Indiana Toll Road increasing its rates for drivers

 

Beginning July 1, the Indiana Toll Road will increase the cost to travel across the Hoosier state by approximately ten percent for all drivers.

For most two-axle vehicles, this increase means the toll rates to travel across Indiana will rise from $12.28 to $13.50. Toll rates for most five-axle trucks will increase from $66.30 to $72.88.

A representative of the Indiana Toll Road says that raising the toll rates will improve efforts to make upgrades and to preserve the roadways in order to provide drivers with a commute that is consistently safe and comfortable.

“I think it’s fair to say that no one enjoys paying tolls. But, if they see all the infrastructure improvements that go along with it, we are providing a very safe and comfortable ride for everyone who utilizes the toll road,” said Bill McCall, Director of Communications for the Indiana Toll Road.

One truck driver worries that this rate increase will ultimately be passed down to the consumer levels as their operational costs go up.

“With any kind of costs that incurs for the daily operation of a trucking company, inadvertently is going to have to be passed down, and that’s going to come to the consumer. Everything’s tight right now for a lot of people,” said Harvey Yarbrough, a professional truck driver.

A Chicago native using an E-ZPass to commute, travelling through Indiana to Pennsylvania, admitted that she was not even aware of the toll road rates.

“We’re going on a pretty long trip from the Chicago area to central Pennsylvania and, honestly, we have E-ZPass, so we don’t pay a whole lot attention to the tolls. Obviously we’re looking at gas prices. I don’t, honestly, know what the rates are as we go through,” said one traveler.

McCall also noted that the increased toll rates will combat inflation issues they are facing, giving the Indiana Toll Road an opportunity to keep up with the increased costs of labor, operations and maintenance.