Advocating Against Toll Raises
The proposed Maryland Transportation Authority toll increases would come in two phases, the first beginning Oct. 1 of this year.
A committee of the Maryland Transportation Authority recently issued a recommendation that put the issue of toll increases front and center.
Those of us living in close proximity to toll facilities are especially sensitive to toll costs. The full board plans to consider the proposal during its meeting in early June.
In the meantime, I hope you will join me to loudly advocate our opposition.
As proposed, the toll increases would come in two phases: Oct. 1 of this year, and then again on July 1, 2013. Users of the harbor crossings—the Fort McHenry and Harbor tunnels and the Key Bridge—currently pay $4 for a round-trip. The Authority’s plan would make that $6 in October and $8 in mid-2013.
The Bay Bridge also sees an increase, with tolls eventually going up to $8.
It is important to understand what is being proposed, and it is also important to understand why.
Prior to my election, then-Gov. Ehrlich pitched the idea, approved by those in the General Assembly, that having major toll-financed projects would be relatively painless. The largest driver of the costs in Ehrlich’s plans, the Intercounty Connector (ICC) in the Washington suburbs, requires that tolls help cover the whopping $2.6 billion price tag.
During the 2007 Special Session, recognizing that the ICC would likely lead to significant toll hikes, I co-sponsored legislation entitled “Transportation—Intercounty Connector—Elimination of Funding.” The bill’s title is self-explanatory, and it would have prevented hundreds of millions of dollars in new debt being issued to fund the project, as well as prevented tens of millions of dollars from being diverted from the Transportation Trust Fund for the same purpose.
I have also supported legislation that takes away the independent ability of the Authority to set and raise tolls without legislative approval. These measures have failed in years past.
Making the increased toll rate on the “occasional” user even worse is the fact that residents of our area that regularly use the facilities will be unable to escape the sting: a large increase in commuter rates is also being proposed.
Historically, the silver lining of toll increases has been the option of utilizing a commuter plan, which reduced out-of-pocket costs. At Baltimore-area tolls, the current $4 round-trip costs those on commuter plans just 80 cents. If the proposed changes are enacted, Baltimore-area commuter tolls will jump to $1.80 in October and $2.80 in two years.
For a weekly commuter, that is a 250 percent increase—from $4 to $14 a week. Over the course of a year, that is a $520 increase. I find this outrageous.
In the weeks ahead, the Authority is required to provide opportunities for public input. I encourage you to do so, and my office is happy to provide you with information about these meetings. I will personally be expressing my displeasure with the recommendations for toll increases, especially at the commuter level, and I will revisit legislation, not only to combat toll increases, but also to challenge the current process that leaves lawmakers on the sideline.
rick j
7:46 am on Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Let me see.Isn't O'Malley governor now??Ehrlich may have suggested it but that was over 5 years ago.So let's not throw him under the bus and tell it like it is,The democrats want this increase. You don't mind a slight bump but to double it is absurd.
Graham
5:34 pm on Thursday, June 2, 2011
I do not totally disagree with you but there is a board of Trustees that oversees and votes on things such as these.
jolynn polley
8:10 am on Wednesday, June 1, 2011
i really think that the people of maryland need to start being more involved and expressing their opinion more. we let the government of our state pretty much get away with anything they want and then bitch about it later. from tax increases, toll increases, to new laws such as no smoking in bars. these are all things that we should be actively voicing our opinion about because we are the ones that ultimately pay for it in the end! o'malley doesn't pay and ehrlich never paid either. they don't care about us as marylanders they just care about the image that they can portray while in office and right now all their images could use and overhaul. it doesn't matter who you throw under the bus rick because we as marylanders let them get away with it, so ultimately we are at fault and it is just going to take more and more people of our beautiful state to become tired and fed up with it all before any change is made. as long as we keep filling up at the pumps, driving through the tolls, not fighting property tax increase every single year even though the prices of homes are at all time lows, paying the alcohol taxes they want to propose, then guess what? they are going to keep pushing them down our throats! jolynn
fred thiess
9:41 am on Wednesday, June 1, 2011
I did see John Olszewski mentioned that during special session and thereafter he introduced legislation to control increases. That special session was his first and he was active then. He will continue to fight for us but we need to do as he ask and become vocal in oppossing the increases. A lot of politians have made mistakes over the years so lets join in and help those who arer fighting for us. These increases in fees are wrong no matter who proposes them so get busy and help challenge them. Good job John
Fred T.
Graham
5:37 pm on Thursday, June 2, 2011
Mr Thiess is absolutely correct.
Kathi
8:23 pm on Thursday, June 2, 2011
You are sooo right Fred. We all need to get involved. These politicians do whatever they want if we do not express ourselves. And have you noticed that Baltimore county does not benefit from the alchohol tax? Most of it goes to P G and Montgomery counties and we are the largest county in the state? Come on we are going to pay more taxes and not benefit? Give me a break..........
Dawn Shipley
9:47 am on Wednesday, June 1, 2011
The jobs in our area are scarce and my husband has to travel the bridge or tunnel everyday for work. With the cost of gas and the cost of living increasing, this increase in the tolls and commuter tolls will be devestating to our budget. I don't care about Ehrlich or OMalley, I want this initiative STOPPED! Does no one in MD see that the tax and spend attitude is running out our tax base. Most folks I know get out of MD as soon as they can. We who don't make big money... can't afford to live here and need to move to find a state that values their citizens. I wish our legislature would start being responsible and our state gov't would look at those of us who are not in their circle of influence... and yes... I agree with this article this measure needs to be stopped!
S.S.
10:41 am on Wednesday, June 1, 2011
If any of you can live on the same pay checks you got 10yrs ago then you are better then 95% of the state. Same goes for the Authority. Price of doing business goes up especially when major projects have money stripped from them for some other state project. I am no fan of increase in any fee but face it the price of everything had gone up to include the bottle tax on alcohol or the fact you can no longer have cigars shipped to your home.
B
11:53 am on Wednesday, June 1, 2011
$8 to visit a friend or relatives in Glen Burnie, or take my son to a doctor's appointment? Along with gas & copays? What about the people that travel across the Key Bridge to go to a thrift store? They're going to those places to SAVE money. For those of us that live in Sparrows Point, what options are we given? We have to use a bridge or tunnel to get to those places. Should we switch to a Dundalk doctor that isn't nearly as good for our child? Should we try to find someone North to avoid the tolls, but then lose money by having to take off of work early to try to beat that hideous 695/95 traffic to get there on time? Obviously we wouldn't give up our friendships or relationships with relatives, but we'd probably see them less. Yeah, the cost of everything is going up, blah, blah, blah. EXCEPT OUR SALARIES!! This toll increase is small compared to the big picture but every single necessity that increases creates more families in debt. Do I need to bring up the BGE increases? Deciding whether to pay your utility bill or buy your child glasses so they can see their school work is a tragedy. Too many families are making those kinds of decisions. Although I am lucky enough to not have to make that decision, I'm realistic enough to know that could change at any time.
Businesses need to give Marylanders a break on the increases for a little while & let us get caught up on the debts we've incurred from past increases as well as job losses.
S.S.
1:20 pm on Wednesday, June 1, 2011
BGE hike you can thank the general assembly an MOM for not regulating. As far as salaries if you work for state again cry to MOM.
Graham
5:25 pm on Thursday, June 2, 2011
Keep trying J.O .JR. I do not think they need the money other than the Authority using that as a slush fund.