Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed a $500 million measure that will provide savings to frequent toll-road users, one of three bills approved during a special legislative session this week.
This expands on a program from over the summer we reported on (https://www.aroundosceola.com/news/sunpass-frequent-transponder-use-discounts-begin-today). DeSantis called the tollroad measure (SB 6-A) the beginning of efforts to tap record state budget reserves to offer tax relief.
“When your surplus gets too big, it’s like, OK, we need to get this back to the taxpayer,” DeSantis said during a bill-signing event.
The bill, which expands on a current rebate program, will take effect Jan. 1 and remain in place for a year. It will provide 50 percent credits to motorists with personal SunPass or other Florida “interoperable transponder accounts” (E-Pass, Uni and LeeWay) in each month they record 35 or more toll-road trips. Only two-axle vehicles (passenger cars, motorcycles and smaller trucks) qualify.
Since Florida’s Turnpike — which rolls through nearly 70 miles of Osceola County — and a few other local roads are part of that list, local drivers who are frequently on roads served by the SunPass system will save some money.
In Osceola County, trips on Poinciana Parkway and the tolled portion of Osceola Parkway qualify. Drivers who frequently use toll roads in Orange County could also see savings — trips on State Roads 417, 528, 408 and 429 and the Interstate 4 Express lanes qualify, as do those on the Polk Parkway (State Road 570) around Lakeland.
Customers do not need to sign up for the program. For commuters with their account in good standing, it will work automatically. Credits will be applied to the account in the following month. The first credits will appear on statements in February.
The average motorist participating in the program, who uses those toll roads on a near-daily basis is expected to save right around $500. The bill will provide $500 million in tax dollars to the Department of Transportation and toll agencies to cover lost toll revenues.
According to the News Service of Florida, Sen. Lori Berman (D-Delray Beach), expressed concern the bill will benefit “maybe” 500,000 people.
“I wish we had also looked at the idea of just lowering tolls throughout the state for the benefit of everyone,” Berman said. “But I will support the bill today. But I think it’s an idea that we should consider if we find ourselves in a position where we are so lucky to have an extra half a billion dollars to be able to use.”
