Continuation of tolls.

(1) The department, any transportation or expressway authority or, in the absence of an authority, a county or counties may continue to collect the toll on a revenue-producing project after the discharge of any bond indebtedness related to such project and may increase such toll. All tolls so collected shall first be used to pay the annual cost of the operation, maintenance, and improvement of the toll project.

(2) If the revenue-producing project is on the State Highway System, any remaining toll revenue shall be used for the construction, maintenance, or improvement of any road on the State Highway System within the county or counties in which the revenue-producing project is located.

(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department, including the turnpike enterprise, shall index toll rates on existing toll facilities to the annual Consumer Price Index or similar inflation indicators. Toll rate adjustments for inflation under this subsection may be made no more frequently than once a year and must be made no less frequently than once every 5 years as necessary to accommodate cash toll rate schedules. Toll rates may be increased beyond these limits as directed by bond documents, covenants, or governing body authorization or pursuant to department administrative rule.

(4) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, pursuant to s. 11, Art. VII of the State Constitution, and subject to the requirements of subsection (2), the Department of Transportation may request the Division of Bond Finance to issue bonds secured by toll revenues collected on the Alligator Alley and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to fund transportation projects located within the county or counties in which the project is located and contained in the adopted work program of the department.

(5) If the revenue-producing project is on the county road system, any remaining toll revenue shall be used for the construction, maintenance, or improvement of any other state or county road within the county or counties in which the revenue-producing project is located.

(6) Selection of projects on the State Highway System for construction, maintenance, or improvement with toll revenues shall be, with the concurrence of the department, consistent with the Florida Transportation Plan.

(7) This section does not apply to high-occupancy toll lanes or express lanes.

(8) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), and not including high occupancy toll lanes or express lanes, no tolls may be charged for use of an interstate highway where tolls were not charged as of July 1, 1997.

(9) With the exception of subsection (3), this section does not apply to the turnpike system as defined under the Florida Turnpike Enterprise Law.

(10) The department’s Beachline-East Expressway may be transferred by the department and become part of the turnpike system under the Florida Turnpike Enterprise Law. Any funds expended by the Florida Turnpike Enterprise for the acquisition of the Beachline-East Expressway shall be deposited into the State Transportation Trust Fund, and, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, such funds shall first be allocated by the department to fund the department’s obligation to construct the Wekiva Parkway. The term “Wekiva Parkway” means a limited access highway or expressway constructed between State Road 429 and Interstate 4 specifically incorporating the corridor alignment recommended by Recommendation 2 of the Wekiva River Basin Area Task Force final report dated January 15, 2003, and the recommendations of the SR 429 Working Group which were adopted January 16, 2004, and related transportation facilities.

(11) The department’s Pinellas Bayway System may be transferred by the department and become part of the turnpike system under the Florida Turnpike Enterprise Law. The transfer does not affect the rights of the parties, or their successors in interest, under the settlement agreement and final judgment in Leonard Lee Ratner, Esther Ratner, and Leeco Gas and Oil Co. v. State Road Department of the State of Florida, No. 67-1081 (Fla. 2nd Cir. Ct. 1968). Upon transfer of the Pinellas Bayway System to the turnpike system, the department shall also transfer to the Florida Turnpike Enterprise the funds deposited in the reserve account established by chapter 85-364, Laws of Florida, as amended by chapters 95-382 and 2014-223, Laws of Florida, which funds shall be used by the Florida Turnpike Enterprise solely to help fund the costs of repair or replacement of the transferred facilities.