Some Hampton Roads residents earning less than $50,000 per year could soon pay nothing when driving through the region’s tolled tunnels.
Included in the state’s budget passed in May is $101 million in toll relief at the Downtown and Midtown tunnels connecting Norfolk and Portsmouth, with a $77 million earmark in the first fiscal year and $24 million in the second.
That’s in addition to the existing toll relief program offered through Elizabeth River Crossings, which oversees the tunnels. Under that program, all Hampton Roads drivers earning up to $65,000 annually with an E-ZPass transponder can get 50% off 14 weekly trips through the tunnels.
It’s not clear when eligible drivers will be able to take advantage of the new toll relief. The budget sets a deadline of January to implement the new funding. But a spokesperson for ERC said as of Friday, details on the rollout are still being discussed by state leaders and the Virginia Department of Transportation.
The expanded toll relief, however, only applies to the most fiscally stressed cities in the region, according to the budget. Eligible drivers include those residing in a planning district with at least three tolled bridges or tunnels with a score of 104 or higher on the fiscal stress index, as published by the Department of Housing and Community Development. That includes the cities of Hampton, Norfolk, Newport News, Portsmouth and Franklin.