The Richmond Metropolitan Authority is considering increasing the lesser-priced ramp and bridge tolls along the Powhite Parkway and Downtown Expressway.

At the authority's meeting next month, the board will vote on whether to increase several exit and on ramps as well as the Boulevard Bridge by as much as 40 percent.

The authority will meet at the Bull and Bear Club in the McGuireWoods Building downtown starting at 12:30 p.m. April 15. Though the meeting is open to the public, there is no forum for the public to speak.

Authority Public Relations Manager Linda McElroy said Thursday that the proposed increases are:

w raising the Boulevard Bridge (also known as the Nickel Bridge) toll from 25 cents to 35 cents;

w raising the Second Street toll from 25 cents to 35 cents;

w raising the Forest Hill Avenue on and exit toll ramps from 50 cents to 70 cents;

w raising the Douglas Dale Road toll ramp from 15 cents to 20 cents; and

w raising the 11th Street toll ramp from 20 cents to 30 cents.

McElroy stressed that these proposals had not yet been voted on and were only a consideration.

The RMA voted Monday to increase the fares in both directions on the Powhite Parkway main plaza and the Downtown Expressway from 50 cents to 70 cents starting Sept. 8 because of increased maintenance costs, $123 million in prior debt for building the roads and the Virginia Department of Transportation's announcement that as of July 1, it would no longer be spending $500,000 in routine maintenance on the roads, such as snow removal and grass cutting.

The increase will go into effect Sept. 8 because the authority wanted to complete its open road toll plaza on Powhite Parkway, which includes three E-ZPass express lanes in both directions without toll booths that allow drivers to go through at near highway speed. Members also wanted to wait until after the Labor Day holiday.

The increase was the first in more than a decade, but the authority has received a torrent of criticism from drivers.

Though many fear the authority will use the money toward its other projects, such as The Diamond and downtown parking decks, that's not allowed under their legally-binding bond resolution, McElroy said.

People who want to see the RMA's finances and where the money is going can also check out the authority's financial records and yearly independent audits by going to the RMA's Web site and clicking on "newsroom," McElroy said.

"We do understand that people are upset, and it does feel like with rising gas prices they're getting hammered," she said. "We want people to look at our position. We're getting hammered on asphalt, steel and concrete.

"We definitely don't want some type of situation where our infrastructure is starting to fail. The roads were built in 1975 and they cost money to upkeep. We get no money from the state or the federal government."