MDTA to Hold Public Hearing in Broadneck Tonight

Residents of the Broadneck area will have the opportunity to provide input on the recent proposal by the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) to significantly raise tolls on state bridges and tunnels.

Nine public hearings will be held by the MDTA Board to receive public and private testimony for the proposed toll increases, including tonight’s meeting at Severn River Middle School. The hearings will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. with sign-in and displays from 5:30 to 6 p.m. and the formal presentation testimony beginning at 6 p.m. Registration for public comment will close at 7:45 p.m.

Under the proposal, tolls for passenger cars on the Bay Bridge would, beginning Oct. 1, increase from $2.50 to $5 and eventually would increase to $8 on July 1, 2013.

In addition, the cost 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 $4 on July 1, 2013.

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

Finally, there will also be increases for E-Z Pass users and commuters along with a video toll rate for vehicles traveling through a toll plaza without a valid E-Z Pass or cash payment. The video rate would replace the existing $3 notice of toll due fee and would be 25 percent higher than the proposed cash rates.

The proposed plan to increase tolls is expected to generate approximately $77 million in the first fiscal year for the self-supported agency that finances, owns, operates and maintains Maryland’s eight toll facilities.

MDTA Chairman and Transportation Secretary Beverley K. Swaim-Staley said the increases are necessary as the authority is faced with significant costs for the rehabilitation of aging infrastructure and the construction of additional highway capacity in the Baltimore and Washington regions.

Pat Lynch of the Broadneck Council of Communities is encouraging local residents to attend tonight’s meeting. In a recent email to community members, Lynch voiced concerns about where the actual new toll revenue would be used.

“There is no business case that has been developed and delivered to the public that justifies this level of toll increase to support the Bay Bridge and Route 50 traffic,” wrote Lynch. “What are the users of the Bay Bridge getting in return from this increase? Where is this money going and where is the funding for the plan for a replacement bridge to support a new, safe, state of the art, four-lane bridge to the Eastern Shore?

“Will we see it in our lifetime or will Montgomery, Baltimore, Prince George’s and other counties in Maryland have their roads and bridges repaired and rebuilt as the state further increases the burden on users of the Bay Bridge?” asked Lynch.

If you cannot make it to tonight’s meeting but want to submit comments for public record, you can visit the MDTA website at www.mdta.maryland.gov or write to MDTA Toll Comment, 2310 Broening Highway, Baltimore, MD, 21224. All comments must be in by 5 p.m. on Aug. 1 for consideration.

The MDTA Board plans to consider the matter for final action in a public meeting later this summer. The meeting details and approved tolling plan will be posted to www.mdta.maryland.gov.