Pinellas Business Group Opposes New Toll Roads

ST. PETERSBURG — The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce is urging local and regional decisionmakers to reject a proposal that would place tolls on all bridges leading Pinellas barrier islands, warning that the measure would harm businesses, workers, and the region’s tourism-driven economy.

In a statement, the Chamber said new tolls would create financial and logistical barriers to accessing the beaches, which rely heavily on steady and affordable traffic from residents, employees, and visitors. The organization emphasized that many of its member businesses are small, locally-owned establishments that depend on convenient access to sustain daily operations.

According to the Chamber, tolls on critical bridge crossings would increase costs for workers who commute to the beaches and discourage local visitation, leading to reduced customer flow for hospitality, retail, and service businesses. The group also raised concerns that delays associated with tolling infrastructure could further strain the area’s economic activity.

The Chamber framed the issue as one of community impact as well as commerce, noting that the beaches function not only as tourist destinations but as year-round communities. It argued that additional access fees would undermine economic vitality in an area that depends on openness and ease of travel.

The opposition comes in the context of what the Chamber described as a devastating 2024 for the hospitality industry, which was slammed by two back-to-back hurricane impacts. The Chamber called on decisionmakers to pursue alternatives that improve mobility, encourage economic growth, and keep the beaches accessible to residents and visitors alike.