This year’s hurricanes took more than just lives and property – in Florida they also took millions of dollars from the state’s toll revenues.
According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Florida’s Turnpike lost about $19.1 million in tolls – roughly 3 percent of its annual revenue – from suspending tolls on the roadway during times when residents were evacuating the area.
Although income was lost during Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina and Rita, the most significant losses came from Wilma, which cost the turnpike approximately $15.4 million, the Sun-Sentinel reported.
In addition to the lost revenue, more than $18 million in damage was done to the roadway, according to The Associated Press.
However, Turnpike Spokeswoman Sonyah Rodriguez Miller told the Sun-Sentinel that the reason for the losses would be taken into consideration upon review of the turnpike’s budget.
“Any time you lose revenue, something that can go toward projects, it hurts,” she said. “But the folks who do our work program are very conservative. They realize we’re in a hurricane-prone state, and that’s something that’s taken into consideration.”