Increases to the price of Mersey Tunnel tolls have been approved as part of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (CA) budget.
Leaders signed off on the 20p rise in fares as part of an annual budget for the CA put forward by Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram.
As a result, motorists will pay £2 per journey through the Birkenhead and Wallasey tunnels - up from £1.80.
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Tolls for Liverpool City Region residents using the fast tag or T-flow prepayment systems will increase from £1 to £1.20, while a motion put forward by Mr Rotheram to freeze tunnel rates at £1.80 for non-CA residents who move onto the Fast Tag scheme.
The Metro Mayor’s budget also included a two per cent increase in the Transport Levy to £99.352m for the next financial year as well as a freeze to the Mayoral precept at £19 per year for a Band D property and £12.67 per year for a Band A property.
Setting his fifth annual budget, Mr Rotheram said it reflected “where we are as a public body in the aftermath of Covid” and while a “considerable amount” of CA reserves had been used to attempt to balance the books, these were only a “sticking plaster solution to extraordinary circumstances.”
The former Labour MP said he had tasked CA chief executive Katherine Fairclough with a modernisation strategy for its practices and would embark on an efficiency drive to “squeeze marginal gains” out of everything the body does.
Mr Rotheram said he believed his budget avoided passing on pressures to residents who already faced issues around the cost of living, adding that these were “necessary” moves to avoid tougher decisions like cuts later on.
John Fogarty, CA executive director of corporate services, said Covid-19 continued to cast a shadow over the region’s finances and the two per cent increase in transport levy would cover pay awards moving forward.
He added it was “inconceivable” the CA could achieve its net zero target without a strong transport network but said it had “never been more challenging” to do so.
Members approved that the budget be implemented for the financial year 2022/23.
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