Many Indiana Toll Road Drivers Seeing Big Rate Increase

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Many Indiana Toll Road drivers face paying much higher rates with the expiration of a state subsidy from the state's lease of the highway more than a decade ago.

The new rates taking effect Thursday will see cars, pickup trucks and motorcycles with electronic transponders being charged more than double previous levels. Motorists with E-ZPass transponders now will pay $10.52 to travel the Toll Road's full length, up from $4.65.

State officials established the discounted rate to ease toll increases for frequent Toll Road drivers after the $3.8 billion deal in 2006 leasing the northern Indiana highway to a private operator that keeps all toll revenue.

An annual rate increase allowed under the lease takes effect July 1, raising the Ohio-to-Illinois toll to $10.75.