spaces at each of the Turnpike’s 17 service plazas along its more than 565-mile roadway system.
Turnpike officials launched the initiative in partnership with Jennifer O’Mara, the Pennsylvania American Legion, and American Legion Post 329 in Elizabethtown.
Veterans are not required to display military plates, placards, or other identification to use the spaces.
“We are proud to recognize all those who served our country and these dedicated parking spaces serve as a small token of our appreciation,” PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton said. “This initiative furthers our commitment to honoring and creating meaningful opportunities for veterans within our community.”
Partnership With Veteran Organizations
The Pennsylvania American Legion is covering the cost of signage installed at the service plazas.
O’Mara, whose husband is a combat veteran, described the initiative as a visible way to recognize military service across the Commonwealth.
“As the wife of a combat veteran, I know firsthand how much our veterans have sacrificed for us,” O’Mara remarked. “While this is a small gesture of thanks, it will have a big impact on many veterans every day as they travel across the state.”
Pennsylvania American Legion State Adjutant Woody Hogan characterized the designated parking spaces as a reminder of the Commonwealth’s support for veterans.
“The dedication of these ‘Veterans Only’ parking spaces along the Pennsylvania Turnpike is a powerful, visible reminder that the Commonwealth never forgets the sacrifices of those who served,” Hogan stated.
Broader Veteran Support Efforts
The parking initiative is part of several recent veteran-focused programs introduced by the Turnpike Commission.
According to the agency, the PA Turnpike partnered with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in 2025 to provide information at service plazas about veteran telehealth services, nearby VA facilities, and the Veterans Crisis Line.
The commission also recently created a Voices of Veterans Council through its employee network to support veteran employees and military families within the organization.
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