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New Live Pensacola Beach Traffic Cameras; Cash For Tolls May Not Be Accepted This Weekend
June 29, 2019
New cameras provide a live look at Pensacola Beach traffic.
The cameras provide views of the traffic coming off the Bob Sikes Bridge and passing through the toll plaza in real time.
Live views of the cameras can be viewed on the county’s website.
Drivers traveling onto Pensacola Beach this weekend during peak traffic times may be instructed by staff to use the Toll-by-Plate system in the cash lanes in order to reduce traffic congestion, according to Escambia County.
If you are instructed to use Toll-by-Plate, you will simply drive through the toll plaza without stopping and receive your $1 bill in the mail through the Toll-by-Plate system. The toll will still be $1 each time you pass through the toll plaza, plus a $2.50 administrative fee that is charged each billing cycle. No matter the number of trips you take to the beach, you will only be charged the administration fee once per billing cycle.
You can also use your SunPass in all four lanes of the toll plaza, including the cash lanes, without stopping. With SunPass, the $1 toll will automatically be deducted from your prepaid account.
If you use Toll-by-Plate, remember you can use that method for the rest of the billing cycle with no additional administrative fee, just the one time $2.50 charge for the billing cycle.
Using Toll-by-Plate helps ease traffic congestion and allows drivers to pass through the toll plaza onto the beach much faster, which means less wait time for drivers.
Last weekend, during a test of the Toll-by-Plate system, the average wait time from Gulf Breeze proper to Pensacola Beach was approximately 10-15 minutes, compared to previous wait times of one hour.
Comments
36 Responses to “New Live Pensacola Beach Traffic Cameras; Cash For Tolls May Not Be Accepted This Weekend”
$2.50 is a cost of an Ice Tea.
P’cola has always had CHEAP FOLKS!
If reducing congestion and making things administratively easier is the goal then get rid of the toll and increase the Hotel Tax and Sales tax on the island.
Sounds like some would prefer outdoor plumbing just to save a dime.
Sounds like some would prefer to use a candle instead of a light bulb.
Sounds like some are stuck in the “by god” ain’t gonna do this or that.
Sounds like some should drift down the Blackwater river…save time, money and blood pressure medication.
Happy Fourth.
Born and lived in Pensacola for the last 65 years. Things and processes have to change with time. And sometimes it will cost more money. We can’t be stuck in the 50s. There is Navarre Beach or Orange Beach; if you would rather. Seems to me, the $2.50 admin fee would be less costly than the drive and time spent going to the other beaches.
Just be thankful the toll is not 30.00 or 40.00 like they are in New York! You guys will b…. no matter what!!! JUST BE HAPPY!! DONT WORRY BE HAPPY NOW!!!
So…if I am instructed to use a toll by plate lane and get charged ANY additional fee, I will most definitely NOT be paying it! If I don’t have a choice as to how I pay a toll, then how the hell does someone think they can charge me a fee?
Some people are just completely stupid!
SPECIAL EVENTS at the beach such as 4th of July, Blue Angels Airshow, Memorial Day Celebration, Christmas Parade, etc. etc.
Will there be an INCREASED TOLL to go to the beach during Special Events?
Reason for asking is we were downtown a couple of weeks ago wanting to go to get some supper and look around. Had planned on parking in the City Garage on Jefferson St. near E Garden St and the usual $1 for 3-hours was replaced by people having a sign PARKING FOR SPECIAL EVENT $5 Turns out it was a dance recital which is nice, one of the girls was in dance. We opted to go elsewhere due to the increased cost of parking. And really, Parking is what we’re paying for at the beach and have been for many decades.
Turning Family Fun Outings into CASH — WOW.
Boycott the beach and go to Navaree Beach for a month they will fix problem. And you will like Navaree Beach better.
Read the AMERICAN currency. Moments ago, I looked yet again at a $5 bill. Below and to the right of Lincoln’s fully visible ear is printed: “This note is legal tender for all debts public and private.” Is Honest Abe lying now? Convenience lanes are fine with me; that is, if they do not destroy the promise plainly printed on our national currency. Go bleat and bray and moo and oink as instructed by local politicians if you wish . . . but I won’t. Keep a cash lane open!
>>>Has anyone done the math on this latest admin fee, or “convenience fee” scam?
It’s done by a private contractor.
People, just buy a freaking SunPass! How hard can this be????
Hotels can tell tourists about it when they check in. It’s not hard people.
The hotels on the beach can provide a SunPass to their customers for a nominal fee. They do for everything else. Good grief, y’all are making this seem like the world is at an end here because you get a bill in the mail with an administrative fee attached.
BUY THE SUNPASS and SOLVE THE PROBLEM!
Has anyone done the math on this latest admin fee, or “convenience fee” scam? How many employees will be required for the processing of this administrative fee? How much will each employee be paid per hour, plus the cost of their benefits package? Cost of office space, maintenance and associated utilities (phones, electricity, water, trash)? Cost of office equipment (computers, printers, desks, chairs, postage machines etc) plus the maintenance and replacement of that equipment? Software and network support? Common office supplies like pens, paper, envelopes, ink? The list of associated costs can and will continue to grow.
Pensacola Beach is already a cash cow for Escambia County revenue, so just maybe we should be looking at eliminating these tolls like Navarre did instead of conjuring up new schemes to pick the locals pockets.
