Toll rates going up on four roads Tuesday

The new year will mean higher toll charges on four Central Texas tollways, ranging from a little to a lot. And tolls will begin in a few days on a fifth toll road.

Driving the length of Texas 130’s 49 miles will go up 25 percent to $6.76 for those with a toll tag, or about 13.8 cents a mile. The 13.3 miles of Texas 45 North will have a toll tag charge of $2.04, 15.3 cents a mile, and the 3.5 miles of the Loop 1 tollway will cost $1.02, or about 29 cents a mile. The increase on Texas 45 North and Loop 1 will be 50 percent.

The toll on the Texas Department of Transportation’s fourth Central Texas tollway, Texas 45 Southeast, will remain unchanged at $1 for those with a toll tag, about 14 cents a mile.

On 183-A, operated by the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, the toll will increase 2 percent, to $2.86 for 9.6 miles, or about 29.8 cents a mile.

Tolls on the first section of the authority’s U.S. 290 East tollway, 50 cents for 1.5 miles, will begin Saturday.

In all cases, the pay-by-mail rate for those without a toll tag is 33 percent higher. And vehicles with more than two axles face higher toll charges.

The Friends of Barton Springs Polar Bear Club will hold its 33rd annual splash at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Barton Springs Pool.

This year guests include Mayor Lee Leffingwell and Council Member Mike Martinez, a news release said.

The event is free including pool admission. The pool will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday. During the event, the pool can be accessed only from the south, Robert E. Lee Road side of the pool.

The trail to the pool at the