CAPE CHARLES, VA – The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Commission has approved a revision in toll rates to become effective on June 1, 2004.

            According to Bridge-Tunnel officials, “…the Commission has determined that a toll increase is necessary to generate additional revenues to pay for the construction of parallel tunnels.  Also, since 1991, when the last toll increase was implemented for most vehicle classes, inflationary trends as measured by the Consumer Price Index have risen over 34 per cent.”

            On June 1, 2004 passenger car tolls will increase $1.00 per axle and heavy trucks will increase $7.00 per axle.  The current toll for passenger cars is $10.00 one-way and will become $12.00 and 5-axle tractor trailer trucks will increase from $30.00 to $35.00, one-way.

            The 24-hour round-trip discount toll will remain in place; however, it will increase.  Customers making a round-trip will pay the one way toll of $12.00 and a return trip toll of $5.00, realizing an approximate 30 per cent savings over the full round-trip fare of $24.00.

            Two-axle and three-axle commercial buses will increase from $25.00 to $30.00.  School buses will remain at the same rate of $10.00 one-way.

            Special or unusual vehicles (over 100 feet in length, over 8’ 6” in width, exceeding 80,000 lbs. or not able to maintain speed at 45 miles per hour) will remain at $60.00

            The special escort fee for over-width vehicles and vehicles which cannot maintain 45 miles per hour will increase to $200.00 from the present $120.00.  Escorts for these vehicles require special scheduling in order to move them through the tunnels and also require the use of two police units.

             Commission Chairman Lucius J. Kellam III said, “…because of the need to construct the two parallel tunnels, it is necessary that the toll be increased now to accumulate cash for the tunnel construction and to strengthen the financial posture of the District.”