Large Crowd, Legislators Protest Proposed Toll Hikes

Roughly 150 people turned out Tuesday night at Dundalk Middle School to protest steep toll increases proposed by the Maryland Transportation Authority. The first phase of the rate hikes are due to go into effect Oct. 1.

More than a third of those in attendance—local commuters, sportsmen, seniors and truckers—voiced anger and frustration toward MDTA board members, who sat and listened to nearly three hours of testimony.

Edward Dennis of Dundalk told the MDTA board panel that both he and his wife commute to Northern Virginia and Anne Arundel County, respectively, for work.

“It’s going to be $600 extra the first year and in 2013, it’s going cost us $1,680 a year,” Dennis said. “I’m not getting any more money from the people I’m working for.”

Under the current proposal, the cash/base rate for a one-way toll on the Fort McHenry Tunnel, the Harbor Tunnel and the Key Bridge would jump from $2 to $3 on Oct. 1 and then to $4 on July 1, 2013.

Other toll increases set for Oct. 1 include the cash/base rate for the John F. Kennedy Highway and the Hatem Memorial Bridge, both going from $5 to $6, and the Harry W. Nice Bridge in Southern Maryland, which would increase from $3 to $5. All three would then cost $8 on July 1, 2013.

Commuters, however, will see larger percentage increases in the discounted rates they receive. The current 40 cents rate for a one-way toll on the Fort McHenry Tunnel, the Harbor Tunnel and the Key Bridge would jump to 90 cents on Oct. 1 and $1.40 per trip on July 1, 2013.

Vehicles with three or more axles will also face steep increases, with the cash/E-Z pass rate on a one-way toll at the Fort McHenry Tunnel, the Harbor Tunnel and the Key Bridge doubling from $6 to $12 by July 1, 2013. The proposed cash/E-Z pass rate increases from $9 to $24 by July 1, 2013 for one-way trips across the Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge and the Bay Bridge, proved particularly upsetting for those who enjoy heading to the Eastern Shore for fishing and recreational purposes.

“My hobby is fishing and I like to fish on the Eastern Shore,” said Scott Sewell of Essex, noting that pulling a two-axle boat trailer currently costs him $9 each way over the Key Bridge and $12 over the Bay Bridge. “By July 1, 2013 it’ll cost me $18 each way over the Key Bridge and $36 each way over the Bay Bridge just to go fishing with my nephew or my neighbor.”

Del. John A. Olszewski Jr., speaking on behalf of state Sen. Norman R. Stone Jr., Del. Joseph “Sonny” Minnick and Del. Michael H. Weir. Jr., who also were in attendance, expressed strong concerns about the size of the rate increases and that his constituents in the 6th legislative district would unfairly bear the burden of the toll increases because of the district’s location near the Fort McHenry Tunnel, Key Bridge and Harbor Tunnel.

“Once fully phased in, your proposal would increase commuter rates—which my constituents rely on to keep costs affordable—250 percent and cost a daily commuter over $500 annually,” Olszewski told the MDTA board panel. “To put things in context, for many of my residents, this is more than half of one month of a mortgage or rent payment—and that is just what you are proposing to increase. This says nothing of the mother in my district that makes round-trips twice a day to balance her child’s schooling and her own employment. She will be penalized closer to $1,000. For constituents living paycheck to paycheck, this is crushing.”

Meanwhile, Del. Pat McDonough said he is preparing a Toll Fairness Act for General Assembly’s special session this fall.

The Toll Fairness Act, McDonough said, would declare a moratorium on all toll increases, require the governor and General Assembly to vote on any toll increase to provide accountability, remove rate-setting power from the appointed MDTA board and prohibit funds from transportation to be used for non-transportation costs.

Olszewski said he supports McDonough’s efforts, but noted that any legislation passed in the special session would most likely come after the Oct. 1 rate hikes go into effect. Olszewski said Weir plans to sponsor legislation in the next full General Assembly session to remove rate-setting authority from the MDTA, which he said the Baltimore County delegation supports.

The MDTA is accepting comments online through Aug. 2, with the board meeting later this summer for final action on the proposed rate increases.

Jamie Lynch of Dundalk also spoke at Tuesday night's meeting, but didn’t believe anything anyone said at this point would have much impact on MDTA officials and the proposed toll increases.

“Let’s face it,” Lynch said, turning to face those in attendance, “this is a done deal.”