HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – Local 2 Investigates has learned the Harris County Toll Road Authority is preparing to raise prices.
The new rates take effect on Sept. 7, 2013, but why the price hike when there was one last year?
"In 2007, Harris County adopted a toll rate-setting policy that avoided potentially unpredictable larger rate increases at infrequent intervals. Rather, it required smaller, predictable annual recalculation rates," said Adam Collett, media relations coordinator with the Harris County Toll Road Authority.
Here is a rundown of the changes:
Main lane plazas:
- A 5-cent increase in the EZTAG rate for 2-axle vehicles (from $1.40 to $1.45)
- NO CHANGE in the cash rate for 2-axle vehicles
- NO CHANGE in large vehicles (3-axles or more), for either EZTAG or cash rates
- NO CHANGE in Ship Channel Bridge main lane plaza rates, for either EZTAG or cash rates
Entrance and exit ramp-based facilities:
- For tolled ramps that are currently priced at $1.00:
--2-axle vehicle rate is adjusting to $1.15 for EZTAG, and $1.25 for cash
--3-axle and 4-axle rates: NO CHANGE
--5- and 6-axle rates are also increasing - For all other ramps (ones currently priced 40¢, 75¢, etc., basically all ramps not currently priced at $1.00):
--NO CHANGE
Toll rates on the Katy Managed Lanes will increase too. Although, Local 2 Investigates has not yet seen a complete breakdown of the rate changes, we have confirmed that a full trip during HOV hours could cost more by $2.
By our calculation, that means a full-round trip on the Katy Managed Lanes could cost $14 for a round trip during peak hours.