Citing the economic downturn, an Osceola Parkway traffic and toll revenue report given to the Osceola County Commission last week showed the road’s toll revenues in 2009 were down for the third consecutive year.

From October 2008 to March 2009, tolls generated approximately $5.1 million for the county’s largest roadway, the report, which only collected data through March 2009, showed.

That’s an overall 9.7 percent decrease compared to total 2008 collections.

Between 1995 and 2008, Osceola Parkway toll revenue increased in all but three years. But toll revenue and transactions have steadily declined since 2007, the report, completed by transportation consulting firm Wilbur Smith Associates, showed.

“Each of these three years experienced extraordinary economic conditions,” the report stated, citing the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, and the recession.

Toll collections for 2008 also showed a downtrend, with collections down 3.7 percent compared to 2007.

According to the report, Osceola Parkway in 2008 had 226,000 fewer motorist toll booth crossings than in 2007, resulting in a $419,000 loss of revenue for the roadway.

Tolls generated about $11 million for the county in 2008.

The 12.4-mile road opened in 1995 to provide access to major theme park attractions and the Orlando International Airport. Today, it has three toll plazas: one mainline plaza west of John Young Parkway, and two ramp plazas on the Poinciana Boulevard entrance and exit ramps.

Last April, the parkway’s toll was increased from $1.50 to $1.75 as part of a financial agreement to schedule increases every five years, from 2004 to 2014, when the parkway’s toll fee will be $2 for standard, two-axle vehicles.

Out of 463 respondents in a survey conducted by Wilbur Smith in early 2009, 43.4 percent of commuters make trips through Osceola Parkway four or more times per week. According to the report, the number is attributed to drivers commuting to work.

The survey showed about 58 percent of commuters passing through Osceola Parkway named Kissimmee as their destination. Orlando was the next most frequent destination, with about 17.4 percent of commuters using the roadway to get to the city.

According to the survey, Kissimmee also was the primary residence of 37.5 percent of Osceola Parkway users.

Transactions over Osceola Parkway tolls are expected to pick back up this year, the report forecasted. In 2010, the growth is expected to resume at 1.8 percent, and by 2012, the growth is expected to rebound from the recession, and increase annually by approximately 5 percent.

Revenues for 2010 are expected to be about $11.3 million, and steadily increase to about $15 million by 2014.