Kentucky Transportation Secretary Jim Gray is once more calling on the bistate Tolling Body to consider approving a lesser increase in rates on the three toll bridges between Louisville and Clark County, Ind. 

The rates announced Monday represent an 8.3% increase, higher than the 2.5% hike a Kentucky board has pushed for.

Texas-based Electronic Transaction Consultants LLC would take over the toll system’s billing, customer service and collections by the end of 2023.

Electronic Transaction Consultants, known as ETC, also would establish a local call center to handle drivers' questions about toll bills. 

The work would be substantially complete by August 2023 and finished in early 2024, according to the proposal by Kokosing Construction Co., the contractor Indiana officials chose to oversee the $137 million project.

The "Sherman Minton Renewal" project is designed to add 30 years to the lifespan of the 57-year-old interstate bridge connecting Louisville and New Albany, Ind.

Traffic declines during the coronavirus pandemic led to lower-than-expected toll revenue for Kentucky and Indiana.

The move approved Tuesday by the Kentucky-Indiana Joint Board addresses aspects of the toll network that have been under scrutiny for years.