FAQ
Last November the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) proposed hiking the toll at the east, west, and south entries of the Pinellas Bayway to pay for a new, 4-lane high bridge to St. Pete Beach and a new 2-lane high bridge to Tierra Verde. The cost of construction is estimated at $180 million, and they want to start construction as early as the end of this year.
Many citizens were taken about by the size of the proposed toll increase. In July, 2009 cash tolls at the east/west entries to the Bayway would go up more than 200%, and the toll to Ft. Desoto would initially skyrocket almost eight fold, to $2.50. By the end of the financing term, it would cost almost $11.00 to go to Ft. Desoto from the mainland of St. Petersburg. The current annual "general public" pass would go from $50 to $125 the first year, and to more than $250 by the end of the financing term.
St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker has taken a position against the FDOT's plan, as has Pinellas County Commissioner Bob Stewart.
In order to raise the tolls, the FDOT must first get the Florida legislature to repeal a 1985 law that set tolls on the Pinellas Bayway. District Representative James "Jim" Frishe has sponsored a bill that would repeal this law, and he has been joined by Senator Dennis Jones, who has sponsored a companion bill. The Task Force coalition believes that transferring toll setting authority for a local road from the legislature to a state agency is bad public policy. Once removed from legislative oversight, citizen control over tolls and the use of revenue from those tolls will be lost.
Beginning in late February more than a dozen neighborhood associations came together, formed the Citizen's Bayway Toll Task Force, and agreed to:
a.. Ask our elected representatives to kill the legislation that would transfer toll-setting authority from the legislature to the FDOT
b.. After that is done, to work with the FDOT, our representatives, and others to find alternatives to financing necessary bridge improvements
c. See if we can find a way to get the tolls removed completely for the Bayway, thus opening up access to Ft. Desoto Park for more citizens
Unfortunately, time is short to deal with this matter; the FDOT has scheduled a public meeting / workshop to discuss the proposed toll increases. This meeting will be held on March 12th, 6:00 - 8:00 PM at the St. Pete Beach Community Center, 7701 Boca Ciega Drive.
Q. What is a "resident pass" and how do I get one?
In March, 1968 the original Bayway developer, Leeco Gas and Oil (aka "the Ratner Interests") entered into a settlement agreement with the State of Florida whereby a 200-foot swath of land owned by the Ratner Interests was deeded to the State in exchange for residents toll-free access to Bayway Isle properties (from the eastern side only). An administrative fee 'not to exceed $15 per household' was authorized to cover the cost of issuing "ticket books", whose coupons could be used at the eastern gate in lieu of toll payment. Today, that ticket book has been replaced by the Sunpass transponder.
Property owners and renters who live in Bayway Isles, Point Brittany, Bacopa Bay, Isla Key, and other complexes located on the "Bayway Isle" are eligible for the pass. Residents of other islands along the Bayway are not eligible.
This settlement agreement was appealed by the State Road Department in 1970 to the First District Court of Appeal, which upheld the agreement. The Florida Department of Transportation has proposed eliminating this pass.
Q. Does the Task Force support the high bridge to St. Pete Beach?
The Task Force hasn't taken a position one way or the other on the bridges. We simply don't think that toll-setting authority belongs with the FDOT, and we don't think that tolls should be the only way of funding any needed bridge improvements.
Q. Does the Task Force support the new bridge to Tierra Verde?
The Task Force hasn't taken a position one way or the other on the bridges. We simply don't think that toll-setting authority belongs with the FDOT, and we don't think that tolls should be the only way of funding any needed bridge improvements.
Q. Aren't you the same people that fought against the new bridge to St. Pete Beach?
No. The Task Force is made up of neighborhood associations, education institutions, and civic organizations throughout Pinellas County who are concerned about the loss of citizen control over the Pinellas Bayway tolls. We haven't taken a position one way or the other on the bridges. We simply don't think that toll-setting authority belongs with the FDOT, and we don't think that tolls should be the only way of funding any needed bridge improvements.
Q. I live in Isla del Sol. Why should I pay a toll when I don't go over either of the two bridges on my way to St. Petersburg?
Good question, and one that should be asked of the FDOT at one or more of their public meetings.
Q. Shouldn't we charge admission to Ft. Desoto Park?
Pinellas County does not charge admission to any County park.
Q. The FDOT points out that tolls haven't increased on the Bayway since 1986. Isn't it time for an increase?
Tolls don't always go up; after the initial bond issue is paid off they usually go down. As an example, from December, 1958 to the current date the Sunshine Skyway bridge toll decreased from $1.75 to $1.00.
Q. I was growing up on St. Pete Beach when the Bayway went in. I recall the media at the time saying that after the bonds were paid off the tolls would go away. What happened to that promise?
Good question, and one that a few people have asked. We understand the FDOT is denying there ever was such an agreement. Unless someone comes forward with something in writing, this is just one of those "urban rumors".
Q. Representative Frishe and Senator Jones put out a press release saying that there was "considerable misinformation" about the toll increase and that "the situation is much more favorable now". Can we quit worrying about this issue?
No. As good politicians do, our representatives are trying to defuse the situation by assuring Bayway Isle residents that their $15 pass will be retained (note that the right to the pass is already a matter of law, and besides, there are only about 700 of these pass holders). They also are claiming credit for returning the "borrowed" $18.8 million to the reserve fund, with a small amount of interest. This also may be a matter of law, even though the politicians are claiming credit for it.
The politicians would like to you relax so they can push through House Bill 287 and Senate Bill 554. For the protection of all citizens, the control of toll-setting authority needs to remain in the legislature and NOT be turned over to a bureaucratic, inefficient state road agency like the FDOT. Insuring that HB 287 and SB 554 be defeated remains the primary focus of the Citizen's Bayway Task Force.