New Year Brings Last of Three Toll Increases on the Dulles Toll Road

On New Year's Day, the tolls on the Dulles Toll Road will increase by 25 cents at the Main Toll Plaza to $1.50. Toll rates on the on/off ramps will remain 75 cents.

This is the same news that has greeted commuters for the past  two New Year's Days because the Metropolitan Airports Authority, the folks who operate the Dulles Toll Road (and Dulles and Reagan Airports), agreed to three straight years of toll increases back in 2009.

"A three-year schedule for new toll rates was approved by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board of Directors in November 2009 after conducting a series of public hearings," the Airports Authority reminded its customers in a Dec. 8 press release.

The tolls are helping to fund the construction of the new Silver Line subway line  from Falls Church through McLean and Tysons Corner to Wiehle Road in Reston. That line is scheduled to open in late 2013.

Then the line will be extended to Dulles Airport and into Loudoun County.

Under a complicated agreement between the federal government, the state of Virginia, Fairfax County and others, the Airports Authority agreed to operate and maintain the Dulles Toll Road and to construct the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, aka, the Silver Line. Previously the state of Virginia owned the Toll Road which flanks the Dulles Access Road on both sides.

Note: The Dulles Greenway is a privately owned roadway connected to the Toll Road and is not owned or managed by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. MWAA does not set toll rates on the Greenway.

Toll Rates Effective January 1, 2012

Vehicle Type

At the Main Toll Plaza
(reflects 25¢ increase)

At the On/Off Ramps
(no change)

2 Axles

$1.50

75¢

3 Axles

$1.75

$1.00

4 Axles

$2.00

$1.25

5 Axles

$2.25

$1.50

6 or More Axles
(Maximum Toll)

$2.50

$1.75

For more information about the Dulles Toll Road and the process the Airports Authority follows before setting new toll rates, please visit www.mwaa.com/tollroad/1147.htm.