Many Florida residents in the Tampa Bay area have been ordered to evacuate as Hurricane Milton barrels toward the state nearly two weeks after Hurricane Helene.
Milton is forecasted to make landfall on Wednesday night as a major storm and threatens a rare direct hit on the Tampa Bay region.
As residents flee the area ahead of Milton’s arrival, one person on X asked why tolls are still in place on evacuation routes. They shared their post in response to a Google Maps screenshot that showed a toll road price in the Tampa Bay area.
But some people who replied to the post claim tolls are currently suspended in areas throughout the state.
THE QUESTION
Is Florida making people pay tolls on evacuation routes ahead of Hurricane Milton?
THE SOURCES
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
- Florida511, a service run by the state Department of Transportation
THE ANSWER
No, Florida is not making people pay tolls on evacuation routes ahead of Hurricane Milton.
WHAT WE FOUND
Florida is not making people pay tolls on evacuation routes ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival.
The state has suspended tolls throughout the Tampa Bay region and in surrounding areas, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office and the state Department of Transportation’s Florida511 service.
Tolls were suspended across Central and West Florida, as well as Alligator Alley, as of 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 7, DeSantis’ office said. The tolls are set to be reinstated at noon on Monday, Oct. 14, but the suspension may be extended as needed depending on conditions.
The following tolls are suspended in Florida as of Oct. 7, according to DeSantis’ office:
Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco Counties:
- Suncoast Parkway
- I-4 Connector
- Selmon Expressway
- Veterans Expressway
- Gateway Expressway
- 275 Express
- Pinellas Bayway
- Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Osceola, Orange, Lake, Seminole, Sumter and Polk Counties:
- Turnpike Mainline between I-75 (MP 309) and Canoe Creek Service Plaza (MP 229)
- S.R. 453
- S.R. 451
- Wekiva Parkway
- Apopka Expressway
- Beachline Expressway
- Central Florida Greeneway
- East-West Expressway
- I-4 Express
- Western Beltway
- Osceola Parkway
- Poinciana Parkway
- Southern Connector Extension
- Seminole Expressway
- Polk Parkway
Collier and Broward Counties:
Alligator Alley
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