Toll increase approved for International Bridge

NEWS RELEASE

JOINT INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE AUTHORITY

*********************** Joint International Bridge Authority approves toll increase

February 14, 2007 - To help address the long-term financial needs of the International Bridge that links Michigan and Ontario, the Joint International Bridge Authority (JIBA) today approved a toll rate increase that will take effect April 1.

"Tolls are the primary source of revenue for the International Bridge, and this increase is essential to provide for costly repairs and upgrades that are needed in the near future to protect the public investment in the bridge," said International Bridge Administration (IBA) General Manager Phil Becker.

"The IBA staff has conducted public hearings and made significant efforts to inform our customers on the necessity of the toll increase, and we've found most agree that this action is essential to the bridge's future," Becker said.

The following rates take effect April 1:

- $2 (U.S.) or Canadian equivalent per crossing for passenger vehicles

- $2 (U.S.) or Canadian equivalent per axle for recreational vehicles

- $3 (U.S.) or Canadian equivalent per axle for trucks and buses

- $1.40 (U.S.) or Canadian equivalent per crossing for IQ Card users

A typical passenger vehicle crossing will be $2 (U.S.) or the Canadian equivalent, plus $1 (U.S.) for each additional axle on passenger vehicles pulling trailers.

Bridge IQ Card tolls will be $1.40 (U.S.) or the Canadian equivalent per crossing for passenger vehicles, which equals a 30 percent savings when compared to the proposed regular rates.

The commercial toll classification will be expanded to include per-axle charges for 9-, 10-, and 11-axle configurations, which currently are all classified at an 8-axle configuration rate.

The toll schedule provides specific rates for various axle configurations.

Although bridge traffic has steadily declined since 1993, it has stabilized in the past few years.

Today, traffic is approximately one-half of what it was in 1993, when traffic peaked at 3.6 million crossings.

U.S. currency toll rates have not increased since 1968.

Engineers estimate that the concrete bridge deck will need to be replaced in the next 15 years at an approximate cost of $75 million (U.S.).

During this time, an additional $40 million (U.S.) will be needed to complete other bridge projects such as painting and reconstruction of the 45-year-old U.S. toll plaza.

The IBA conducted a series of public hearings about the toll increase proposal in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan; Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario; and Lansing, Michigan IBA staff also presented the proposal to several units of government and organizations in the Sault Ste. Marie area, and distributed informational fliers to bridge customers.

Information on the new toll rates is available at the International Bridge Administration office, 934 Bridge Plaza, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., or by visiting the IBA website. The bridge operation is totally financially self-sustaining, primarily from toll revenue.

There is no state, provincial, or federal operational subsidy.

Annual toll revenues average $4.5 million (U.S.), of which an average of $3.4 million (U.S.) goes toward annual operation and maintenance budgets.

The remaining funds are used or set aside for capital projects.

Proposed toll rate

The proposed toll rate schedule is based on the following toll structure: Passenger vehicles are $1 per axle.

This equals $2 per crossing (U.S.).

Included in this category are two-axle passenger cars or trucks, sport utility vehicles, vans, and motorcycles.

Passenger vehicles pulling trailers will be $1 per additional axle.

Recreational vehicles are $2 per axle.

Included in this category are motor homes or two-axle trucks towing fifth-wheel trailers.

Recreational vehicles are not entitled to a commuter discount.

All other vehicles are $3 per axle (U.S.).

This includes semi-trucks, buses, non-passenger trucks, and any vehicle not meeting passenger vehicle or motor home characteristics. Bridge IQ card users pay $1.40 (U.S.) per crossing at a saving of 30 percent.

The following is the toll rate structure in schedule format recommended as a step toward meeting the long-range financial needs of the International Bridge. [Click here to view a chart of current toll rates as well as the proposed new rates.]

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