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Post by dsdr on Jan 6, 2009 11:30:56 GMT -4
I thought they made money and they are acting like they are losing money. They state... "Standard (two-axle) and E-ZPass commuter toll rates would remain the same and post-usage discounts for truckers were preserved. " but then state... • Commuter Plan duration will be reduced from 60 days to 45 days. • E-ZPass Account Charge: $1.50 per month per account • E-ZPass transponder purchase for new customers and replacement devices: $21 (standard), $33 (exterior), $40 (fusion) • Notice of Toll Due Charge: $3 + toll due • Toll Violation Charge: increase from $15 to $25 ============================ Maryland Transportation Authority Chairman and Eight Members Make Proposal at Jan. 5 Meeting Standard (two-axle) and E-ZPass Commuter Toll Rates Would Not Change After much consideration, on January 5, the Authority Members proposed a cost-recovery initiative that is expected to generate approximately $60 million a year for the self-supporting agency. The proposal includes an increase in the toll rates for large trucks and other multi-axle vehicles and implementation of E-ZPass service charges. Standard (two-axle) and E-ZPass commuter toll rates would remain the same and post-usage discounts for truckers were preserved. The proposed changes would help offset the costs of operating the E-ZPass system and help ensure that trucks and similar heavy vehicles bear their share of the costs for Maryland's toll highways. Cost recovery is needed to maintain our existing level of service and to support critical capital projects statewide. With the recent economic downturn and decrease in travel, we've generated less revenue over the past year because our revenue is tied directly to travel habits. In fact, the Authority's total revenue is down 6% from July to November alone. Pending public comment or any additional information, the cost-recovery efforts could be approved on January 29 and would include an increase in the toll rates for large trucks and other multi-axle vehicles and implementation of E-ZPass service charges. Standard (two-axle) and commuter toll rates would remain the same and post-usage discounts for truckers were preserved. If the proposal is approved, new toll rates would be effective April 15, 2009. A public notice containing this information is available at www.mdtransportationauthority.com. The Authority also has proposed a series of administrative and service charges: Effective March 1, 1009: • Commuter ticket sales end. Last day to accept commuter tickets will be shown on the ticket book. The date will be on or before April 28, 2009. Effective April 15, 2009: • Overweight/Oversize Vehicle Permit Charge and eliminate Class 7 toll schedule. Effective July 1, 2009: • Commuter Plan duration will be reduced from 60 days to 45 days. • E-ZPass Account Charge: $1.50 per month per account • E-ZPass transponder purchase for new customers and replacement devices: $21 (standard), $33 (exterior), $40 (fusion) • Notice of Toll Due Charge: $3 + toll due • Toll Violation Charge: increase from $15 to $25 • Shoppers and Travelers tickets sales end. The Authority will create a Bay Bridge Shoppers Plan for E-ZPass to offer the same percentage discount as existing tickets. Last day to accept Shoppers tickets will be shown on the ticket book. The date will be on or before December 31, 2009. Members of the public may submit comments by January 27, 2009, at mdtatollrates@mdta.state.md.us or to: Mr. Ronald L. Freeland Executive Secretary Maryland Transportation Authority 2310 Broening Highway, Suite 150 Baltimore, MD 21224. The Authority plans to consider the matter for final action at its regular monthly public meeting on January 29, 2009. Visit www.mdtransportationauthority.com for details. This is a message from the Maryland Transportation Authority. You have the choice of opting out of receiving these kinds of messages from MdTA in the future. Simply click here, and you will be removed from future similar kinds of mailings from MdTA to your reported e-mail address. Maryland Transportation Authority, 2310 Broening Highway, Suite 150, Baltimore MD 21224 – (866)713-1596.
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Post by shoreterp on Jan 6, 2009 11:41:50 GMT -4
"Commuter Plan duration will be reduced from 60 days to 45 days." There's a nice way to quietly take more money out of our pockets. So basically you have to cross the bridge 30 times in 45 days or they take the rest. So if you telecommute once a week (as I do) or are evil enough to take a day or two off work you will have to forfeit whatever money is left over after 45 days. Lovely
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Post by moosie on Jan 6, 2009 12:41:05 GMT -4
we are still using bridge tickets, for various reasons. so now they are going to cancel them, penalize me for not commuting daily and having to pay full fare with ezpass and penalize me further by shortening the time? wonderful.
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Post by alanr on Jan 6, 2009 12:53:36 GMT -4
So who voted for our lovely Governor? Not me! Shortening the days on the commuter pass to 45 days is BS.
