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Post by kiboater on May 7, 2015 13:12:31 GMT -4
GOVERNOR HOGAN ROLLS BACK TOLLS STATEWIDE -- Saving Marylanders $54 Million A Year $2.50 Bay Bridge Toll Returns For Maryland E-ZPass Users; $4 For Drivers Paying Cash Plan Eliminates Monthly Account Fee And Doubles Discounts For Maryland E-ZPass Holders
Governor Larry Hogan today delivered on his promise to roll back Maryland's high toll rates and put money back in the pockets of hard-working Maryland families and businesses. From the Bay and Hatem bridges to the Harbor Crossings, the Intercounty Connector (ICC), and the new I-95 Express Toll Lanes (ETL), Governor Hogan's toll rollback, which takes effect July 1, 2015, will save Maryland citizens $270 million over the next five years.
"We are proud to announce what by far is our largest tax relief package to date and marks the first time tolls have been lowered in Maryland in nearly 50 years," said Governor Hogan. "This tax cut will put more than a quarter billion back into the pockets of our beleaguered Maryland taxpayers, and back into our economy."
Responding to the governor's calls to lower tolls, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Board today approved recommendations from MDTA staff to decrease toll rates across the state, increase E-ZPass Maryland discounts, and eliminate the monthly $1.50 E-ZPass account fee.
The following toll reductions and changes are effective July 1, 2015:
- Eliminate the E-ZPass Maryland monthly $1.50 account fee for Maryland residents.
- Reduce all Cash, Video, Commuter and Shoppers' toll rates at the Bay Bridge (US 50/301), including a reduction in the two-axle cash rate from $6 to $4 round trip and in the Commuter rate from $2.10 to $1.40.
- Increase the E-ZPass Maryland discount from 10% to 37.5% at the Bay Bridge – toll drops from $5.40 to $2.50 round trip.
- Increase the E-ZPass Maryland discount from 10% to 25% for the Baltimore Harbor (I-895) and Fort McHenry (I-95) tunnels, the Francis Scott Key Bridge (I-695), the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge (US 40) and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway (I-95) – toll drops from $7.20 to $6 round trip – and for the Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge (US 301) – toll drops from $5.40 to $4.50 round trip.
- Reduce two-axle toll rates on the ICC/MD200 and I-95 ETL for all pricing periods by $.03 per mile. This change reduces a two-axle, peak period trip from I-270/I-370 to US 1 on the ICC from $4.40 to $3.86 (E-ZPass), and a two-axle, peak period trip on the I-95 ETL from $1.75 to $1.54 (E-ZPass). Other ICC and I-95 ETL toll rates also will be reduced based on standard multipliers per axle.
- Establish a 30% discount at the Hatem Bridge for three- and four-axle vehicles with E-ZPass Maryland – three-axle toll drops from $16 to $11.20, while four-axle toll drops from $24 to $16.80.
- Increase E-ZPass Maryland supplemental rebate program for vehicles with five or more axles by 5 percentage points per trip level.
The following change is effective January 1, 2016:
- For vehicles using the Childs Street and I-695 turnaround exits at the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel and Key Bridge respectively, toll rates will decrease to $2 per axle for three-to-six-plus-axle vehicles. For example, three-axle vehicles will see a toll reduction from $8 to $6 and four-axle vehicles from $12 to $8.
"I have thoroughly reviewed the toll-reduction plan, and I'm confident the MDTA will continue to maintain its sound financial footing and commitment to safety and quality services," said MDTA Chairman and Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn. "A lot of hard work went into the development of this proposal, and I'd like to thank MDTA board members for their careful analysis and approval of this toll-reduction plan."
To take advantage of the new E-ZPass discounts, motorists are urged to sign up for a Maryland E-ZPass. The new discounts increase from 10% to a range of 25% to 37.5%. "If you turned in your E-ZPass years ago because of the monthly maintenance fee, it's time to come back," said MDTA Executive Director Bruce W. Gartner.
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Post by rdkntriker on May 7, 2015 13:28:08 GMT -4
This is GREAT news for my wife and I , well really for our back account.
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Post by KITransplant on May 7, 2015 14:38:16 GMT -4
IT'S GREAT NOT TO ANY MORE.
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Post by cruzincat on May 7, 2015 16:44:51 GMT -4
Hopefully it will help property values climb back up on this side of the bay. They have recovered nicely on the Western Shore.
