Massive Rate Increase On Dulles Toll Road Proposed (ICYMI)

Editor's note: This article was originally posted earlier this week.

Bad news, Reston and Herndon commuters who use the Dulles Toll Road: the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority may be digging deep into your pockets soon.

Currently, motorists who use the Dulles Toll Road have to pay $2.50 at the main plaza near the Beltway and $1 at exit ramps, for a total of $3.50 for a one-way trip.

But a new plan set to be discussed this summer would increase tolls to $3.25 at the main plaza and $1.50 at exit ramps, or $4.75 for a one-way trip. That's a staggering 36% increase.

And it wouldn't stop there. The overall toll would leap to $6 in 2023, $7.25 in 2028, $8.75 in 2033, and $10 in 2038. So in 20 years, the toll would triple.

The new $4.75 toll would take effect in 2019 and last until 2022 under the proposal.

Authorities say the tolls are needed to pay for the cost of the Silver Line project, which will begin opening new stations starting with Reston Town Center and Herndon around the 2020 time frame.

Image: Patch staff