Tolls being lifted in Florida to aid Idalia evacuations

North Central Florida keeps eye on Idalia

North Central Florida is preparing for Idalia, which is expected to become a major hurricane by the time it makes landfall along the Nature Coast. Residents in Cedar Key are sealing up homes and businesses while students at the University of Florida in Gainesville are contemplating evacuating the campus before the storm's arrival

ORLANDO, Fla. - To help speed evacuations ahead of what is expected to be a powerful Hurricane Idalia, the state is lifting tolls at 4 a.m. Tuesday in parts of the state.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday he’s directed the Department of Transportation to stop collecting tolls in Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sumter counties.

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"You don't need to leave the state. You don't need to drive 100 miles to ride out the storm," DeSantis said during a news conference at the state Emergency Operations Center. "If you're in those low-lying areas, the reason why they [local officials] are advising you to evacuate is because you're going to be susceptible to storm surge."

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) will suspend toll collection for a seven-day period, with tolls being reinstated on Tuesday, September 5, at noon. Facilities included within the suspension include:

Hillsborough County