St. Petersburg, FL – St. Pete Beach officials are examining a proposal from Mayor Adrian Petrila that would introduce tolls for tourists entering the barrier island as the city looks for ways to pay for large scale infrastructure repairs following Hurricanes Milton and Helene.
During a city commission meeting on Monday, Petrila said the city needs about 200 million dollars to restore seawalls, stormwater systems, sewer pipes, and other critical structures that were damaged or are no longer in reliable condition.
The concept presented by the mayor calls for tolls at the northern, central, and southern access points to St. Pete Beach.
Under the proposal, only visitors would be charged, while residents, businessowners, and employees would be exempt.
Data from the Florida Department of Transportation shows that approximately 60,000 trips are made to the island each day.
Petrila estimated that a one dollar toll could generate around 11 million dollars annually, though the plan did not include cost estimates for building toll plazas or details about their specific locations.
Several businessowners expressed concern about the potential effect on tourism and local revenue.
The toll concept was not included on the commission agenda, but members agreed that a feasibility study should be conducted before any decisions are made.
Mayor Petrila did not respond to requests for further comment.