FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Amy Davies, Lee County Department of Transportation
              (239) 479-8589

PUBLIC WORKSHOPS SET FOR PROPOSED TOLL REVISIONS/FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED

FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 15, 2003) - Two public workshops - in Cape Coral and Sanibel - have been scheduled to answer residents' questions about proposed toll revisions on the Cape Coral and Midpoint Memorial bridges and Sanibel Causeway.

Lee DOT representatives will be at the meetings to answer questions. The public may attend the "open house" format meetings anytime from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the following dates:

A public hearing before the Board of Lee County Commissioners will be held Aug. 12 (Tue.) at 5 p.m. in the Commission Chamber of the Old County Courthouse, 2120 Main Street in downtown Fort Myers.

In addition, the county is mailing 59,000 informational brochures to transponder account holders detailing the proposed changes.

The changes are being proposed for two major reasons:

  1. To simplify a complex and inefficient discount toll structure that has 18 different programs.
  2. The simplification will allow LeeWay transponder users to also use the Florida SunPass System and other toll authorities in the state.

Below is some background and frequently asked questions (FAQs).

BACKGROUND

Lee County is considering revising the toll structure on its three bridges. Lee County currently has a very complex toll discount program that has evolved into one of the most complicated toll programs of any major toll facility in the United States. The toll programs have evolved over time for a variety of reasons, which taken individually, are positive. However, when the program is evaluated in its entirety, the necessity of such a complex program, as well as its benefits to the County's citizens, is questionable. Because of the large number of discount programs, it is difficult for customers to choose the best program for their travel habits. In fact, research conducted into the County's toll program indicates that more than half of the drivers with an unlimited account would save money by switching to another program.

Simplifying the toll structure would provide many benefits to Lee County citizens:

Several simplified toll structures have been considered, however, replacing the current structure with a toll that is the same for all LeeWay customers produces the least complicated system. The County proposes setting toll rates that are based on the current average toll paid by all Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) customers at each facility. The amount customers pay by ETC would then be fair and equal. Depending on each person's actual use, some people will pay less under this scenario; some people will pay more. This simplified structure has a discount built into it and will eliminate the concerns with the current structure which has allowed the frequent users to be subsidized by the infrequent users. The fact is, every trip produces the same wear and tear on the facility and the impact on traffic congestion is the same, whether the trip is a customer's 1st or 501st trip. The simplified toll structure was calculated and verified by two independent transportation engineering firms to ensure that the toll rate calculations are accurate and the total annual revenue generated under the simplified tolls structure remains equal to the revenue currently collected.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Simplifying the toll structure provides many benefits:
 
* Eliminates the inconvenience of dealing with discount
   program ($330, $40, $150, $25) renewals every year for
   purchasers.
* Eliminates the confusion over the discount programs
   ($330, $40, $150, $25) and the resulting overpayment for
   discount programs by many customers.
* Increases the efficiency of and reduces the administrative
   costs associated with LeeWay.
* Maintains the toll revenue stream at current levels so
   that the County can meet its required toll debt obligations
   and maintain its bond (loan) contracts. (Much like a mortgage,
   Lee County must repay the bond holders the funds
   borrowed to build the Midpoint Bridge, the newer east
   bound span of the Cape Coral Bridge and the up coming
   construction of the Sanibel Bridge.)
* Maintains at current levels the total amount of tolls paid
   on an annual basis by LeeWay customers.
* Will facilitate the process to allow LeeWay customers
   with prepaid accounts to become compatible and interactive
   with the Florida SunPass System and the other toll
   authorities in the state.


Why is the cash toll different from the electronic toll?
The cash toll is different from the ETC toll for several
reasons. The cost to collect tolls electronically is lower
than the cost to collect cash and coins. Additionally, the
ETC lanes process three times more cars in the same
amount of time as the attended lanes. Use of ETC saves
the County money, therefore, the Board of County
Commissioners wanted to maintain a discounted toll rate
for electronic toll users.

Isn't this a toll increase?
No, the current toll program requires an upfront payment
to participate in the discount program. If a customer has a
program that allows travel over the Midpoint and Cape Coral
Bridges for $0.50 instead of $1, they paid a $40 annual fee
for that program. If the customer makes 100 trips that
year (and no trips were during variable pricing times) they
have paid $50 in tolls (100 X $0.50) plus the $40 annual fee
for a total of $90. Their average toll is $0.90 per trip. Under
the proposed system, this customer would pay $70 in tolls
annually (100 X $0.70). They would save $20 each year.
Using the same math, if a customer with the same program
made 300 trips per year, their annual tolls would be $190
for an average of $0.63 per trip.Under the proposed system
this customer would pay $210 per year, or $20 more each
year than they currently pay.

