Sunshine Skyway bridge drivers paying higher toll rates

Drivers going over the Sunshine Skyway bridge are now paying a little more.

Beginning July 1, tolls for using the bridge between Pinellas and Manatee counties increased from $1.50 to $1.75 for standard two-axle vehicles, with rate hikes for other vehicles as well.

The Florida Department of Transportation said the rate adjustments were required because of increases in the Consumer Price Index, which measures the average change of prices paid by consumers for goods and services over time. Spokesperson Kerry French said the state is required to assess every five years. The last adjustment was in 2017.

Price changes affected all toll facilities in the Florida Turnpike system beginning this month, including the Veterans Expressway, Suncoast Parkway and Pinellas Bayway.

For the Sunshine Skyway bridge, three-axle vehicles now pay $3.50 instead of $3, while four-axle vehicles now pay $5.25 and five-axle vehicles $7.

SunPass holders save 33.7% on each toll, dropping the price to $1.16 for two-axle vehicles. A full list of toll rates is available at floridasturnpike.com/tolls/toll-rates/

The increases come amid Gov. Ron DeSantis’ highly touted Toll Relief program, a yearlong initiative that went into effect Jan. 1 and gives people with SunPass or other Florida transponder accounts 50% credits if they tally 35 or more toll transactions per month. The Department of Transportation estimates that the program will benefit 1.2 million drivers and save each commuter approximately $400.