Why don’t they just take the toll out complete…….
At the price they charge for a drink,it will make up
for the lost of the toll…….
Good lord I read these comments and then SMH and can only say, NO WONDER WE ARE always 50 years behind everywhere else. Our citizens are just DUMB!
Just by watching the camera, it would seem like they could make just the far left lane “Pass or Annual” and open a third paying lane. Watch the live video and you will see there is not enough traffic to justify two “Pass and Annual” lanes.
Many of us are done with Pensacola Beach. It’s not the toll, it’s the parking. I don’t mind paying for parking either.
What about out-of-towners? Seems expensive to track down and mail bills to people all over the world! What if they are driving a rental car? Seems like lots of people might ignore that bill!
How stupid some people can be! You waste more than $2.50 in gas waiting to get to the toll plaza when there is so much conjestion. Pay the toll and BE HAPPY.
I grew up here in Pensacola back in the fifties, sixties, and seventies. The beach toll was ten cents. My dad was a career military man, and with four kids, my parents needed something inexpensive to entertain us. So, we spent many weekends on the Pensacola beach. Now the toll is one dollar, which in my opinion, is still pretty reasonable. Even people that are on a fixed income, or don’t make a whole lot of money can afford that. Some people don’t have bank accounts, so in respect, they won’t be able to go to the beach anymore. THIS IS STUPID!!! There are a few things that low income family can enjoy, and the beach is just an example of something inexpensive for low income families to enjoy. I guess they can go down to Johnson Beach, or Navarre beach. And I’m sure not going to go over there on the Pensacola side. Just to spike the nose on my face, I’d rather spend an extra buck in gas to drive to Navarre and get on for free, then drive back to Pensacola, If I want to go to that beach.
People please stop complaining about EVERYTHING. Other road toll areas in the state use this system, as well as several New England states I’ve visited. It’s quick and efficient. When automatic options like Sun Pass or toll by plate are the only options available, traffic moves much quicker and smoother. You can also eliminate paid staff at the toll plazas. This is the real problem…tourists who want to pay a $1 toll with a $50 bill and especially those who view the toll plaza as a welcome center and want to ask for directions.
This is not smart government government at work.. So busy worrying about the extra buck they can get, rather than moving traffic efficiently and safely. Get your extra money and say good bye to locals coming to the beach.
This can’t be a board of County commissioners told us last year they would always be a cash lane. To change that without a public hearing in a vote by the board of County commissioners is unlawful. This is a scam a money grab
This is a way to suck you into buying a Sun-Pass.
Am I suppose to pay $3.50 a month because I don’t have a Sun-Pass? You stated (Each Billing cycle)? If I go to the beach once every month or after the billing cycle, will that cost me another $1.00 toll plus another $2.50 for this billing cycle?
This is very confusing. You should leave Toll Gates for collecting Cash and Gates for Sun-Pass users. (There are some things that Humans are still needed for).
The cost is $1 each time plus $2.50 every 30 day cycle. So if you do 20 trips in the cycle then total cost is $22.50 for the month.
Why is there a toll ?? the toll should have STOPPED years ago when the bridge was paid for!!!!!!!!!!!!! JUST LIKE NAVVARE DID. The county figured out a way to make MOOOOOOOOORE money. let the beach taxes pay for their improvements, need to build parking garages,charge for parking.
This is totally not right! Some people on fixed incomes (like disability) might not have the extra $2.50, it should not be forced on everyone! If they are going to refuse cash, then that fee should’ve waived!!! It’s bad enough when paying other bills, you are forced to pay online (like ECUA) and they add extra fee to pay….people are too money hungry these days! Urggg!
Have been through the “Pay by Tag” thing in other Florida areas and usually see where there are empty toll booths and even larger office areas off to a side. Often wonder what has become of the humans who were once employed to take the toll monies from motorists and how the loss of their jobs has impacted the families.
Guess ours is becoming more a land of “Self-Pay” no matter what the situation.
Makes me think that those in Control are wanting to force all motorists to purchase the Sun Pass devices as other options are removed. Gotta be some big money made along the line.
Russ try these CCTV images for a look at three mile bridge traffic.
View from Pensacola. http://img.d3sunguide.com/cctv/CCTV_SR-196_NB.jpg
View from Gulf Breeze http://img.d3sunguide.com/cctv/CCTV_SR-196_SB.jpg
Mel: “Why is there a toll ????????”
Answer, Cash cow for Escambia County
Or you can just go to navarre beach for free.
$3.50 or wait in a line. Paying $2.50 more once a month so I can enjoy life faster, deal! And the tolls help pay for all the free stuff like parking, roads, and restrooms… I’m ok with that. And if you live here and don’t have an annual pass, get one…. you can go to the beach infinitely for $25 a year.
WOW! love that live cam.too cool…………..
So let me get this straight, they might not except cash which is legal tender but instead will force you to pay $3.50 to cross the bridge? What a scam our leaders have in place. Yet another reason I no longer go to Pensacola Beach.
This view will always show congestion….doesn’t show traffic backed up all the way to Pensacola like it was yesterday. Need a system to help us decide whether to stay home or use another route.
Why is there a toll ????????
So the toll would be $3.50 vice the $1.00 as posted? No. If you’re not given an option to pay cash than the $2.50 administrative fee should be waived. Someone is making a boatload of cash on this deal.