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FLORIDA - Drivers across Central Florida will start paying more at toll booths beginning July 1st as two major toll systems implement new rate increases.
The change is being met with frustration from commuters already grappling with high costs of living.
The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority is raising rates on the Selmon Expressway by about five cents per trip.
Officials say the hike is necessary due to inflation and the rising costs of road maintenance and construction.
Meanwhile, the Central Florida Expressway Authority, which manages a 125 mile network across six counties, will also increase tolls by two to five cents depending on the location.
Agency officials note that while these adjustments may seem small, they are part of an annual pricing index that ensures enough funding to maintain, operate and expand Florida’s infrastructure.
Some relief is available to frequent travelers.
The CFX has reinstated its E PASS Volume Toll Savings Program which offers up to 25% in monthly discounts based on usage.
Drivers who pass through tolls more than forty times a month qualify for reduced rates.
Still, for many Floridians, the added costs are pushing budgets to the brink.
One local driver said he now spends around $120 a month just on tolls, while another pointed out that he faces a tough choice daily between saving time with a paid route or saving money with a longer free one.
Unlike Central Florida and Tampa, the Florida Turnpike and Miami Dade expressways have chosen not to raise rates at this time.