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Post by constructr on May 7, 2015 17:30:57 GMT -4
Way to go Gov. Hogan !! This guy has impressed the hell out of me from the first day he took office and took ACTION. Thank you for taking a stand for the true workers of this state and undoing some of the FAILED Liberal policies. I was in Colombia, South America when Baltimore was being burned by the Mayors peeps and just LOVED it when Hogan was being questioned at a Presser on why it took so long to impose the State Of Emergency and he looked the "Mayor" right in her eye and said " We had everything in place, ready to go, and when "The mayor" finally called, it was put into action." Really made her look like the incompetent loser that she is.
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Post by kidoode on May 8, 2015 9:13:37 GMT -4
Happy to keep some $$ in my pocket, but wonder what won't get done. Maintenance? New construction? What?
Roads and bridges are expensive to maintain. Hope they don't have to scrimp to the point that something fails.
Doode
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Post by KITransplant on May 8, 2015 9:25:16 GMT -4
Happy to keep some $$ in my pocket, but wonder what won't get done. Maintenance? New construction? What? Roads and bridges are expensive to maintain. Hope they don't have to scrimp to the point that something fails. Doode This just means that they'll misspend a few less dollars. Our taxes still remain very high and there is plenty of money still to maintain the roads and bridges. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.
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Post by kiboater on May 8, 2015 9:40:01 GMT -4
Happy to keep some $$ in my pocket, but wonder what won't get done. Maintenance? New construction? What? Roads and bridges are expensive to maintain. Hope they don't have to scrimp to the point that something fails. Two proposed projects: 2.6 Billion for a Red Line in Baltimore and 2.4 Billion for the Purple Line in Montgomery county are under reveiw right now. I don't think anyone objects to replacing aging infrastructure but these boondoggle projects arn't necessary or a good investment. We still need another way to get across the bay.
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Post by kidoode on May 9, 2015 20:55:54 GMT -4
Red and Purple line projects are Mass Transit Administration initiatives, not Toll Facilities. Different pots of money.
You want another way across the bay? Better buy a boat. Cost for another span in the existing location which already has all the approaches in place is in the billions. Would have been nice to have another span today, don't you think? The Southern Route through Calvert and Dorchester is hugely expensive and only helps people reach the beach. Anybody on Kent Island should be interested in getting to the real jobs on the western shore. Screw the Beach.
Doode.
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Post by cruzincat on May 11, 2015 8:40:05 GMT -4
I've stopped caring all that much about a third span, since I will be retired before one gets built anyway.
This weekend's incidents demonstrate the need for a third span right here, alongside the existing two, as long as one is to be built. The approach infrastructure would be a lot less expensive and could be improved after the bridge is built. Anywhere else, the approaches would have to be built before the bridge is opened. The bridge length here would still be the shortest in the bay. Also, there is zero chance a politician will be able to buy up property on either side to fill his pockets when he(or she) makes the "choice".
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Post by bchevy on May 11, 2015 21:29:28 GMT -4
A 3rd span here would be the dumbest move that could be made. Some of the traffic needs to be diverted, and there needs to be a viable ALTERNATE ROUTE. The studies have shown (duh factor) that most of the beach traffic comes from south of the area. There needs to be a southern crossing.
More lanes here across the bay, would Only invite even more traffic, and then require more lanes on 50/301. It's more than enough now.
Not to mention we would be doomed if we ever HAD to evacuate the shore, another crossing and a southern location. please.
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Post by emsguru on May 12, 2015 8:40:55 GMT -4
A 3rd span here would be the dumbest move that could be made. Some of the traffic needs to be diverted, and there needs to be a viable ALTERNATE ROUTE. The studies have shown (duh factor) that most of the beach traffic comes from south of the area. There needs to be a southern crossing. More lanes here across the bay, would Only invite even more traffic, and then require more lanes on 50/301. It's more than enough now. Not to mention we would be doomed if we ever HAD to evacuate the shore, another crossing and a southern location. please. So we spend Billions more dollars to help the group of people who drive across the bay 12 weekends a year to go to the beach? Sorry but until the population swells it really just doesn't make any sense at all for the state to spend billions more than it needs to in order to make traffic a little better on the weekends. I remember all your posts about the bridge toll hikes to pay for the ICC. I wonder how mad you'll be when the tolls go up to 20 bucks to pay for 2 ICC equivalents to connect 495 to the new southern bay bridge, the much longer bridge, and the ICC equivalent that will connect taylors island to rt 50 in cambridge.
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Post by kidoode on May 12, 2015 9:09:33 GMT -4
EMSguru makes my exact point. Screw the beach people, the worker bees need to get across and back every day.
