Maryland Value Pricing

Maryland DOT has signed up URSG, Parsons Brinck and Parsons Transp Gr for $850k of studies on variable pricing. They will cover possible HOT lanes on I-270 Frederick to I-495 the Washington Beltway, I-95 from the Washington Beltway through Baltimore to the Delaware border, the Maryland portion of the Beltway itself, US-50 the Beltway to US-301, and MD-210 from the Beltway to MD-228. It also covers possible variable toll rates on three major tolled crossings – the two Baltimore harbor tunnels and the Chesapeake Bay bridge. The studies are probably the most extensive yet undertaken in the US in terms of road milage covered and highway importance. In the central portion of Maryland covering the Washington suburbs, Baltimore and Annapolis over half the motorway level network will be under study. They will select one HOT lanes and one crossing for pilot pricing projects. (Contact Michelle Hoffman 410 545 8547)