How does this compare to what I pay now?
See the following Comparison Charts which compare
examples of five and two round trips per week with the
current and proposed structures.

Why is the Sanibel cash toll increasing during the winter
season?
Sanibel Island experiences much greater traffic during the
peak tourist winter season, so Lee County is considering
implementing a Seasonal Value Priced toll. This is similar
to the Value Priced toll on the Midpoint & Cape Coral Bridges
which is lower just before and just following the rush hours.
The Sanibel tolls would be lower during the off-peak months
of the year and higher during the periods of high use or
winter months.

If I am pulling a trailer, what toll would I pay?
Please see the Proposed Simplified Toll Rates.

What happens if I travel all three bridges? It looks like
I will pay more than I have been paying with the discount
programs.
If you have a transponder and a prepaid account you will
pay $.70 per trip on the Cape Coral and Midpoint Bridges
and $1.00 per trip on the Sanibel Bridges. However, you
will not need to spend the money up front to purchase the
discount program for all three bridges. Depending on each
person's actual use, some people could pay less under this
scenario; some people could pay more. This simplified
structure still has a discount built into it and will eliminate
the unfairness of the current structure which has allowed
the frequent users to be subsidized by the infrequent users.

Do I have to have a prepaid account?
Yes, the transponder will not work without a prepaid account.
To receive the discounted ETC toll you must set up and
maintain a prepaid account. Customers with prepaid
accounts may also participate in Variable Pricing at the Cape
Coral and Midpoint Toll Facilities which provides a 50%
discount when you travel during eligible off-peak times. If
you do not have a prepaid account you will pay the cash
rate as shown in the chart.

What happens if I have a LeeWay prepaid account and
the balance is zero?
You would pay the cash toll in the cash lanes because there
are no funds from which to initiate an electronic transaction.

Will the Variable Pricing discounts continue?
Variable Pricing rewards drivers with a 50% discount when
they travel during eligible off-peak times when capacity is
available on the roadway system. Switching to off-peak
times reduces demand on the roadway network. This delays
or possibly eliminates, the need for costly capital
improvements thereby saving the County money. For this
reason, the Board of County Commissioners is maintaining
the Variable Pricing discount program. For travelers on the
Cape Coral and Midpoint Bridges, a half-price toll of 35 cents
is offered during Variable Pricing times.

Can I receive a second vehicle discount if I have two
vehicles on one account?
Since upfront payment for toll discount programs would no
longer be required, second car discounts would no longer
be meaningful. However, the second vehicle discount was
included when calculating the average toll for customers.
Additionally, transponders would be transferable and
customers that had programs for only one or two facilities
would gain an added savings at all three bridges.

I used to have a discount program for Sanibel only. Can
I use my transponder at all three Lee County facilities?
If you have a prepaid account the ETC toll will be paid
automatically on any toll bridge in Lee County. If you do not
have a prepaid account you will have to pay cash at the
cash toll rate.

Can I transfer my transponder to another vehicle?
Yes, if this program is adopted, transponders will become
transferable because there would be no discount program
associated with the transponder. However, the transponder
must be attached to the windshield with something like
Velcro. Customer representatives will happily help you with
this process. They can also test the transponder in the
Service Center's test lane, before you leave. If you would
like to do this yourself please call the Service Center for
assistance.

If transponders can now be transferred from vehicle
to vehicle, can I hold my transponder in my hand
when I drive through the toll facility lanes?
No, transponders not affixed are more likely to misread
or not read in the lane requiring you to pay the cash toll.
To prevent this from occurring LeeWay requires the transponders
must be attached. Citations will be issued if
the transponders are not attached.

What happens if my transponder is in another car
and I travel through the toll facility?
If in a gated or cash lane, you must pay the cash toll
because you do not have the funds from which to
initiate an electronic transaction. If you are in a
dedicated lane without a gate, you will receive a warning
notice and will then be subject to citations.
My business purchases unlimited discount programs
for the Sanibel toll facility for our employees' personal vehicles.

How do I keep from paying for their personal trips?
LeeWay provides statements to customers for this
purpose. The statements document all trips made with
a transponder. You and your employees will have to
determine which trips are work related or personal. You
will then have to work out an internal system for reimbursement.
LeeWay provides two monthly, itemized
statements per year free of charge upon request. Statements
of the current requested month will be mailed out
during the following month. Additional monthly, itemized
statements are also available starting at $1.50 per month
and can be paid through your prepaid account.

I used to automatically renew my discount
program(s) with my credit card each year, what must
I do under the simplified toll structure?
The discount programs no longer exist, so there is
nothing to renew or do annually. However you still need
to maintain your prepaid account and periodically
update the vehicle information in your LeeWay account.
You can have your prepaid account automatically replenished
when it reaches a low balance of $10.00. Please
call the LeeWay Service Center for more information.