Far as I am concerned, the evening toll should be $100 without an EZPass commuter plan until about 8:00 PM. Take care of people who live here first, then the tourists.
The cost of an alternate crossing almost guarantees that it will never happen, especially with less of a revenue stream to pay for it.
Doode
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Post by coxcreek on May 12, 2015 10:02:15 GMT -4
A Southern crossing would not relieve much vacation traffic currently crossing the Bay Bridge. Most who live south of the Bay Bridge on the Western shore go to Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks. A majority of the beach goers visiting the Delaware and Maryland shores come from the North. Look at license plates in OC and half are from PA. A Southern bridge would increase vacationers and revenue in OC but not help much with traffic here. The logical location is North at Aberdeen Proving Grounds to Kent County. This location would relieve a ton of vacation traffic on the Bay Bridge plus provide an economic boost to the City of Baltimore (name another major city in the US that is located on a bridgeable body of water that does not have a bridge across that water?). Baltimore is missing a portion of its suburbs located just across the Bay.
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Post by Frank on May 12, 2015 12:16:05 GMT -4
A 3rd span here would be the dumbest move that could be made. Some of the traffic needs to be diverted, and there needs to be a viable ALTERNATE ROUTE. The studies have shown (duh factor) that most of the beach traffic comes from south of the area. There needs to be a southern crossing. More lanes here across the bay, would Only invite even more traffic, and then require more lanes on 50/301. It's more than enough now. Not to mention we would be doomed if we ever HAD to evacuate the shore, another crossing and a southern location. please. A third span wouldn't be in the same area as the other two. Plum Point to Cambridge would only be a little longer than the current bridge and would do wonders in relieving traffic. DC and NOVA commuters would have a much closer option rather than to join the already crowded Annapolis area roads. The Bay Bridge was never meant to handle the amount of vehicles that cross it daily.
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Post by Frank on May 12, 2015 12:22:28 GMT -4
Happy to keep some $$ in my pocket, but wonder what won't get done. Maintenance? New construction? What? Roads and bridges are expensive to maintain. Hope they don't have to scrimp to the point that something fails. Doode The Bay Bridge makes a ton of money for the state! Remember paying the toll going both ways? Thet cut payroll in half by only charging one way. Now, with 4 EZ Pass only lanes, they can save even more. The problem is they view the bridge as easy money. You gotta pay to pass, and the bridge has been paid for years ago. However, the bridge is handling double the amount of vehicles it was intended to carry and that may cause other issues. I don't know the answer, but it just can't continue the way it has in the past. I'm waiting for flying cars!
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Post by kidoode on May 12, 2015 12:31:12 GMT -4
You do realize that maintenance and repairs cost big bucks, right? The toll takers salary doesn't amount to squat compared to the cost of painting, redecking, etc.
Toll Facilities isn't rolling in the dough. They got big bills and debts to pay.
Doode
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Post by Frank on May 12, 2015 15:14:59 GMT -4
You do realize that maintenance and repairs cost big bucks, right? The toll takers salary doesn't amount to squat compared to the cost of painting, redecking, etc. Toll Facilities isn't rolling in the dough. They got big bills and debts to pay. Doode Yeah, but the bay bridge generated about a $25,000,000.00 (25 million dollars) surplus each year at $2.50 a crossing. How much surplus do you think they made the last few years with the toll increases? I understand they use that surplus to offset the costs of other projects, but thats a lot of surplus money to ask for an increase.
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Post by cruzincat on May 12, 2015 21:06:25 GMT -4
A 3rd span here would be the dumbest move that could be made. Some of the traffic needs to be diverted, and there needs to be a viable ALTERNATE ROUTE. The studies have shown (duh factor) that most of the beach traffic comes from south of the area. There needs to be a southern crossing. More lanes here across the bay, would Only invite even more traffic, and then require more lanes on 50/301. It's more than enough now. Not to mention we would be doomed if we ever HAD to evacuate the shore, another crossing and a southern location. please. A third span wouldn't be in the same area as the other two. Plum Point to Cambridge would only be a little longer than the current bridge and would do wonders in relieving traffic. DC and NOVA commuters would have a much closer option rather than to join the already crowded Annapolis area roads. The Bay Bridge was never meant to handle the amount of vehicles that cross it daily.
