Lee County drops toll change

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Lee County drops a recommendation to simplify the toll structure for drivers with electronic passes.County leaders wanted to simplify the system to save money in operational costs and make it more compatible nationwide. Paul Wingard with Lee DOT says it would have caused more problems than it was worth."The first issue that came up was the unlimited use program," said Wingard. "Then it was the 2ND car unlimited use plan which has a lower rate. It complicates the software and has a tremendous impact on revenue." The county would give out a limited number of pre-paid plans and charge one rate for people with transponders.Businesses spoke out at the public meetings, saying the new rates would mean new costs in the hundreds of thousands of dollars."It's like an additional tax at a time that would have been difficult for us," said Danny Adams with Sanibel Holiday Inn.Winguard says a new toll system idea may not be revisited for at least a year, but, he says it needs to change to be more compatible with the rest of the country