Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Florida

Huh? After Bailing Out Toll Road, Florida Wants to Expand It

Tampa's Suncoast 2 toll road is an assured financial loser. But that hasn't stopped the state from promoting it. Map: Suncoast2online.com
Tampa's Suncoast 2 toll road is guaranteed to be a financial loser. But that hasn't stopped the state from plowing ahead. Map: Suncoast2online.com
Tampa's Suncoast 2 toll road is an assured financial loser. But that hasn't stopped the state from promoting it. Map: Suncoast2online.com

By any reasonable measure, the Suncoast Parkway in the Tampa Bay Area has been a complete failure.

When it was first proposed, in 1992, consultants predicted the $507 million, 42-mile toll road from Hillsborough to Hernando County would fill up with cars -- thanks to the sprawl everyone was sure would follow it. Consultants originally forecast $150 million in annual toll revenue.

Since then, according to an excellent summary from Tampa Times reporter Craig Pittman, that forecast was downgraded -- twice. But the highway still didn't meet the revised projections. In 2014, the road brought in just $22 million in tolls. Today the state of Florida heavily subsidizes the Suncoast Parkway with funds from other toll roads, Pittman reports.

But if you think that's going to stop the state of Florida from expanding the highway 13 miles further into rural lands -- including a national forest -- think again.

"Suncoast 2" is "moving ahead," Pittman reports, despite strong public opposition. Governor Rick Scott himself -- who couldn't tolerate the thought of cost overruns for high-speed rail -- has teed up $150 million for the $257 million expansion project. Suncoast 2 is expected to generate just $3.8 in tolls in 2020 and only $14 million in 2049.

The project is set to break ground this year, the Times reports, and open in 2019.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Friday Video: The London Neighborhood Where Bikes Outnumber Cars

...and how they got to that impressive milestone.

July 11, 2025

Friday’s Headlines Battle Galactus

Like the Marvel supervillain, U.S. interstate highway system seems to eat up everything in his path. A new book explores how to stop it.

July 11, 2025

New Report Shows Pedestrian Fatalities Drop — But Experts Say Not Enough

The Governors Highway Safety Association report showed a 4 percent drop in the number of pedestrian deaths last year, putting a slow on a dangerous trend — but advocates say the drop isn't nearly big enough.

July 11, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: Localities Subsidize the State DOT

Adie Tomer of Brookings on how to improve regional coordination around infrastructure.

July 10, 2025

Five of the Ugliest Transportation Policies In the ‘Big, Beautiful’ Bill

Here's a rundown of some of the transportation provisions in the Republicans' reconciliation package, and what they might mean for your community.

July 10, 2025

Viva La Thursday’s Headlines

Why is French transit ridership up 10 percent since before the pandemic, while American transit ridership is down 23 percent?

July 10, 2025
See all posts