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By ALICIA ROBERTS
TBOTraffic.com
Video: Toll Booth Violations | Toll Booth Violations Prove Costly | Behind The Wheel
TAMPA - Each January, many of us hold onto our wallets a little bit tighter, trying to pay off all of our holiday purchases. But as you head home from your New Year’s Eve Party this year, expect to once again pay out – this time an even heftier penny on the Crosstown.
Beginning January 1, 2007, passenger car rates along the Crosstown Expressway will increase at the main toll plazas, ramp booths and reversible express lanes, with the exception of 22nd St. That booth already saw its fares increase this past July.
The Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority normally raises toll rates every ten years to keep up with inflation. This latest toll increase was not scheduled to occur until July 2009. But, officials say that the hike was necessary now to help offset costs associated with the Pier 97 collapse back in 2004. Expressway Authority Chairman J. Thomas Gibbs assures Bay Area drivers that the increase was made with “thorough discussion and consideration” and that “the authority is still aggressively seeking reimbursement from the design professionals who caused the error.”
Here is a breakdown of the new rates in effect:
Sunpass holders will still enjoy a 20% discount over cash drivers but will now pay $1.50 at the Reversible Express Lanes and 78th Street, $1 at Hyde park, $0.75 at 50th and 39th Streets as well as Willow Avenue, and $0.50 at Plant Avenue.
For drivers paying cash, it’s now going to cost you $1.75 at the Reversible Express Lanes and 78th Street, $1.25 at Hyde Park, $1 at 50th and 39th Streets as well as Willow Avenue, and $0.75 cents at Plant Avenue.
New Passenger Car Rates as of January 1, 2007
> Reversible Express Lanes: $1.50 SunPass, $1.75 Cash
> East Main Plaza (78th Street): $1.50 SunPass, $1.75 Cash
> 50th Street: $0.75 SunPass, $1.00 Cash
> 39th Street: $0.75 SunPass, $1.00 Cash
> Plant Avenue: $0.50 SunPass, $0.75 Cash
> West Main Plaza (Hyde Park): $1.00 SunPass, $1.25 Cash
> Willow Avenue: $0.75 SunPass, $1.00 Cash
These toll increases are upsurd. Once again the people pay for the errors of others who should face the jury. Further….it now costs more to go back and forth from Tampa to Brandon on the Selmon/Crosstown than it does to take the turnpike down the East coast!
The Selmon Crosstown elevated portion was built for the almost exclusive use
of downtown workers and those are the people that need to pay for their new road; because, for most of us, this elevated road is a road to nowhere. Just look where the downtown exit is. Unless one works downtown, usage is impracticable.The Expressway Authority needs further investigation.Perhaps they should cut salaries of their executives.
it would be interesting to see what would happen if people just stopped using the Crosstown, until they rolled back the tolls. They have said all along they would recoup the monies from the failed pier from the contractor(exactly where it should come from)They hand picked the slob even though they were aware of his horrendous record and previous failures of government contracts.(Bayside Bridge was only one of them)
I just have one Question… How many times do we have to pay for a road that was built from tax dollars years ago and on top of that, toll booths placed on them so we can continue to pay for them over and over and over.. we already pay over $1.00 tax on one gallon of gasoline that is supposed to be for road repair.I believe in building the roads and interstates,go ahead and put tollbooths on them,but after 1-2 years,which should be plenty of time to be payed for AGAIN,remove the toll booths..
I knew it, I just knew it. These toll hikes are not justified. It all goes back to the question of why does the Toll Authority have to pay a lobyist hundreds of thousands of dollars. Heck, why do they need a lobyist and all?
What is he lobying for?
I just cannot imagine that our elected officials have let this go on this long with this obviously tollway authority stay in power. They have turned a deaf ear to the citizens as always.
I have emailed every county commissioner and have not received one reply. And these are commissioners that are making $20,000 a year less than city commissioners in New York City.
Soometimes I say why bother but I won’t give up.
It would seem to me that the cars that use the new elevated section should have the increase to cover the cost of the repair.
The public was not responsible for the Pier collapse, yet we as taxpayers have to pay once again. It is just not right. We ahve enough to pay for already. Good way to start the New Year.
sure go ahead and raise it,another incentive to move out of florida,cost here have gotten so high its almost impossible for the average joe to live here,,,oh wait i forgot thats what the mayor and other state reps dont want living here,,the average joe
Just imagine if all those crooked county comissioners over the years allowing the developers to rape and pilage the land and the wonder that used to be Florida, we wouldn’t need all those extra slabs of concrete, remember Nancy Reagan said concerning drugs “Just say NO”, this works with over developing too…..
Why do I and thousands others, have to pay for the poor engineering design and/or poor construction of the cross-town? If I plant a tree in your yard and it dies…do I tell you to get your neighbors to chip in for a new one…I think not!! Sure the cross-town it convenient, but do I have to take out a loan to use it?? Look out I-4 and I-275…you are about to have a lot more company.
Lighten up guys! I wasn’t justifying it, I was merely being semi-facetious when I commented, geeezz! And, though the increased toll may far exceed the cost of extra gas used while sitting in traffic, it does not exceed my frustration level while doing the same. It’s gonna happen - may as well deal with it.
The increased toll far exceeds the cost of any extra gas consumed sitting in traffic, its not even close.
Way to go, Peggy…justify yet another tax increase (this one = 50% for SunPass drivers) by saying you’ll be less frustrated and save on gas, even though car engines are much more efficient than ever before. What these bureaucratic clowns should be doing is LOWERING the tolls so as to drag some of the volume we already see on the Interstate highways onto these expensive-to-put-up toll roads, thereby making it more attractive to drive on them. Increasing the price only pushes more drivers back onto the Interstates - and just in time for the increased traffic of tourist season…brilliant!!!
I dont think we should pay at all. I feel the Car Insurance Companies should pay for construction of new roads. You know they have the money…...
That is all.
No problem. Think of the money you’re saving by not sitting in traffic, idling your tank out of gas while going nowhere. You’re just using that savings on the extra toll. It’s a wash AND your getting somewhere with a lot less frustration.
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Posted by Jay Shay, Tampa on 12/29 at 04:07 PM
At least the toll only ocsts you if you use it. At least this time we have a choice. Unlike all the other increases we have had in the past year.