The additional 25 cents commuters started paying Jan. 1 on the Dulles Toll Road will bring in nearly $100 million in revenue to operate the Toll Road and help pay for the Silver Line now under construction.

That's an 11 percent increase over the nearly $90 million collected from Toll Road users this year, said Tara Hamilton, spokesman for Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which owns the Toll Road.

Owen Epstein, of McLean, drives the Toll Road for his daily commute.

"The increase at the main plaza of 25 cents each way will cost me $2.50 per week," he said. "This will have little financial impact, but it will make be more aware of the construction costs for the Metro. I hope it's managed well and the subway is completed on time and within budget."

All of this has to do with bringing a Metro to Tysons Corner, Reston and Dulles Airport. The Silver Line is under construction in two phases. The first phase will cost an estimated $2.7 billion. Completion is scheduled for 2013.

The New Year's Day price increase at the Main Toll Plaza was the second of three toll hikes planned as a New Year's greeting for commuters. Ramp prices remain at 75 cents.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, the Toll Road's landlord, approved the three annual toll hikes back in 2009 because it's paying 57 percent of the $2.7 billion cost to build the Silver Line.

The federal government pays nearly 15 percent, Fairfax County contributes 16 percent with Loudoun County and the state of Virginia is making up the rest of the money.

That $2.7 billion pays for building the track down the middle of the Dulles Connector Road, down Route 123 through Tysons Corner to Route 7 then up Route 7 to the Dulles Toll Road a distance of a little more than 11 miles. The price also includes five new stations, all but one serving Tysons Corner.

Where the money goes:

• In 2010, the Toll Road brought in nearly $90 million. Nearly $20 million was spent on Toll Road operations. Nearly $50 million went to the subway. The remainder went into a reserve fund.
• In 2011, tolls will total nearly $100 million. Another $20 million goes to maintain the Toll Road, $54.4 million to build the subway and the remainder to reserves.

The Toll Road is still a bargain compared to the Dulles Greenway where prices are nearly $5 each way. The Greenway is owned by a private company.