ORLANDO, Fla. — If you're traveling to the Orlando area this summer, you may want to pack a little more cash.
Transportation officials said cash tolls on the Beachline Expressway are set to increase by 33 percent beginning June 30, even though an additional toll booth was recently added to reduce costs.
That means tolls will rise from $1.50 to $2. Transponder tolls will increase by 9 to 16 percent, depending on the area.
The road runs between Orlando and Cocoa Beach.
Peter Morales lives next to the Beachline and uses it almost everyday. Morales said news of a toll increase made him angry.
"I think its ridiculous; too much money. People are unemployed, the economy is not great and everything is going up," said Morales.
The Beachline is jointly owned by the state of Florida and MetroOrlando's road-building agency. The state hikes are effective June 30. The local increase begins July 1.
Officials said Beachline tolls have been the same since 1998.
For someone who lives in Brevard County and commutes back and forth to Orlando five days a week, it will mean $1,040 in tolls a year. That is an increase of $260.
"It's just ridiculous. It doesn't make no sense," said driver Omar Raheem.
Drivers who pay their tolls with transponders whether it's the sticker or the old-fashioned device, will same money.
The Dallas Road toll plaza is 75 cents.
The state is raising that by a quarter, only for cash paying drivers.
Drivers with transponders will see no increase.
At the main toll plaza, the Expressway Authority is raising tolls 25 cents for drivers with cash, but just 7 cents for drivers with transponders.
According to reports, the increase is due to a law recently approved by the Florida Legislature that calls for tolls to periodically rise.