APRIL FOOL: Longboat Key drivers will now pay toll to get on the island

During the season, there is nothing worse than pulling out of your Beachplace condominium at 5:15 p.m., turning right and ... stop.

Now, you're sitting and waiting ... and waiting, to get off Longboat Key to get to your 5:30 Columbia Restaurant reservations for dinner.

Frustration doesn't begin to describe how one feels as they inch their way toward St. Armands. A passenger can look over and see the snail on the skirt of Gulf of Mexico Drive outpacing the Range Rover.

The town of Longboat Key plans to change that with a toll system, which should curtail traffic snarls getting off the island and limit those getting on the island over the course of a day.

Beginning Tuesday, April 1, two toll booths under the Florida SunPass prepaid toll program will undergo installation on State Highway 789, aka Gulf of Mexico Drive. 

They should go into effect the first Saturday in May, but Longboat officials say don't bet on it, that two weeks later are better stakes to gamble on. It will be a race to get it started by Memorial Day, though.

One will be at the South end of the island on the right side of the road in front of the Chart House restaurant and the North side between the end of the Longboat Pass Bridge and Firehouse Court.

To get on the island, the toll will be $10 at the South end, which is higher since that's the most popular entry, and just $8 on the north end. Year-round residents, and only year-round residents, will only pay $50 for the month.

Those charges are through the transponder which Publix, 525 Bay Isles Parkway, and CVS, 505 Bay Isles Parkway, on the island sell. 

There is an up charge for those without the transponder in Florida's Toll-by-Plate system. For Florida and U.S. residents, the charge is $15 on both ends and because of tariffs, Canadian visitors will pay 25% more at $18.75.

But much like the Sanibel Causeway to get on Sanibel Island in Lee County, the toll counts only to get on Longboat Key. Getting off is no charge.

"Thank goodness," said Selma Alvonshire, who just moved to Players Club from Tyrefyre, Ohio. "I moved here in early November and I've never seen so much traffic. Cleveland and Cincinnati don't have these backups. I don't mind paying at all." 

The charges should also have a positive effect on crime. With fewer "outsiders" getting on the island, it means a safer community.

"You know, I was not happy about the tolls," said Tim "Irish" Grunhard, a year-round resident of Seaplace after moving from Linkinsbeard, Illinois, two years ago. "But since it will cut back on crime, then I'd definitely go along with it. Shoot, for me it's just 50 bucks a month."

There in lies the problem. Seasonal residents are quite vocal about the extra charges, especially for people like the Hurikayns who actually visit Longboat during the off-time from June through November. Paying $15 can add up each time they leave and come back to the island.

"This is ridiculous, especially for us," said Milt, who he and his wife, Helen, visit from Kreemed Korn, Iowa. "In the mornings we like to go from Longboat to Siesta Key and hit the beach, but we come back in early afternoon and then we like to flood St. Armands for dinner. That's going to be $30 a day! I guess we can stay on the island, limit the surge of money, and go to the place that serves etouffee, but calls it jambalaya."

One way to look at the tolls is what Milt points out. Keeping people on the island will also help promote local businesses and, of course, is another method of keeping traffic from backing up since more are staying on the island.

Now, in keeping with the theme this year, the great advantage to shutting down Gulf of Mexico Drive starting on Tuesday April 1, is it gives construction crews the opportunity for one last remnant of infuriating drivers at the tail end of the heavy season.

"Maybe they'll get out of here sooner," a woman who only wanted to be identified, as Karen said. "I'm not one to complain or cause trouble, but this season has been the worst. First the hurricanes, people leaving their junk all in their yards, cutting down eagles' trees, construction during the season. Everyone get out, leave Longboat to the turtles and the new Starbucks."