The Central Florida Expressway Authority unanimously voted Thursday morning to roll back a one-time 15 percent toll road increase, instead approving a 1.5 percent yearly increase.
- Expressway Authority board shoots down 1-time 15 percent toll hike
- Instead, it OKed raising tolls 1.5 percent annually starting in 2018
- Board chairman Buddy Dyer led charge against 1-time July hike
The increase affecting toll roads managed by the agency was supposed to go into effect July 1.
All the board members who spoke during the public hearing thought a 15 percent increase at one time would be asking too much of drivers. Instead, board members approved a 1.5 percent annual increase starting in 2018.
Expressway Authority Treasurer Jay Madara said it’s a fair and balanced approach to the issue.
Madara said that compared with the 15 percent increase every five years, the smaller yearly increases will likely save the average toll road driver about $1,000 over the next several years.
“We’ve actually had higher revenue than we’ve anticipated, and that allowed us this year to forgo the 15 percent increase," said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, who serves as the chairman of the Expressway Authority and who pushed to cancel the increase.
One concern raised by Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs was making sure the tolls don’t increase with inflation when the Expressway Authority doesn’t need the money. Jacobs said that nearly half of the Expressway Authority budget goes toward fixed bond payments.
Board members agreed with Jacobs and said they will discuss the merits of toll increases on an annual basis.
The 1.5 percent toll increase on roads managed by the agency is scheduled to go into effect in July 2018.
The Central Florida Expressway Authority discusses the toll road rate hike during a public meeting on Thursday morning, Feb. 9, 2017. (John W. Davis, staff)