The toll on Tauranga's controversial Route K will rise to $1.50.
From January 1, the cost to use the city expressway that links the city centre to Tauriko and The Lakes will increase from $1 to $1.50.
The decision was made at a Tauranga City Council meeting last night.
Mayor Stuart Crosby today said "a vast majority" of councillors supported the decision.
"The decision was exactly as per the item in the agenda. The debate was really around how we can promote and market Route K as we move forward, so we are looking for initiatives to encourage people to use it," Mr Crosby said.
The introduction of the Pyes Pa bypass has helped boost the number of motorists using Route K. Since the new bypass opened Route K figures jumped from about 3500 last year to more than 7000 this year, Mr Crosby said.
Route K lost $2.5 million last year, and was heading towards another $2.5 million loss this year because the lift in revenue from more vehicles would mainly be spent servicing the interest on last year's debt increase.
Mr Crosby said he believed the ultimate result would be worth it.
There was a consensus Route K needed better signage and marketing, which was "taking a long time" to happen through the New Zealand Transport Agency.
Eventually Route K was likely to have access from 15th Ave created.
The forecast for when the road would be fully paid off was still far into the future but the toll would be removed as soon as it was, Mr Crosby said.
Despite positive trends since Route K opened in 2003 the road has left a $60 million debt burden.
Councillor Murray Guy was one of the few who opposed the idea but was not alone in his doubt, he said.
"I know other elected members expressed real concern about the impact of the increase but subsequently voted which the majority."