2012-11-14: Struggling to finance $3.02 billion of its $5.6 billion rail line with toll revenue bonds the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) decided today to put firmly in place two years of toll increases but to defer a decision on recommended increases in the third year. Tolls for the typical trip in a car on the 13.4 mile tollroad in the western part of the Washington DC metro area will rise from $2.25 to $2.75 (22%) January 1 2013 and to $3.50 (27%) Jan 1 2014.
This extensive article provides important additional comments by MWAA officials and critics of the toll hikes and the broader issue of tolls on a road paying for rail line construction.A decision on a toll increase recommended for the start of 2015 was deferred so the Authority can troll for non-toll sources of revenue for its rail project. An increase in the typical toll to $4.50 or 29% was recommended.
In a presentation to the board today staff showed toll revenues rising from $109m budgeted this year to $127m in 2013 and to $149m in 2014, increases each year of about 17%. The numbers imply annual drops in traffic of about 7%. . . .
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