Maryland toll proposes higher truck tolls, electronic toll charges

Maryland Transportation (Toll) Authority (MdTA) almost a lone among toll agencies around the US is proposing to freeze car tolls and put the burden of toll inflation heavily on truckers with a mostly 50% increase. Charges for transponders are also to be increased. The truck & transponder heavy plan is aimed to increase revenues by $60m/year on the $280m of FY2008. That's a 21.4% increase.

A press release refers to a "struggling economy, skyrocketing materials prices and declining traffic and revenue" and calls the plan a cost recovery initiative.

Toll authority chairman and state transportation secretary John D Porcari is quoted: “Today’s proposal helps better distribute the costs of operating our system among the different types of vehicles that use our facilities. Even with the proposed toll-rate changes and service charges, Maryland still offers some of the most generous commuter discounts in the country, and our truck toll rates are comparable to – and generally lower than – those in the region."

Louise P. Hoblitzell, an authority board member is quoted: “Toll revenues are down locally and nationally, while costs for commodities, system preservation and safety are up. Our total revenue is down 6% from July to November alone. After experiencing a period of double-digit expense growth prior to 2007, we directed staff to contain costs and expenses are now under control. Even with belt-tightening and deferral of $200 million in capital projects, it has become necessary to take this step.”

Authority Executive Secretary Ronald L Freeland is quoted: “These are tough choices, but our policy is to be up front and give our trucking partners and E-ZPass customers the most time to plan as possible. We know and understand that any change comes with difficulty for our customers and their families during these times and fully appreciate their sacrifices and understanding. First
and foremost is our obligation to keep preservation, safety and customer-service projects fully funded, while supporting capital projects Statewide.”

MdTA in conjunction with the State Highway Administration has two major capital projects under construction: (1) a 29km (18 mile) Inter County Connector tollroad mostly in Montgomer County just north of the District of Columbia and (2) widening of I-95 north of Baltimore from 8 to 12 lanes to provide 4 new toll express lanes, the project including a huge rebuild of the I-95/I-695 Baltimore Beltway interchange. MdtA also has major redecking work on several bridges.

MdTA last increased tolls in 2003.

MdTA's board adopted the recommended toll changes yesterday unanimously and they are open for public comment until the next board meeting Jan 29. The higher truck tolls would go April 15 and the higher transponder changes July 1.

Traffic volumes are down about 6% on last year on the Maryland facilities which include:

-  two toll tunnels under Baltimore Harbor including I-95 and I-895, tractor-trailer tolls to go from $8 to $12, tolling both directions

- I-95 Kennedy Highway with a  mainline toll in the northeast of the state, tractor-trailer tolls to go from $20 to $30 toll northbound only

- Chesapeake Bay Bridge to the eastern shore, tractor trailer tolls to go from $10 to $15, tolls eastbound only

- FS Key Bridge I-695 Baltimore Harbor, tractor-trailer tolls to go from $8 to $12

- smaller bridges on surface arterials US40 parallel to Kennedy Highway tolls up from $20 to $30 one way for tractor trailers and US301 bridge over Potomac to Virginia in south of state  tolls up from $12 to $15 for tractor trailers

Other truck toll increases proposed are shown in the chart.

Admin & service charges

The Authority is proposing a set of administrative and service charges:

Commuter ticket sales will end Mar 1 2009

- an Overweight/Oversize Vehicle Permit Charge ($25) eliminating Class 7 toll
schedule.

-  E-ZPass Commuter Plan duration will be reduced from 60 days to 45 days July 1, 2009

- monthly E-ZPass Account Charge of $1.50 per month per account

- new purchase prices for E-ZPass transponders $21 (standard), $33 (exterior), $40 (fusion)

- Toll Due Charge $3 + toll due

- Toll Violation Charge increasing from $15 to $25

- Bay Bridge Shoppers and Travelers ticket sales to end replaced by a Bay Bridge
Shoppers Plan for E-ZPass to offer the same percentage discount as existing
tickets

Tolls for cars - strictly 2-axle vehicles - are $2 at the Baltimore crossings except for those enrolled in a Baltimore region commuter plan with a Maryland E-ZPass account who get 40c trips. The proposal opens up a large gap between 2-axle tolls ($2) and 3-axles ($6).

2-axle tolls are $5 collected northbound only at the I-95 Kennedy Highway barrier plaza and 80c for commuter plan participants.

On the Bay Bridge 2-axle tolls are $2.50 collected eastbound only and just $1 on a commuter plan.

see http://www.mdta.state.md.us/mdta/Home/costrecovery.jsp

TOLLROADSnews 2009-01-06