Pinellas Bayway tolls to more than double

ST. PETE BEACH -- Getting to and from the southern Pinellas beaches would cost a lot more under a state plan to spend $180-million to replace the ailing Pinellas Bayway bridges.

The 50-cent toll in place for more than 20 years along the east and west portions of the Bayway would increase to $1.25, and the toll to the south leading to and from Fort De Soto Park would increase from 35 cents to $2.50. The cost of an annual pass would rise from $50 to $125.

The higher tolls are at least two years away.

Marked by malfunctions and increased maintenance costs, the two drawbridges that connect Isla Del Sol to Tierra Verde and St. Pete Beach are scheduled to be replaced within the next several years. Both are to be replaced by taller fixed spans and would stay open during construction.

"This is what’s needed to fund these bridges, and by doing this we will be able to start construction,'' said Don Skelton, the Florida Department of Transportation District 7 secretary.

The DOT will discuss the plan from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the St. Pete Beach Community Center.

"I don’t think there’s much you can say, they’re going to build it anyway,'' said St. Pete Beach Commissioner Harry Metz, who represents residents from Pass-a-Grille, many of whom rely heavily on bridges to get to and from their neighborhood.

If the bridges are not replaced, they will need significant rehabilitation within the next five years at a cost of some $40-million, Skelton said. Replacing them makes more sense, he said.

A trust fund from toll collections will cover about $36-million of the $180-million construction cost.

But some are worried about the impact on people who work and live in the area.

Connie Langhorst of Friends of Tierra Verde said she wants a new bridge but doesn’t think people who live and work on the island should shoulder the burden. "The audacity of the county to say they are going to raise the tolls to the residents is ridiculous,” Langhorst said. "We spend a lot of taxes already, and we don’t see them being spent here.''

Others say the benefit outweighs the cost.

"Personally I don’t see any problem, if we want new bridges and safe bridges,'' said James Dean, owner of Tierra Verde Hardware. "If you want to come and enjoy a beautiful place, then you should be able to afford the extra 75 cents. I don't think that’s going to break anybody.''

- Nick Johnson, Times staff writer

Comments

[Mike]

If you ride your bike out to Ft. DeSoto it's free, there are great, wide bike lanes on the road and once beyond the condos there are flat, smooth trails and a beautiful gulf in which to cool off.

[Ken]

Biking to Ft. DeSoto is great. But, the bike lanes approaching the toll gate at Fort DeSoto could be widened. The curb at the point where the road narrows from 2 to 1 lane should also be removed and the bike lane widened there. How about applying some of the tax dollars to these small improvements.

[Paul]

Yeah, taxes are dropping like a rock... ooops, I mean being spent on new baseball stadiums. At this rate, every single politician is going to get voted out of office. Welcome to Califlorida.

[Jay]

Seems like there will be more FOR SALE signs in front of properties along the Bayway and Tierra Verde. Get Real!

[Tom]

There should be federal money made available for these projects. Unlike the bridge to nowhere in Alaska, these are needed. A lot of low income people visit beaches as a means of a family outing. Although many well to do people may not think these increase amount too much, but they are significant to lower income families. We all pay taxes to the federal government; tell your representatives you want some pay back. Each year the congress passes a huge highway bill with billions of dollars allocated for road and bridge repair. Tell them to do their job and get the federal dollars. I believe they are matching dollars. That would cut the project cost in half and tolls could be raised to maybe a dollar each to cove any additional cost.

[just_me]

Well bye bye Fort Desoto, Hillsborough State Park is still cheaper.

Why not use the proceeds from "Penny for Pinellas"? The bridges are in Pinellas and since they are putting up fixed spans instead of toll bridges, it would definately count as an improvement. Visiting Ft Desoto will go from 85 cents to to $3.75 if I'm reading that correctly. That's kind of outrageous.

[Wasted Tax Dollars]

Tampa Bay has a horrible history on building bridges right the first time around, hope they get this one on the first try. Guess I won't be going to Fort Desoto anymore, thats a very large increase in tolls.

[Art]

Well, taking my dog to the beach was nice while it lasted.

[Cindy]

That is a huge increase in tolls! It may mean nothing to those who live in the fancy condos, but it will mean a lot to those in the service industry who work in the area. Think also of the people who visit Fort Desoto as a economical way to have family outings. Gas prices alone have made this more difficult. I agree with repairing or replacing the bridges, but I think it should be done with tax/grant monies.

[jackie]

The increase is way too high. People will avoid the park and bridge if possible. You will see revenue decrease. Taxes too high, insurance too high, tolls too high, salaries too
low..... you got it FLORIDA. Say bye bye.

[Debbie]

In California the Bay Bridge toll was 25 cents until first raised to 50 cents. It's now $4 (the Golden Gate Bridge is $5 because it's privately run). Both bridges are used mainly by commuters to San Francisco, not by recreational users. Once the door is opened to raising bridge tolls (or charging tolls on roads, for that matter), there's no closing it. Taxes in this country need to be raised, not cut, to pay for what we all need in order to live here. If that doesn't happen, or if we can't get our priorities straight about what we spend our taxes on, we won't have a country worth living in anyway.

[frank]

and if you live or work there?

[kathy]

I think the cost is outrageous. The Sunshine Skyway costs less. I don't believe this is really what it would take. I think the DOT is greedy and overspending taxpayers money.

[Trey]

35 cents was a great deal for a lot of years (less than the cost 1 beer) then add $5.00 for boat ramp, still not bad (were talking a 6 pack)let do the math for one family with a boat (keeping in mind NO BEER ALLOWED IN PARK)$1.25+.50
cent for xtra axle toll=$1.75 then $2.50 + $1.00 for xtra axle =$3.50
TOTAL = $5.25 + $5.00 boat ramp =$10.25
Still not bad the kids can drink water

[Gina]

Well I don't really think the rich folks on Tierra Verde will be impacted too much by an extra $75 a year. The rest of us who like to go out to DeSoto to enjoy the trail or dog park will certainly be less likely to go with the increase from 35 cents to 2.50. Get real. Adding that to the high gas prices is over the top. Wish my income went up at that rate.

[ALAN]

There are about 22000 cars a day that pass thru the E+W toll booths @1.25 and 780000 annual cars to the park at 2.50.That is $10,037,500+$1950000=
$11,987,500 annually or $239,750,000 over 20 years.
DON T BE FOOLED! This is a DOT done deal and the rush is to raise rates and make improvements before turning it over to a private company. DOT has TOTAL OPEN ENDED AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE THE TERMS OF THE LEASE WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE OR EXECUTIVE OVERSITE.

[Carolyn Reynolds]

The increase in tolls on the Pinellas Bayway are a way of discriminating against the residents of Isla, Tierra Verde and St. Pete Beach. These residents are continually leaving the Island for needed services, visiting friends,shopping,etc. Some of these residents are seasonal or renters.
There are 280 sq. miles of land and 328 sq. miles of water in Pinellas County.There are lots of bridges. But, there are very few bridges that charge a toll. The most expensive toll ($1.00)is the Skyway Bridge. The FDOT is also discriminating against the people who use the public beaches. A small increase in toll to use Fort DeSoto Park is justified. But, the tolls on the bridges should be eliminated as they were on the Gandy Bridge and other bridges that were funded either by Penny for Pinellas or by the gasoline surcharge that we all pay to fund the Pinellas County Bayside Bridge.
FIND ANOTHER WAY TO FUND THE BRIDGE. WE ARE ALREADY PAYING FOR THE BRIDGES THAT DO NOT CHARGE A TOLL!