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No Beach Tolls Of Any Kind During Holiday Weekend
July 4, 2019
All tolls to Pensacola Beach will be waived this Fourth of July holiday weekend…that means no $1 cash toll, no Toll-by-Plate and no Sunpass needed to cross the Bob Sikes Bridge.
Commissioner Robert Bender will use about $65,000 from discretionary District 4 funds to make up the lost tolls through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 7. All lanes will be open for all drivers with no need to stop at the toll booth. Sunpass holders will not be charged during this period for using the Bob Sikes Bridge.
“The past two weekends have showed us that not stopping to pay cash via the Toll-by-Plate system dramatically helped to reduce travel time to the beach. We had very positive feedback on the greatly improved drive time during high volume periods when only electronic payment was in use, but I also understand that there was confusion on when cash payments were accepted. By District 4 paying the tolls this weekend, it allows us to move traffic faster and lets everyone enjoy the beach without worrying about the payment process,” Bender said. “This is not a a permanent solution, but gets us all through this busy weekend with one less worry as we work on a more long-term fix.”
Above and below: A live look at Pensacola Beach traffic at the toll plaza.
Comments
15 Responses to “No Beach Tolls Of Any Kind During Holiday Weekend”
Doesnt look like anything is going to relieve congestion
As is typical…..
You wouldn’t be happy counting money on halves.
Most if not all, didn’t mind paying the one dollar fee, either by cash or Sun Pass. The toll authorities received the backlash & I believe deservedly so, for the confusing to many, lane changes & the barely & the suddenly announced $2.50 no choice fee for using the forced plate reading system, tacked on to the one dollar fee.
I have lived in Escambia County all my life,
and this is the first time the county did something
for the “Locals” for free……….or maybe for the tourist
A month long Boycott would eliminate tolls like Navarre Beach.
Looking at the congestion at 12:12 P.M. traffic backs up before and after the toll plaza . Sorry folks you can’t put 6 gallon in a 5 gallon bucket.
12:09 PM on July 4th and looking at the Cool Traffic Cameras, Thank you for that.
Looking back from the toll booth toward the bridge there is a LONG Line of cars backed up in the 2 Cash lanes and free flowing in the SunPass lanes.
DOT sign placed at the Gulf Breeze end of the Bob Sikes Bridge letting drivers know that ALL Lanes are FREE sure would have helped move the traffic along.
But then that would have required PLANNING and Implementation.
Looks like there is a DOT sign very close to the toll booth but that is too late for drivers to get into the other lanes.
12:15 and the two inside lanes to the beach backed up past the top of the bridge and barely any cars in the two outside lanes.
Would be interesting to have a COUNT on the number of vehicles passing through the two inside lanes and also the two outside lanes.
No need for us to go to the beach, leaving that up to others to enjoy.
Wasn’t the Toll Bridge set up to pay for the cost of the bridge , it should be paid for by now. Charge $1 during the week and free on the weekends and holidays
discretionary funds to cover the cost of this weekend. makes you wonder why they can not use discretionary funds to cover other important things.
Jeez…why not make the toll $5 on these busy weekends to cut back on the number of cars. Now at 7:30 am on July4th people are POURING into the beach. They will have to close the casino beach parking lot by 10am. Our leaders ore morons.
I live in PB. Good idea on waiver of tolls this J4 weekend and hopefully on Blue Angel weekend. I like the idea of no cash needed and bill by plate or Sun Pass. This will prevent traffic from backing up at the toll booths.
I know some people don’t agree but I feel if we don’t build the round-a-bouts, traffic will still back up at busy times at the first stop light at Ft. Pickens and Via De Luna. I have lived in cities that had round-a-bouts and they work. Thank you.
If the County Commissioners can use “Discretionary Funds” (Read as TAXPAYER Monies taken away from District 4 needs) to provide free access through the toll gates can they also decide to INCREASE Fees for access to the beach?
Wondering if a move similar to increasing the fees for parking in downtown Pensacola during Special Events could be applied to the Toll Fees for getting onto the Beach for future 4th of July, Blue Angels show, Mardi Gras, Christmas parade, etc events.
With the “Pay-by-Tag” it seems logical that during heavy weekends more revenue could be generated by simply upping the cost point on the computers and charging a higher access fee.
Just curious.
I support this, but do you have another $65,000 for Blue Angels weekend?
And just like that, the Cause and Effect. Toll numbers down = business revenue down = business owners complaining = damage control implemented.
The next priority for Escambia County and the SRIA regarding beach congestion should be the pedestrian crossings at the Via deLuna traffic light. Construct stairway towers on 3 of the 4 corners to allow overhead pedestrian crossings and install an elevator in each tower. Use English and Scottish rail station overhead walkways as a model for the pedestrian crossings. If it works for Gulf Breeze High School then surely it can be adapted to the Pensacola Beach crosswalks. Anyone who travels much to the beach can easily identify the traffic light is a major cause of congestion because of the timings required to allow pedestrians to traverse the 4 crosswalks. The $65,000 forfeited from this weekend’s tolls should be enough to build one of the three towers.