Commission hikes US tolls on Niagara River bridges

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. — Due to prolonged weakness in the U.S. dollar, the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission will increase U.S. toll rates on the Lewiston-Queenston Bridges starting Feb. 1, 2007.

The Rainbow and Whirlpool Rapids bridges will also see hikes. There will be no change in Canadian rates.??The Commission, responsible for the construction, maintenance and operation of these bridges, says the average 5 axle commercial truck toll will increase from $13.00 to $17.00 US.

Round trip passenger car tolls will increase from $2.50 to $3.00.
There has been no change to tolls at Commission bridges since 1998, notes General Manager Thomas Garlock.

“The Commission has been successful in controlling costs to our customers, but we have held the line on the diminished U.S. dollar as long as we could,” he said. “This modest adjustment will permit the Commission to continue to be financially stable and proceed with aggressive physical improvements to our facilities.”