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Post by KimberlyMMills on Jan 6, 2009 13:03:18 GMT -4
This is ridiculas.
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Post by dsdr on Jan 6, 2009 13:13:06 GMT -4
I think everyone needs to get involved and e-mail the address and attend the meeting. They also seem to be going after the truckers and saying they aren't paying their fair share. Those guys get beat to death on road taxes already. Also, so when the battery in our transponder dies (yes they do die) we get hit with a $21-40 charge even though we will be paying a monthly fee for their service ? "down 6% from July to November alone". Well duh! Ocean City Traffic in July and not much in November along with other travel across the interstates. When traffic picks back up and their revenues increase further I'm sure they will reduce it back ;D
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Post by keeper on Jan 6, 2009 13:28:09 GMT -4
I love how they make sure to point out how its also supporting OTHER areas of transportation. This is FIng ridiculous, they are cutting buses, increasing rates, because they cant figure out how to control costs. This is nothing but a tax increase for people that live on Kent Island. This is a typical move by a typical democrat run state, I really hope we can get this bastard out of office.
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Post by Junior on Jan 6, 2009 13:28:45 GMT -4
The revenue is also probably down due to the high gas prices that were keeping people home, the economy the way that it is, and people still being afraid that the bridge isn't safe.
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Post by keeper on Jan 6, 2009 13:34:00 GMT -4
SO FRUSTURATING. The reason EZ Pass is free is because the more people that use it, the less congested the bridge will be during peak traffic times. What the hell is wrong with these decision makers... did anyone note the words " to support critical capital projects statewide. " Such BS, EVERYONE please send an email to that address, we all need to find a way to get thousands of people to get on board with saying no to this
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Post by highlander73 on Jan 6, 2009 15:20:36 GMT -4
It sucks but its not that bad. $1.50 a month more perhaps can pay for bridge upkeep. 30 trips in 45 days is a sly way of collecting more $, but if you think about you will still get a discount as long as you use the item for 20 trips (I think, need to do the math). 20 trips in 45 days is nothin'.
I am amazed how poor budgetary planning is going on with states nowadays but its better than raising income taxes on the middle class (while leaving alone those who pay little or no taxes or even work little or not at all).
I'm actually a fan of raising the federal gas tax a nickel or so just to help fight the national deficit. However I don't believe those in Washington could refrain from spending it on something stupid.
I am a Republican btw, but also a realist. The national, state and even our personal debts are not just going to go away without increasing the cost of something.
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Post by AquaHolic on Jan 6, 2009 15:25:15 GMT -4
I have no words for how stupid this entire thing is. All these years they have used the Bay Bridge money collected to pay for the upkeep of other bridges...and now the Bay Bridge is falling apart and they want to penalize US to make it right...idiots. The Governor is an idiot..but I always knew that. Barb
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Post by alanr on Jan 6, 2009 15:38:51 GMT -4
EZ pass is 25 times in 60 days, now to go down to 45 days. Average month 20 times across in 30 days. Doesn't leave much for error.
(Plan 2) Bay Bridge - William Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial Bridge Commuter Plan [MDTAWPL]: Pay $25 for 25 trips that are valid for 60 days.
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Post by highlander73 on Jan 6, 2009 16:03:36 GMT -4
EZ pass is 30 times in 60 days, now to go down to 45 days. Average month 20 times across in 30 days. Doesn't leave much for error. It's actually 25 trips for $1 each in 60 days. (Plan 2) Bay Bridge - William Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial Bridge Commuter Plan [MDTAWPL]: Pay $25 for 25 trips that are valid for 60 days. www.ezpassmd.com/en/about/plans.shtmlSo doing the math: $25 would be 10 trips without the plan, so you need to make 10 trips in order to "break even." Even if you make 20 trips in 45 days that would equal $1.25 a trip, which is still a good discount. Again, I'm just saying: we want better/more bridge inspections, want lower taxes, etc - the $ has to come from somewhere. Looks like the truckers are paying a lot more as well, which will likely come out of our pockets through commerce.
