Lots of people who live in the western part of Dallas-Fort Worth regularly drive on Dallas-area toll roads such as the President George Bush Turnpike and Sam Rayburn Tollway (formerly 121 Tollway). It's gonna cost more to use those roads beginning Sept. 1.
The North Texas Tollway Authority this morning approved a rate increase to 14.5 cents a mile, about three cents a mile more than drivers are currently paying. The increase will help make up for declining revenues on the toll roads, which people are less likely to use during tough times, officials said.
The typical driver will pay about $10 a month extra, tollway officials estimate.
Also, toll rates will increase more gradually every two years without further action, according to the plan approved by an 8-1 vote of the tollway board at its Plano HQ.
The tollway authority is the lead agency of the planned Southwest Parkway toll road, which is about to get under construction in Fort Worth. Once Southwest Parkway is open, the tolls on that road likely will be even higher, perhaps 19.5 cents a mile. Several years ago, Fort Worth officials reached an agreement with tollway officials to build the road with extra amenities to make it look and feel like a parkway.
Why, what a great solution! Raise fees even MORE, and turn even more people off on the toll roads!
Genius! *sigh*
Posted by: Bob | July 16, 2009 at 03:57 PM
This is stupid. Why are people so stupid???
Way to Punish the customers who DO use the Turnpike. I'm not using it anymore.
Posted by: Displease customer | July 16, 2009 at 04:41 PM
what a group of idiots, must be post office officals making choices like this. less people are riding because of economy and now even less will be riding. as a business owner myself i can tell you had they lowered the cost say a quarter per toll the ridership would have increased 2 fold. they should have taken notice what's happening to the fast becoming obsolete US POSTOFFICE as every increase is made more and more people, businesses are faxing and emailing (things don't get lost either another plus). the postoffice's answer to faxing and email has been to increase price, their days are numbered as they are cutting their own throats. to increase fares will do the same to toll roads. a year from now they will have to increase again, again ridership will decrease........idiots
Posted by: jb | July 16, 2009 at 05:08 PM
All you Perry supporters can clap each other on the back and congratulate each other on this one. Your boy sold off the Texas highway system, and 19.5 cents per mile is the price we all pay. Wow. How's THAT for a tax?
Posted by: Rorschach | July 16, 2009 at 05:35 PM
In Texas you are issued two license plates and you must have both on your vehicle. Sorry you don't think it looks good, but that's the law, and I wish every person who didn't display both plates or display them correctly would be issued citations.
Posted by: DEKARONデカロン-RMT | January 26, 2011 at 08:11 PM