Do You Know Where Your Tolls Are Going?

The NTTA is dedicated to making sure those tolls are put to good use.  Each time a vehicle passes through a toll booth, the funds collected go toward the construction, maintenance and operation of NTTA roadways.  This, in return, helps the NTTA stay true to the mission of enhancing mobility in the region and allows the Authority to have a substantial impact on traffic congestion.

You may be asking then, "what about the gas tax?" Traditionally, toll roads such as the NTTA’s roadways are not funded by state gas tax revenues. In fact, studies show that toll roads can free up gas tax dollars for other projects.  The $3.2 billion that the NTTA paid for the right to construct, operate and maintain the Sam Rayburn Tollway is funding many municipal and county projects throughout the region.  Toll roads are simply a mechanism to build roads faster.  For example, the President George Bush Turnpike was built at least 10 years earlier as a toll road, rather than a gas-tax road.

You may also wonder if rental cars are getting free rides. Simply put, no. Each rental car company handles tolls differently. Various companies share information with the NTTA, while others offer an opt-in or opt-out option so that their customers may receive ZipCash bills.  Either way, rental car users are held to the same standards as other NTTA customers; they are required to pay tolls and are helping to advance the North Texas economy and transportation with each use of the roadway.

The NTTA is also working on solutions to improve tolling for out-of-state drivers.  Though they only represent 0.1% (one-tenth of one percent) of all NTTA transactions, the NTTA is working with other states to exchange information for billing purposes only.

So, next time you are on an NTTA roadway, know that with each pass under a toll gantry, you are helping to advance North Texas transportation and making your drive safer and faster.

For more information on how NTTA roads work for you, visit www.ntta.org.