SANDAG Marks Start of Lower Toll Rates on State Route 125

Lower toll rates on the southern end of state Route 125 will take effect today, and a community event will be held in Chula Vista to celebrate, according to the San Diego Association of Governments.

To mark the start of the lower tolls on the South Bay Expressway, which stretches for about 10 miles from state Route 905 to state Route 54, travel will be free on the road from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., SANDAG officials said.

Toll savings for customers enrolled in the FasTrak system will range from 50 cents to $2.75. Cash or credit card users will be charged between $2 and $3.50. Previous tolls were 85 cents to $3.85 for FasTrak users and from $2.50 to $4 for those who used cash or a credit card.

SANDAG acquired the lease to operate the toll road from a private company in December and the revamped toll structure was approved by the Board of Directors in May.

"We are following through with our promise to taxpayers to lower tolls on the South Bay Expressway," Stocks said. "We are optimistic that lower tolls will draw traffic away from nearby congested arterial streets and Interstate 805, improving overall mobility in South Bay."

SANDAG was the first in the nation to voluntarily institute across-the- board price cuts on an existing toll road, officials with the organization said.

"At a time when prices on everything are going up, we are doing something that is virtually unheard of in this country," said Jerome Stocks, SANDAG chairman and mayor of Encinitas.

A family-friendly event will be held at the Otay Ranch Town Center to celebrate the lowered tolls. The event will feature live music, face painters and a 50-foot truck filled with video game consoles, SANDAG officials said.

SANDAG will also offer FasTrak promotions, including $5 in free tolls for the first 100 users who bring in their transponder and $5 in free tolls for those who sign up for FasTrak at the event.

—City News Service