Tolls going up as driving goes down

Gas prices having effect

David Crossley, May 18, 11.

Record-high gas prices and a resulting reduction in travelers means there’s no longer a guarantee traffic will increase year after year, says Neil Gray, government affairs director with the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, according to a story in USA Today. And so, a growing number of the 100 toll agencies in 31 states are moving to scheduled increases to ensure funds for maintenance. “The agencies have to be a little more cautious,” Gray says. “There might not be ever-increasing traffic,” Gray says. And, he added, “no one wants to touch the gas tax.”

Drivers are facing higher tolls this year to pay for road maintenance and improvement projects that are in some cases being hampered by state budget shortfalls and declining gas tax revenue, officials say.

Tolls increases so far this year have included the Pennsylvania Turnpike, bridges and tunnels in New York City and Virginia’s Chesapeake Expressway. Four Delaware River Port Authority bridges will increase tolls in July, as will seven bridges in California.