State Route 125 Toll Prices to Drop

Toll rates for the southern end of state Route 125 will be lowered by anywhere from 35 cents to $1.10 under a fee structure approved unanimously today by the San Diego Association of Governments Board of Directors.

SANDAG recently bought the toll road—which runs 10 miles between Spring Valley through the eastern end of Chula Vista to Otay Mesa—from a private company.

The regional governmental planning body hopes the less-costly rate scale will entice drivers to stay off the 805 freeway, which can be congested during rush hours in the South Bay.

"We made a bold promise when we purchased the South Bay Expressway that we would reduce the tolls to encourage more people to use the road," said SANDAG Chairman Jerome Stocks. "Today, we became the first agency in America to reduce tolls."

The new rates, to be implemented in about one month, will range between 50 cents and $2.75 for FasTrak card users and $2 and $3.50 for cash or credit card customers.

The savings under the new structure is 35 cents on the low end of the rates and $1.10 on the high side of the scale.

A staff report indicated the number of annual trips could increase by 935,000, with about half being vehicles diverted off the 805. The report said surveys supported the rates, which would end up being "revenue neutral" for SANDAG.

—City News Service