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Post by AquaHolic on Jan 6, 2009 17:47:44 GMT -4
EZ pass is 30 times in 60 days, now to go down to 45 days. Average month 20 times across in 30 days. Doesn't leave much for error. It's actually 25 trips for $1 each in 60 days. (Plan 2) Bay Bridge - William Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial Bridge Commuter Plan [MDTAWPL]: Pay $25 for 25 trips that are valid for 60 days. www.ezpassmd.com/en/about/plans.shtmlSo doing the math: $25 would be 10 trips without the plan, so you need to make 10 trips in order to "break even." Even if you make 20 trips in 45 days that would equal $1.25 a trip, which is still a good discount. Again, I'm just saying: we want better/more bridge inspections, want lower taxes, etc - the $ has to come from somewhere. Looks like the truckers are paying a lot more as well, which will likely come out of our pockets through commerce. The point is that they shouldn't need more money...if they had used the money from the Bay Bridge for what the Bay Bridge needed done over the years...there should have been plenty of money...but they used that money to pay for the upkeep of other bridges...So now we have to pay the penalty for their stupidity. Barb
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Post by highlander73 on Jan 6, 2009 18:27:20 GMT -4
I don't understand - there are like 6 toll crossings in the state: Key Bridge, Bay Bridge, Harbor, Fort McHenry, whatever that one near exit 89 on I-95 is, etc. Are you saying you suspect they are undercharging at those crossings and now need to collect from the Bay Bridge tolls to help out those Bridges? That's not how I read it. They need $ to fund all capital projects, not just the six toll crossings. The six toll crossings pay for themselves and everyone other non-toll crossing the state controls. Or do I have it wrong? Where is is said that each crossing needs to be self-sustaining by itself? We can't put a toll on everything. Either way all commuter plans are being shortened - so I'm sure the tunnel commuters and the Key Bridge people are saying "great now we have to pay for those Bay Bridge people". So everyone loses.
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Post by bchevy on Jan 6, 2009 18:50:30 GMT -4
I like how it says the increase is needed to offset the cost of running the EZ Pass, WHAT? EZ pass was going to SAVE MONEY! REMEMBER? NO THANKS MDTA, Please go get your broom and get your house in order FIRST, before you raise my rates. Cut that fat starting with the dinasaurs that sat on the stage at the KIHS briefing after the bridge debacle after the truck went over. RAISE THE RATES at the facilities that don't pay for themselves, let the Bay Bridge money STAY at the Bay Bridge, if this would have been done all along perhaps we wouldn;'t be in the nightmare of maintenance that we are in now.....
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Post by RobMoore on Jan 6, 2009 19:17:11 GMT -4
They need to raise our rates to pay for those new Chargers I see just sitting there empty every day.
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Post by AquaHolic on Jan 6, 2009 20:01:05 GMT -4
I don't understand - there are like 6 toll crossings in the state: Key Bridge, Bay Bridge, Harbor, Fort McHenry, whatever that one near exit 89 on I-95 is, etc. Are you saying you suspect they are undercharging at those crossings and now need to collect from the Bay Bridge tolls to help out those Bridges? That's not how I read it. They need $ to fund all capital projects, not just the six toll crossings. The six toll crossings pay for themselves and everyone other non-toll crossing the state controls. Or do I have it wrong? Where is is said that each crossing needs to be self-sustaining by itself? We can't put a toll on everything. Either way all commuter plans are being shortened - so I'm sure the tunnel commuters and the Key Bridge people are saying "great now we have to pay for those Bay Bridge people". So everyone loses. Part of the money from the Bay Bridge (since it is the most crossed.).. it makes the most money...goes to paying to fix that little bridge in joe smoe ville down in south county... This is not something new...its been going on for a long time. The Bay Bridge obviously didn't pay for itself...because if it did..then it would be in perfect operating order....not slowly falling apart. Bad management...and red tape...and government. Barb
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Post by bluecrabber on Jan 6, 2009 21:13:00 GMT -4
I posted this elsewhere in this forum just recently, but I remember reading an article in the paper about Senator Pipkin demanding independent inspections.. that had figures something like tolls collected in the teens of millions, and operating budget for the bay bridge around 6-8 million. The surplus was going to projects in other parts of the state.
I already have unused commuter passes with a 60 day period. I don't have to cross the bridge every day anymore. And, I suspect that a lot of commuters have cut back their crossings to 3 or 4 days a week because of telecommuting and other work at home plans supported by corporate America. I say NO to decreasing the commuter ticket period.
I do agree with increasing tolls for trucks. The reason we have so much truck traffic on the bridge is because it is cheaper (toll wise) to travel north-south via 301 than I95 for the trucks. I say make the toll the same as 95 and the truck traffic will be reduced.
Plus, let's face it. Simple physics tells me that a bouncing 80,000 pound truck is a lot harder on the bridge than a 3500 pound car. Can you imagine what the load on the bridge is when that truck jumps up in the air and then hits again? I bet it way exceeds the intended road surface capacity of the bridge decking.
