{"id":13368,"date":"2012-09-04T10:51:41","date_gmt":"2012-09-04T14:51:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.raleighpublicrecord.org\/?p=13368"},"modified":"2012-09-04T14:58:07","modified_gmt":"2012-09-04T18:58:07","slug":"a-breakdown-of-southeastern-toll-roads","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/news\/transit\/2012\/09\/04\/a-breakdown-of-southeastern-toll-roads\/","title":{"rendered":"A Breakdown of Southeastern Toll Roads"},"content":{"rendered":"

North Carolina got its first toll road earlier this year with the opening of the Triangle Expressway. When completed, the expressway will extend about 18 miles from Research Triangle Park to Holly Springs.<\/p>\n

The first phase of the project officially opened last December, but began collecting tolls just after the New Year. It connects N.C. 147 south to Interstate 40 and Interstate 540.<\/p>\n

Phase two opened up in August and connects N.C. 540 between N.C. 54 and U.S. 64 in Apex.<\/p>\n

The final phase, expected to open in January, will connect N.C. 540 between U.S. 64 and N.C. 55 Bypass in Holly Springs<\/p>\n

This got us thinking about how the TriEx, as it’s lovingly called, stacks up against other toll roads in the Southeast.<\/p>\n

We’ve put together a chart showing the toll differences, along with more detail about each road below.<\/p>\n

Note: The toll rates listed here are flat fees, except TriEx and Southern Connector. Those are per-mile charges. Rates are for two-axle cars only.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nTriEx<\/th>\nSouthern Connector (S.C.)<\/th>\nGA 400<\/th>\nThe Veterans Expressway (Fla.)<\/th>\nFoley Beach Express (Ala.)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Cost with Pass<\/th>\n$0.30-$0.65<\/td>\n$0.75-$2.70<\/td>\n50 cents<\/td>\n$1.25<\/td>\n$3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cost with Cash\/By Mail<\/th>\n$0.45-$1.25<\/td>\n$0.75-$3<\/td>\n50 cents<\/td>\n$1.75<\/td>\n$3.50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

TriEx<\/a><\/strong>
\nWhere:<\/strong> Wake and Durham counties, North Carolina
\nConnects:<\/strong> N.C. 147 south to N.C. 55 Bypass (when completed)
\nMiles:<\/strong> 18 (when completed)
\nToll Rates:<\/strong> Ranges from 30 cents to 65 cents per mile with an N.C. Quick Pass. Ranges between 45 cents and $1.25 per mile if billed by mail.
\nFun Facts:<\/strong> The project cost is about $1 billion and is the first toll road in North Carolina. North Carolina is the last state in the region to implement a toll road.<\/p>\n

[media-credit name=”NCDOT” align=”aligncenter” width=”600″]\"A<\/a>[\/media-credit] <\/p>\n

Southern Connector<\/a><\/strong>
\nWhere:<\/strong> Greenville, S.C.
\nConnects:<\/strong> The southern portion of Interstate 185 to Interstate-385
\nMiles:<\/strong> 16
\nToll Rates:<\/strong> Pal Pass rates are 75 cents to $2.70. If paying cash, 75 cents to $3.00.
\nFun Facts:<\/strong> It is one of two toll roads in South Carolina. The other is in Hilton Head. The Southern Connector has brought in $3.3 million so far this year. In 2010, the association responsible for the road filed bankruptcy.<\/p>\n

[media-credit name=”Southern Connector” align=”aligncenter” width=”600″]\"\"<\/a>NCDOT<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GA 400<\/a><\/strong>
\nWhere:<\/strong> Atlanta, Ga.
\nConnects:<\/strong> Interstate 85 and U.S. 19. But, tolls are only collected from I-85 to Interstate 285.
\nMiles:<\/strong> 6.2
\nToll Rates:<\/strong> 50 cents paid by cash or Cruise Card.
\nFun Facts:<\/strong> The road brings in about $59,000 per day.<\/a> Construction of part of the highway caused an outcry by residents <\/a>and many homes were taken through eminent domain.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>[\/media-credit]
\nThe Veterans Expressway \u2013 State Road 589<\/strong><\/a>
\nWhere:<\/strong> Tampa, Fla.
\nConnects:<\/strong> Courtney Campbell Causeway west of Tampa International Airport to Dale Marbry Highway in Hillsborough County
\nMiles:<\/strong> 15
\nToll Rates:<\/strong> $1.25 with SunPass, $1.75 with cash.
\nFun Facts:<\/strong> This portion is a small part of the 41-mile Suncoast Parkway. The Suncoast Parkway has a multi-use recreation trail that provides safe bicycle and pedestrian commuting.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[media-credit name=”Florida Turnpike Enterprise” align=”aligncenter” width=”600″]\"\"<\/a>[\/media-credit]<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Foley Beach Express<\/strong><\/a>
\nWhere:<\/strong> Orange Beach, Ala.
\nConnects:<\/strong> Alternative to Highway 59
\nMiles:<\/strong> 14
\nToll Rates:<\/strong> $3.50 for cash. Discounts vary, but the basic Alabama Freedom Pass charge is $3.00.
\nFun Facts:<\/strong> The Beach Express toll is privately operated. The website claims that drivers can avoid 25 lights by using the highway.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Another section of the Triangle Expressway toll road recently opened to the public. We wondered how it compares to other toll roads in the country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24029,"featured_media":13369,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15,23,14],"tags":[885,887,886],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13368"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24029"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13368"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13368\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13369"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13368"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13368"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13368"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}