Board votes to raise rates on Dulles Toll Road

WASHINGTON -- The thousands of cars and trucks that use the Dulles Toll Road on a daily basis will soon have to pay higher tolls if they want to keep driving on the road.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board of Directors unanimously approved a plan Wednesday to raise rates along the toll road.

Starting Jan. 1, the toll at the main gate will rise from 75 cents to $1. On Jan. 1, 2011, that toll will rise again by 25 cents to $1.25. And again in 2012, the toll will rise another 25 cents to $1.50.

Meanwhile, tolls at the off ramps will go up from 50 cents to 75 cents starting this January.

The additional revenue is being used to help finance the $5.2 billion Silver Line Metro extension to Dulles International Airport.

"It is difficult economic times, but there are only certain sources of funding available to us," says Jim Bennett, head of the Airports Authority.

"We continue to explore additional avenues of funding from federal sources and other sources, but at this point the toll revenues are necessary in order to accomplish this project."

MWAA says it needs revenue along the Toll Road to increase from $65 million in 2008, to $87 million in 2010 and $220 million by 2020 in order to cover potential debt.

So does that mean tolls could spike again after 2012?

"After 2012, any additional adjustments will be reviewed based on the actual performance, as well as the financial plan and project construction costs," Bennett says.

$963 million in bonds have been sold to help finance the Metro extension, and the authority plans on selling $2 billion more over the next five years.

The Dulles Toll Road was previously owned and operated by VDOT, but the road was transferred to the Airports Authority last year.

Lawsuits challenging that transfer have not been upheld.

MWAA heard hundreds of complaints about the increase during public hearings, but says the rate hike is actually in line with other similar toll roads in the state and around the country.

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