Your commute to work might get a little more expensive this summer, especially if you rely on North Texas toll roads to get there.
The North Texas Tollway Authority said this month that it will be increasing its toll rate by an average of one penny per mile — from 20 to 21 cents — starting July 1.
The NTTA, which operates the Dallas North Tollway, Bush Turnpike, Sam Rayburn Tollway and other toll roads, adjusts its toll rate every two years to help repay its $9.5 billion debt used to construct its roads.
“The rate increase also helps fund our capital plan, including the current expansion of the Dallas North Tollway,” NTTA said in a statement.
The last time the NTTA increased its toll rate was in 2021, when it rose from 19 to 20 cents per mile. The organization does not receive tax funding and relies on tolls from drivers.
For those with a TollTag account, the tollway authority equated the additional monthly expense to the “cost of a medium latte” — about $5.60 more per month.
This comparison drew the ire of many users on Reddit.
“I am getting a bit tired of every single rate hike recently being compared to the cost of a cup of coffee,” one user wrote. “What if I like my cup of coffee?”
“It’s tone deaf nonsense,” another wrote.
However, if you don’t have a TollTag and instead choose to pay by mail — known as ZipCash — you can expect your toll rate to be double the TollTag price.
“Increasing the ZipCash toll rate helps offset the rising cost to collect tolls and the risk associated with the uncertainty of receiving payment from ZipCash users who choose not to have a TollTag,” NTTA said in a statement.
NTTA advises drivers to be cautious of workers on its roads. They will be updating signs to reflect the rate hike in the coming weeks.
