Studer Community Institute

Broxson to offer 'olive branch' on bridge toll

February 10, 2015
/ Louis Cooper
/ community-dashboard

A state lawmaker who is concerned about the toll on the Garcon Point Bridge is meeting this month with the people who want to increase that fee to $5 for a one-way trip. State Rep. Doug Broxson, R-Gulf Breeze, is meeting with attorneys from New York Melon Bank in Orlando on Feb. 26. Melon, which represents the bondholders who funded the bridge, sent a letter on Nov. 6, 2014, requesting that the toll be increased from the current $3.75 to $5 to help recover the bridge’s defaulted debt. “We’ve going down there, really, with more of an olive branch than stick,” Broxson said. “We’re going to meet and really have an open dialogue as to what we’ve found out from the general public and why they should be sensitive to that, and how we can help them move forward on that bridge.” Broxson didn’t want to give specifics about potential solutions yet, but would say one thing that is not on the table: the state purchasing the bridge. “The state of Florida has no interest in owning that bridge at this time,” Broxson said. “I’m not representing the state. I’m really representing the users – or potential users – of the toll bridge.” Santa Rosa County Commissioner Bob Cole is accompanying Broxson, but no one from the Florida Department of Transportation or any other state agency is going along. Since the November request to increase the toll, Broxson has hosted a community forum in Gulf Breeze and has received numerous emails and phone calls, all showing the public’s outrage about the current toll and the possibility of it being increased. “We are going to say there is on overwhelming negative feeling toward the bridge in our area, and what can we do to improve that image and hopefully make your bondholders comfortable,” he said. Although Broxson doesn’t anticipate the attorneys for Melon making any final decisions at the Orlando meeting, he said he will be willing to publicly discuss the meeting after it occurs. Opening in May 1999, the Garcon Point Bridge has never met its financial obligations. While the bridge was authorized by the Legislature, it was funded with $95 million in bonds purchased by private investors who believed they were guaranteed a set return. In attempts to maximize revenues, the toll has steadily increased. To begin with, it was $2. In 2002, it increased to $2.50. It went to $3 in 2004, and to $3.50 in 2007. In 2011, it jumped to the current $3.75. While dramatically increasing the toll might seem like it would have the potential to decrease usage and, therefore, revenues, Melon’s traffic consultant, FTI Consulting, doesn't think that is the case. In the November letter, a report from FTI said the only people who use the bridge now are the ones who absolutely have to – including seasonal tourists -- so most of them are likely to continue using it, even with the toll increase In addition to raising the one-way toll to $5, FTI wants to cut the discount that frequent bridge users who use the SunPass transponder device receive from 50 percent to 25 percent. They believe the changes, even with any lost traffic, will bolster the bridge’s revenues from an estimated $5.4 million for 2014 to $6.7 million in 2015. From October 2013 to September 2014, there was a total 1,513,809 one-way trips across the bridge. That’s an average of about 126,151 per month. The Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority, established by state law, is supposed to govern the bridge with six voting members -- three appointed by the Santa Rosa County Commission and three appointed by the governor. However, in recent months, the authority has been completely vacant and non-functioning. That leaves Melon dealing, potentially, directly with the FDOT. Broxson said if Melon formally requests the toll increase from the FDOT, the agency must comply. “That’s all they would have to do. FDOT has no ability (to say no). They are simply the gatekeeper,” he said. [sidebar] A Facebook page dedicated to those frustrated with the toll on the Garcon Point Bridge has accumulated more than 1,500 likes. To visit that page, go to www.facebook.com/GarconPointBridge [/sidebar]

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Broxson to offer 'olive branch' on bridge toll

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