Toll rate set for Loop 375 extension project

The Texas Department of Transportation has set rates for the toll lanes on the Border Highway West extension project.

Construction has not started but the cost for driving on the toll lanes has already been decided.

The highway will be a nine-mile stretch from Loop 375 near Bowie High School to Racetrack Drive in west El Paso.

Drivers are expected to pay ten cents per mile for one way.

Project manager, Sergio Garcia said it was required that a toll rate be set so the project could be approved by the transportation commission.

“These tolls are used to forecast the future revenues that will be used to forecast maintenance operations of the project,” he said.

The Loop 375 west extension is expected to be completed in early 2018.

Garcia said once it is finished, toll rates could increase.

“There may be a yearly escalation based on the consumer-priced index or a two percent yearly escalation,” said Garcia.

Garcia said the toll rate for the highway extension could see a increase from the ten cents per mile it is set at right now.

The revenue from the toll lanes is used for maintenance of the highway.