Toll booth coming up? Just keep on rolling

There's good and bad news for motorists along the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway through Tampa. The good news is you no longer have to rummage for change to pay tolls and wait in line behind other motorists.

The bad news: If you haven't already invested in a SunPass, you better get in gear before Sept. 17. That's when the Tampa Hillsborough County Expressway Authority has set the conversion of all Selmon booths to all-electronic tolling.

This probably won't be an issue to most drivers along the Brandon-to-South Tampa route through downtown, since 76% already have SunPass, according to Sue Chrzan, THEA communications director. Those that don't get one in the coming month can still get through, but they will receive a bill in the mail based on their license tag.

“Converting to all-electronic tolling has been a goal for the Selmon Expressway for a number of years,” Chrzan says, “and since the current equipment is more than 30 years old with no available replacement parts, now is the time make the switch.”

Advantages to going with SunPass include a 25-cent savings per toll versus the billing route, the elimination of potential accidents at toll booths and a reduction in carbon emissions from idling vehicles.

Furthermore, a “mini” sticker version of SunPass is available for $4.99. Once the account is activated with $10 a $4.99 credit is added, making it technically free.