CHESAPEAKE — Certain toll rates and fees are set to increase on the Chesapeake Expressway and Dominion Boulevard later this year.
Chesapeake City Council voted 5-4 Tuesday to approve a slate of suggested adjustments to fees associated with the city’s two tolled routes in an effort to keep revenue, maintenance costs and debt coverage sustainable long-term. Council members Pat King, Amanda Newins, Ella Ward and Daniel Whitaker opposed.
The changes would apply to the southern segment of the Chesapeake Expressway that spans the Battlefield Boulevard area down to the North Carolina border, as well as Dominion Boulevard Veterans Bridge.
For Chesapeake Expressway, changes include increases for motorists enrolled in a discount program through Virginia E-ZPass. Beginning in May, enrollment fees would increase as follows:
Initial enrollment fee will cost $35, up from $20 for two-axle vehicles.
Monthly enrollment fee will cost $5.83, up from $3.33 for two axle vehicles.
The initial enrollment fee for motorists with an E-ZPass covers the first six months of the program. Under the changes, enrollment for the first year amounts to $70 a year compared to the previous annual cost of $40.
The fee schedule for trips on the expressway would be as follows:
Regular trips for two-axle vehicles remain $4.
Peak season trips on weekends (May to September) remain $9.
Trips for motorists enrolled in discount program through E-ZPass increase from $1 to $2.50 beginning in May.
Enrollment in the discount program has increased by an average of 4% each year, with 19,173 accounts enrolled as of August. Around 60% of those are Virginia residents and 35% are North Carolina residents.
For Dominion Boulevard, there are no changes to the rate paid by motorists with an E-ZPass. But motorists who pay tolls by plate will see an increase. Changes include adjusting the toll-by-plate premium of $2 to instead equate to three times the regular E-ZPass rate, which is $1.55 for passenger vehicles with 5% increases scheduled each year. Those without a pass currently pay $3.55. The toll-by-plate rate will be $4.89 beginning in July.
The majority of tolls paid on Dominion Boulevard (85%) use an E-ZPass. But for the 15% who do not, city staff said it’s become more costly to collect, hence the need to raise rates. The cost to collect fees exceeded revenue for the first time in fiscal 2025.
City staff said in a Feb. 17 work session that while revenue collected from tolls on Dominion Boulevard resulted in a surplus following fiscal 2024, revenue collected on Chesapeake Expressway declined, amounting to a net revenue loss of $2 million.
Another revenue loss was expected following fiscal 2025, prompting recommendations to adjust toll rates, fee schedules and the discount program to help plug the hole. The changes also help the city meet all necessary debt and financial targets and maintain a bond rating of AA+. They also anticipate a boost in annual revenue by $2.9 million for fiscal 2027 up to an extra $13.9 million by fiscal 2046.
The council’s vote also extended the overall schedule of adopted toll rates and fee increases for an additional decade to span through 2046.
More information about toll rates can be found on the city’s website at www.cityofchesapeake.net/955/chesapeake-transportation-system.
Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@virginiamedia.com
