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St. Pete Beach Mayor Proposes $1 Visitor Toll at City Entry Points to Fund $200 Million Repairs

A pending legal review with FDOT will determine whether city control of Gulf Boulevard could allow tolling.

Aerial view of St Pete Beach with the iconic Don Cesar
Debris and discarded household goods after Hurricane Helene are drenched by the rains of Hurricane Milton in the Belle Vista neighborhood of St. Pete Beach on Thursday, October 10, 2024. FEMA applications for this season’s storms flooded the agency with more than double the number of requests than those following hurricanes Ian and Idalia, according to agency data. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
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Overview

  • Mayor Adrian Petrila outlined a $1 per-car charge for nonresidents at all three entrances, with exemptions for residents, business owners, and employees.
  • Using FDOT counts of roughly 60,000 daily trips, the mayor projects about $11 million in annual revenue, or $110 million over a decade.
  • The revenue target focuses on stormwater, sewer, utility, and seawall work after recent hurricanes, with the mayor positioning the toll as an alternative to raising residents’ taxes.
  • Commissioners questioned the legality of tolling state-owned roads and asked the city attorney for a feasibility and legal analysis due in early 2026.
  • Petrila said initial talks have begun with FDOT about the city potentially assuming Gulf Boulevard, while business owners and some officials warn the charge could deter visitors and shift spending to nearby beaches; detailed toll locations and costs were not provided.