Best regards, BC
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Post by bchevy on Jan 6, 2009 21:13:16 GMT -4
Somebody tell me WHY, in this day & age and technology, WHY is there a time limit on my account WHEN IT'S BACKED UP BY MY CREDIT CARD?
Why isn't it PAY AS YOU GO?
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Post by bchevy on Jan 6, 2009 21:16:28 GMT -4
I thought they made money and they are acting like they are losing money. They are making more money than what they know what to do with. It's because they don't know what to do with it that they need more. The MDTA has to be the most mismanaged (and maybe corrupt) agency in this state. What a joke, and we are the punchline.
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Post by falgar25 on Jan 6, 2009 21:28:52 GMT -4
I wonder how much of the July - November revenue is normally taken in over the Labor Day weekend and the weekend after (Sunfest, right), and the couple of weeks around those? Remember that period this year? Remember how the brain trust had the bridge essentially closed and were warning people away? Don't suppose that might cut into their revenue, do you?
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Post by bchevy on Jan 6, 2009 21:42:26 GMT -4
Here's my email list:
mdtatollrates@mdta.state.md.us, michael.busch@house.state.md.us, norman.conway@house.state.md.us, shelia.hixson@house.state.md.us, thomas.v.mike.miller@senate.state.md.us, ulysses.currie@senate.state.md.us, cbillups@qac.org, cfordonski@qac.org, ej.pipkin@senate.state.md.us, ewargotz@qac.org, ggarrettson@mdta.state.md.us, gransom@qac.org, jborders@qac.org, kcimino@mdta.state.md.us, ksaab@mdot.state.md.us, mary.roe.walkup@house.state.md.us, mbrown1@mdta.state.md.us, mdta@baybridge.com, mdta@mdtransportationauthority.com, michael.smigiel@house.state.md.us, njester@mdta.state.md.us, pgunther@qac.org, richard.sossi@house.state.md.us
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Post by 58impala on Jan 6, 2009 23:07:59 GMT -4
If anything, people that use EZ-Pass should be rewarded for using it, not charged an additional $1.50 a month. We're not the one's that require having toll takers and the associated cost of their salary and benefits. I would rather see them raise the bridge toll to $3.00 for two axle vehicles and $5.00 for those with more than 2 axles, and leave the rest as is. This would eleminate the need for the toll takers to handle coins, thus speeding up the process of those who still pay cash, while still adding to the states bottomless coffers.
I myself have EZ-Pass, but I seldom go over to the bridge. I use it more as a convvenience, especially when traveling in other states, which seem to tolls every so many miles. At $1.50 per month, it's not worth it for me to hang onto it for the couple of times I use to cross the bridge or take a trip where it is handy. I'll just do more even shopping in Dover than Annapolis.
I read once that Marylands motto was: "If you can dream it, we can tax it." While this isn't quite a tax, they are still reaching deeper into our pockets.
4 months until I can retire. PA is looking pretty good to this soon to be ex-federal employee - no state income tax there for state, civil, military of federal retirees!
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Post by highlander73 on Jan 6, 2009 23:12:38 GMT -4
Somebody tell me WHY, in this day & age and technology, WHY is there a time limit on my account WHEN IT'S BACKED UP BY MY CREDIT CARD? Why isn't it PAY AS YOU GO? I know I'm sounding like a Bay Bridge/MdTA advocate, but I'm just confused and kinda shocked at how close to selfish some people are being. They do have a pay-as-you-go plan, its called $2.50 per trip. You will NEVER pay more than $2.50 a trip, period, if you make 10 trips in a 45 day period (currently 60 days). Do you not make 10 trips in a month and a half? Then just Pay as you Go, $2.50 a time please. Get a commuter plan and pay as low as $1 per trip, max $2.50 a trip. PERIOD. For my motorcycle I avg about 20 trips a plan period which is $1.25 trip - that's a DISCOUNT. This will not change - sometimes it will be $2.50 a trip, sometimes it will be $1, as long as I make 10 trips which is just a fact of life if you like Annapolis. We always hit the limit in the car. If you are Easton shopper, then $2.50 a trip and I'll bet you'll save compared to the rest of us because you don't cross the bridge that much. Everyone is being treated the same which is a non-Democrat principal I believe in. It really just sounds like everyone is arguing that they deserve a reduced fair and not looking at things objectively, which is tantamount to NIMBY (Not In My BackYard).
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