Adam Tuss, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Drivers on the Dulles Toll Road are getting a better idea of how much tolls may go up in coming years.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority released a proposed set of toll increases Wednesday that would put the cost of a trip through the mainline toll plaza and one off-ramp at $2.75 for next year, $3.50 in 2014 and $4.50 in 2015.
“We don’t anticipate going higher than that,” says MWAA Chief Financial Officer Andy Rountree.
Right now, the trip through the main toll plaza and one off-ramp costs $2.25. Rates increased a quarter to $1.50 at the main toll plaza on Jan. 1, 2012.
Tolls road revenue is going up to help finance the rapidly growing Silver Line Metro expansion.
Roughly 75 percent of the cost of the second phase of the Silver Line, which will run from Reston to Dulles International Airport and continue into Loudoun County, will be paid for with Dulles Toll Road revenue.
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Proposed Toll Hikes: Jan. 1, 2013 – 25 cents at mainline plaza and ramps Jan. 1, 2014 – 75 cents at mainline plaza Jan. 1, 2015 – 25 cents at mainline plaza and 75 cents at ramps |
“This is the least level of increase (for drivers) that we think makes the most sense at this point in time,” says Rountree.
He says toll rates could have actually been set higher, but the Commonwealth of Virginia is kicking in $150 million to help keep tolls lower in the coming years.
Public hearings will be scheduled before any toll rate increase takes effect. The earliest any toll will go up is Jan. 1, 2013.
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