It’s been more than 20 years since drivers paid tolls in Northeast Florida, but a toll road is on the way in 2016.
The toll road will be a 15-mile stretch from Interstate 10 to Blanding Boulevard. Early cost estimates are 15 cents a mile, or about $2.25 to travel the road.
Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll and other state and local officials announced the project Wednesday.
The estimated cost of the project is $291 million and will be funded by Florida Turnpike Enterprise, which recoups its cost for lane expansion and road improvements through the tolls.
Toll rates will be established by the Enterprise “based on nationally recognized criteria,” according to a fact sheet for the project presented by the Florida Department of Transportation. The 15 cents is the current estimate.
While tolls will be collected, there will be no toll booths that clogged roadways in the past.
The collection system will use the SunPass, a fully automated prepaid toll system the FDOT uses in Orlando and Miami. Motorists can buy a transponder for their windshield that links to their credit card for automatic deduction when the toll road is used.
Portable transponders retail for $25 and mini-sticker transponders retail at $4.99 on the FDOT’s website, though they also are sold in stores. Each comes with $10 worth of toll fees.
Those who use the road but do not have a transponder will receive a monthly bill based on photos of their license plates.
The first portion of the project will be built in two parts, each with three-year completion dates.
FDOT plans to hire construction and design firms by next summer for the south segment between Argyle Forest and Blanding boulevards with construction beginning in fall 2012.
Firms should be chosen by early 2013 for the north section from Argyle Forest Boulevard to Interstate 10 with construction beginning in spring 2013.
Officials said drivers can use non-toll roads if they don’t want to pay tolls. They said the toll road would provide convenience.
A fact sheet said plans continue to be developed for the remaining part of the First Coast Outer Beltway from Blanding Boulevard to Interstate 95, south of Jacksonville through Clay and St. Johns counties. The segments being developed are between Blanding Boulevard and U.S. 17 south of Green Cove Springs and the final segment between U.S. 17 and I-95 south of County Road 210.
It said those segments, totaling another 30 miles, “are not toll feasible at this time” but will continue to be pursued.
“We speak at length about regionalism,” said Travis Cummings, Clay County commissioner. “This exemplifies it.”
Mayor Alvin Brown was scheduled to attend the Wednesday announcement but did not attend.
Spokesman Abel Harding said there was no plan to issue a statement from Brown about the toll road.
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