DeSantis announces toll savings program for Florida commuters with SunPass

DeSantis rolls out Sunpass savings program

Haley Hinds reports.

TAMPA, Fla. - Toll relief is on the way for Florida drivers dealing with rising inflation costs.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the SunPass Savings Program during a Thursday morning press conference in Orlando. It's mainly focused on commuters using SunPass and other Florida transponders.

Those with 40 or more tolls a month will get 20% credit on their accounts each month. Those with 80 or more tolls a month get 25% credit each month.

"This adds up to give people some breathing room because inflation is costing people thousands of dollars a year," DeSantis said at Florida's Turnpike Headquarters in Orlando.

The governor shared a list of facilities that are part of the program. In the Bay Area, that includes the Polk Parkway, Sunshine Skyway, Pinellas Bayway, Suncoast Parkway, Veterans Expressway, and the I-4 connector.

The list does not include the Selmon Expressway which has 200,000 daily travelers. That's because it's run by the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority, an agency independent of the state. The Central Florida and Miami-Dade Expressways are also not included for the same reason.

"If I could do it, I would have included it," DeSantis said.

The program begins Sept. 1 and runs for six months. It's expected to return nearly $40 million dollars to 400,000 drivers using FDOT and Turnpike-operated roads. The governor's office said the average commuter will save about $60 over the next six months.

"There's no requirement for any paperwork or anything," DeSantis said. "As long as your account is in good standing, you will get the savings passed on to you, and you will see that credit reflected in your account."

Brevard County corrections deputy Mariah Biddle said she commutes at least 2,000 miles each month for work. She's looking forward to a little relief behind the wheel.

"Having the ability to affordably use these toll roads gives us something else. You can't put a price on time," Biddle said.