This is exactly why they need to build the third span right alongside the existing spans. It is the daily traffic that needs to be accommodated. With a third span, maintenance can be done on any of the three with minimal impact on rush hour traffic, by routing the traffic on the other two. It would also eliminate the deadly two way traffic on the westbound lanes, during the evening rush hour, or when they are working on the westbound span, blocking all three lanes. Imagine if that truck had flipped over when two way operation was in effect. Probably would have been a funeral or more.
The people that live near and commute every day over the bridge are not going to sell their houses and move to live near a third span somewhere else. The traffic we have now, at rush hour, is not going to get better, unless the third span is built, here.
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Post by Frank on May 20, 2015 12:25:37 GMT -4
Once you are on the bridge, it's not a problem. It's all the traffic approaching the bridge, thru Annapolis, across the Severn River Bridge, thru the tolls, etc.
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Post by cruzincat on May 20, 2015 15:16:36 GMT -4
Once you are on the bridge, it's not a problem. It's all the traffic approaching the bridge, thru Annapolis, across the Severn River Bridge, thru the tolls, etc. Unless you are there when there is an accident and you get stuck. The way it is now, they have to use two way traffic at times, which makes it more dangerous. It also causes the delays on the approaches that you mention. At the moment, the only reason there are lines approaching the bridge is because for one reason or another the bridge is moving slow. With excessive volume, accident, maintenance or whatever, congestion could all be avoided with a third span.
The traffic on the approaches would not increase with a third span in the same location except for the natural increase with the increase in overall population. At best it would only decrease on weekends when people head to the beach, if those people live closer to where a different location for another bridge was built.
The best reason for building a third span at the same location, in my opinion, is that the person or persons who make such decisions, would not be able to make a killing, buying up property before the decision is announced.
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Post by bchevy on May 23, 2015 11:04:01 GMT -4
A Southern crossing would not relieve much vacation traffic currently crossing the Bay Bridge. Most who live south of the Bay Bridge on the Western shore go to Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks. A majority of the beach goers visiting the Delaware and Maryland shores come from the North. Look at license plates in OC and half are from PA. A Southern bridge would increase vacationers and revenue in OC but not help much with traffic here. The logical location is North at Aberdeen Proving Grounds to Kent County. This location would relieve a ton of vacation traffic on the Bay Bridge plus provide an economic boost to the City of Baltimore (name another major city in the US that is located on a bridgeable body of water that does not have a bridge across that water?). Baltimore is missing a portion of its suburbs located just across the Bay. Not according to their own studies, it showed that better than 70% of beach/vacation traffic on the bridge comes from the south of us. Travelers from the north will mostly come down the shore depending on where they start from. A southern crossing will certainly relieve some congestion with vacation traffic, and it would certainly be an option for other traffic. Learn from the past. Route 50 was 2 lanes with a two lane bridge, and it sprouted to where it is now, 6 lanes of road to 5 lanes of bridge. Only a fool would think that adding a span here would not increase the feeder roads and increase traffic.
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Post by cruzincat on May 23, 2015 13:10:25 GMT -4
There will always be increased traffic because there are always more people. There does not have to be more congestion if infrastructure keeps up with the volume. Whether or not another bridge is built elsewhere, the traffic will increase at the existing bay bridges. Congestion, on the other hand can be reduced by improving the bottleneck situations.
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Post by ravensfan on May 23, 2015 18:13:56 GMT -4
A Southern crossing would not relieve much vacation traffic currently crossing the Bay Bridge. Most who live south of the Bay Bridge on the Western shore go to Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks. A majority of the beach goers visiting the Delaware and Maryland shores come from the North. Look at license plates in OC and half are from PA. A Southern bridge would increase vacationers and revenue in OC but not help much with traffic here. The logical location is North at Aberdeen Proving Grounds to Kent County. This location would relieve a ton of vacation traffic on the Bay Bridge plus provide an economic boost to the City of Baltimore (name another major city in the US that is located on a bridgeable body of water that does not have a bridge across that water?). Baltimore is missing a portion of its suburbs located just across the Bay. Not according to their own studies, it showed that better than 70% of beach/vacation traffic on the bridge comes from the south of us. Travelers from the north will mostly come down the shore depending on where they start from. A southern crossing will certainly relieve some congestion with vacation traffic, and it would certainly be an option for other traffic. Learn from the past. Route 50 was 2 lanes with a two lane bridge, and it sprouted to where it is now, 6 lanes of road to 5 lanes of bridge. Only a fool would think that adding a span here would not increase the feeder roads and increase traffic. Don't know where there could be a southern crossing. Environmental issues on the eastern side will nix most places. I hate to say it, but cost and less environmental issues would be at the existing crossing.
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