Toll booth closed to COVID-19, all-electronic system temporarily takes its place
HOOD RIVER, OR – On March 17, the Port of Hood River stopped accepting cash toll payments to stop person-to-person contact at the toll booth and potentially reduce the risk of COVID-19 coronavirus spread in the community. The toll booth has since remained closed to reduce the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for non-medical purposes, in compliance with Oregon Governor Kate Brown’s Executive Order 20-10. BreezeBy electronic tolling was suspended on March 20.
Tolling will resume on May 1st with an all-electronic tolling system temporarily taking the place of the manned toll booth. The BreezeBy system will be turned back on, with no changes to normal functions. Motorists that do not have a BreezeBy transponder in their vehicle will have seven days to pay the normal toll rate either online at portofhoodriver.com or at the Port offices located at 1000 E. Port Marina Drive in Hood River. Payments can be made online here: https://csc.portofhoodriver.com/paytoll
After seven days, an invoice for unpaid tolls will be sent to the vehicle’s registered owner for the amount of the toll plus a $3 administrative fee per crossing. If a person receives an invoice, they can avoid paying the administrative fees by opening a BreezeBy account within 30 days of the date of the invoice.
There are no fees to open a BreezeBy account, funds placed in the account never expire, and the first transponder per household is provided at no cost. Most Breezeby customers opt to fund their accounts with a debit or credit card, but this is not required.
The BreezeBy system is largely used by local commuters and provides a discount on the cash toll rate at the Hood River Interstate Bridge and the Bridge of the Gods in Cascade Locks. In Hood River, all vehicle traffic will continue to be directed through the outside lanes at the toll plaza located on the Oregon side of the bridge. All bridge users are urged to comply with the 10 mph speed limit through the toll plaza.
For more information, contact the Port of Hood River via email to info@portofhoodriver.com.