SANIBEL, Fla. — A local non-profit organization is pushing to extend a toll waiver to Sanibel and Captiva.
The toll amendment program “Savor SanCap” is waiving six Sunday tolls until Sept. 10 so that drivers can come onto the island for free. Now, the Collaboratory plans to help pay for three additional days’ worth of costs. It’s aimed at getting more people onto the islands to help businesses.
The owners of Tutti Pazzi on Sanibel, Pasquale Russo and Leanna Russo, said this toll waiver is helping more customers get to their door.
“We had people coming in from Punta Gorda last week and say, hey, we’ve never been here, but we’ll be back. It was primarily because of the toll [waiver],” said Pasquale.
Tutti Pazzi has been on Sanibel since Jan. of 2022 but had to close down in September after Hurricane Ian.
“I think there’s been this perception that Sanibel and Captiva are not really ready to welcome visitors again. I’m hoping programs like this bring awareness to it, that yes, we still have wonderful things to offer,” said Pasquale.
The toll waiver plan has been in place for two weeks now, and so far, it seems to be working.
According to this graph from Lee County, more than six thousand people traveled across the bridge on Aug. 6. That’s the first Sunday Lee County waived the tolls.
Back in July, The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce requested a toll extension for six Sundays in August through September. The Board of County Commissioners approved the toll waivers on Aug. 1.
It’s been in place for two Sundays now.
John Lai, President and CEO of the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce, said these numbers are breaking post-Hurricane Ian records.
“The first week that we did the toll waiver on the Sunday. That was the first day of the year, which is the first time since Ian that we have causeway numbers back to last year’s numbers,” said Lai.
Tolls are being waived for the next four Sundays, but the Collaboratory wants to pay the tolls for Sunday, Sept. 17, Saturday, Sept. 23, and Sunday, Sept. 24.
The last weekend’s waivers are to maximize participation in the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau’s Island Hopper Songwriter Fest’s two-day Captiva island run.
The Collaboratory said it plans to use funds from donors who contributed to the Hurricane Ian Relief Fund for the 3-day extension.
The Board of Lee County Commissioners still has to approve the extension. The meeting is on Sept. 5, 2023.