The full story
The Hwy. 288 toll lanes were opened in 2020 to allow drivers to bypass traffic congestion during peak hours.
The last time the Brazoria County Toll Road Authority increased rates was Jan. 1, when the rates were raised for the two gantries—where drivers are charged for using the express lanes—to a total of $2.80 heading north or southbound—charging $1.06 at the CR 58 gantry and $1.74 at the McHard Road gantry. This was a $0.15 jump from the toll in the previous year.
Brazoria County Engineer Matt Hanks could not confirm if rates will change in January 2024, when the agency normally sets its annual rates, but said the BCTRA board of directors will likely discuss its toll policy in November.
Quote of note
Pearland resident Freddy Garza said his regular commute to the Galleria one way costs roughly $5-$6, which is more than he’s willing to pay. Now, he takes the regular lane, which he said adds about 10 minutes to his commute.
“I was just really surprised at how quickly the rates have gone up and how high they seem to be compared to other toll roads in Houston,” said Garza, who began taking the toll road in 2020.
One more thing
While Blueridge Transportation Group sets the toll policy for the section of Hwy. 288 in Harris County, tolls for the highway that runs through Brazoria County are managed by the Brazoria County Toll Road Authority.
