Reported by Margaret Kavanaugh
ORLANDO -- Motorists upset over Sunday’s toll increase along roadways served by the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority shook signs in protest along toll ramps in Orlando as drivers started their work week Monday morning.
A group called “Ax the Tax” sponsored the boycot Monday at the toll ramps at Bumby Avenue and South Street, and at Anderson Street and Delaney Avenue.
The group encouraged people to avoid driving on the roads with increased tolls.
Nick Egoroff, with Ax the Tax, said he wants the Expressway Authority to suffer financially.
“In this economy there is no way anyone can afford this,” Egoroff said. “Show your opposition by not taking it, and we really want people to boycott. I know prices have gone up for things, but a 50 percent increase? That’s ridiculous.”
Leaders with the Expressway Authority said they sympathize with people who are struggling, but said the bad economy is one of the reasons they are in this situation.
“It’s kind of like a Catch 22. We needed to raise the tolls, because the economy was bad,” said Expressway Authority spokeswoman Lindsay Hodges. “We certainly respect everyone’s opinion, but this is the first increase in 19 years, so unfortunately, we did not feel like we had any other option.”
The Expressway Authority board said the 25-cent toll increase was needed because traffic has declined by more than 8 percent in the last year.
Not all of the tolls are increasing, so you could save a little by planning ahead.
The extra quarter could raise about $45 million, plus tens of thousands of construction jobs in the next year.
