Motorists are paying higher rates on the Chisholm Trail Parkway and other North Texas tollways after a 1-penny per mile increase went into effect this month.
The North Texas Tollway Authority, which maintains and operates tolled highways in the Fort Worth-Dallas area, offers two ways to pay: through the TollTag electronic payment platform or via ZipCash pay-by-mail service, which bills the registered owner of a vehicle.
TollTag rates increased from 21 cents to 22 cents per mile on July 1 while ZipCash rates are double the TollTag amount.
TollTag is the cheaper — and preferred — option for many drivers and accounts for 80% of NTTA toll transactions, agency spokesperson Michael Rey said.
“TollTag is overwhelmingly the most popular,” said Rey, adding that the platform can be used for tolled travel in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Florida and Colorado.
TollTag also offers prepaid accounts in $10, $20 and $40 increments. Cash payments for NTTA tollways were eliminated in 2010.
Tollway authority officials said the rate increase will help the agency repay about $8.8 billion in bonds used to construct the system. The increase also will fund tollway improvements, including the planned expansion of the 27.6-mile Chisholm Trail Parkway that started this summer. Tolls also fund NTTA’s safety and roadside service programs.
Some are upset with higher tolls.
“This is outrageous,” motorist Peyton Terry wrote in an online post. “We shouldn’t have to pay anything to use a highway. We have enough taxes on everything as it is!!!!”
Renea Story expressed her feeling that motorists never get a break.
“With all of the construction going on, you would think they would give us a discount or something but I guess it’s a set up for them to get paid more, especially for the ones who don’t have an actual TollTag,” Story posted on social media.
Vehicles travel on Chisholm Trail Parkway in Fort Worth July 21, 2025. This 27.6 mile toll road connects Fort Worth and Cleburne. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report/CatchLight Local/Report for America)
NTTA revenue is based on how many people use toll roads. Rey said the agency should have an indication of expected funding by the end of 2025.
The agency, a political subdivision of the state, does not receive appropriations from the Legislature and is not part of the Texas highway system.
ZipCash rates are higher to offset “the rising cost to collect tolls and the risk associated with the uncertainty of receiving payment from ZipCash users who choose not to have a TollTag,” Rey said.
“It also helps provide fairness among drivers who use NTTA toll roads,” he said.
TollTags also can be used for parking at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field. TollPerks, NTTA’s customer rewards program, allows users to earn rewards for driving on NTTA roads.
NTTA serves 14 million people in Dallas, Tarrant, Denton and Collin counties with some operations in Ellis and Johnson counties.
In addition to Chisholm Trail Parkway, the agency owns and operates the Dallas North Tollway, President George Bush Turnpike, Sam Rayburn Tollway and the 360 Tollway through south Arlington, Grand Prairie and Mansfield. NTTA also operates the Addison Airport Toll Tunnel and toll bridges across Lewisville and Mountain Creek lakes.
Eric E. Garcia is a senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org.
News decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
Related
Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.
Republish This Story
Republishing is free for noncommercial entities. Commercial entities are prohibited without a licensing agreement. Contact us for details.