City will officially oppose Jolley Bridge toll

The Marco Island City Council made it clear Monday night: it will not agree to any proposed toll for a new Judge S.S. Jolley Bridge.

Councilor Glenn Tucker made a motion for City Manager Bill Moss to draft a resolution worded “strongly” that the council is opposed to a toll. The council agreed with Tucker.

The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has contracted a study for a possible toll on the current bridge to help fund the new structure.

The project to expand the existing two-lane bridge to four is high on the MPO’s priority list, second only to the expansion of Davis Boulevard in the county. Engineering drawings and specs for the new bridge have been completed.

But the outlook for funding the bridge is bleak.

Many Marco Island residents who attended a public meeting April 2 told MPO officials they were against a toll to help finance the bridge.

“We’re spending too much time defending ourselves against our own community,” Councilor Rob Popoff said Monday. “If we start lobbying together against this, which is a very serious issue, I believe we will actually make some headway.”

Councilwoman Terri DiSciullo questioned whether the bridge needs to be expanded to four lanes. DiSciullo noted she has never been in a traffic tie-up on the bridge during a hurricane or other evacuation since she has lived on the island. She added that a toll booth on Collier Boulevard (State Road 951) would make matters worse.

City Council Chairman Mike Minozzi warned members the state Department of Transportation could still decide to implement a toll.

“We can tell them what our position is,” he said.

Minozzi is also the vice-chairman of the MPO.

Several citizens and business owners noted during the April 2 meeting a toll would be devastating for workers who cross onto the island to provide needed services. Other residents said a toll booth on Collier Boulevard would create traffic jams all the way back to Capri Boulevard.

Collier County Transportation Planning Director Don Scott said during the meeting a toll is only one funding option. He said grants may be available to help fund the project.

Scott added the bridge was estimated to cost $44 million several years ago. The final cost will rise even more because the project isn’t expected to begin until at least 10 years from now.