Using one of Maryland’s toll bridges and tunnels could become more expensive.
The state has not seen an increase in tolls in more than a decade. Joseph Sagal, executive director of the Maryland Transportation Authority, said that era, which included two toll reductions, may be at an end within the next four years.
“We started looking at the last time tolls were raised, that was nearly a decade ago,” Sagal said at a meeting of the Transportation Revenue and Infrastructure Needs Commission in Annapolis.
“There was a subsequent reduction around 2016 and with that toll revenue decline we saw during the pandemic era and … increased costs,” it is triggering a need for toll revenue increases in the 2028 fiscal year, he continued.
The last time tolls increased was in 2011 under then-Gov. Martin O’Malley (D). At that time, the authority voted to raise cash tolls for cars crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge from $2.50 to $4.
Cars crossing the former Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge in Charles County would cost $4, an increase of $1.
Tolls on both then increased again to $6 in 2013.
Former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) ran his 2014 campaign criticizing O’Malley and Democrats for overtaxing state residents. He cut tolls twice — once in 2016 and again in 2019 — during his two terms in office.
During that time, the state demolished the old Nice Bridge and replaced it with a modern Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial/Senator Thomas ‘Mac’ Middleton Bridge.
Maryland Budget Secretary Helene Grady asked Sagal for details on the impact of toll recent reductions.
“What was the sustainability plan at the time the tolls were reduced and to what extent have the assumptions about that sustainability plan by the previous administration been realized or not realized?” Grady asked.
The need for an increase was attributed to “operating costs being so high, especially as it relates to personnel, equipment, repairs” and other concerns, according to Sagal.
Frank Principe, chair of the commission, said he has discussed the issue of tolls with Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld “as well as the overall performance relative to the toll revenues.”
Principe said the toll rates “is something that the commission will be interested in discussing further at another meeting. I’m sure we’ll get to that in due course.”
The 31-member blue ribbon panel — referred to commonly as the TRAIN Commission — is charged with reviewing, evaluating and making recommendations on how transportation projects should be prioritized and funded.
Last month, commission members were briefed on the need to seek alternative funding sources to bolster declines in state gas tax revenue.
The authority is funded only by tolls from eight facilities in Maryland.
The authority has more than 180 projects in its six-year plan totaling $2.7 billion. The total is a nearly $170 million increase over last year’s six-year planning document.
Included in that are the replacement of eight bridges that are each 50 years old or more, as well as an ongoing study of a third crossing of the Chesapeake Bay.
Sagal spoke in broad terms and offered no specifics related to timing or the amount of an increase.
Sagal’s talking point left some commission members looking for more information.
Senate Minority Leader Sen. Stephen S. Hershey Jr. (R-Upper Shore) said Sagal did not offer enough justification for toll increases.
“I think the important thing that he said, he said the $400 million that they have in operating costs is fine,” said Hershey. “They’ve been able to meet that. So, then you have to look at what the projects are. I think he said the $600 million in projects. I don’t think he came up here and said ‘hey, we’ve got a lot of projects that we haven’t been able to do because the revenue is not there.
“I’d like to hear more of a justification if somebody said we need to increase the polls for exactly what projects out there are not being completed,” he said.
By Bryan P. Sears
Tibor Wagner says
Just because they did not raise the toll for 10 years, it does not mean it is time. 10 years ago you could pay at the gate, now you cannot. Last time it was raised, we had a democrat governor. Seems like we have one again. Only what they are looking for where they can raise taxes to buy some votes.
Reed Fawell 3 says
“The last time tolls increased was in 2011 under then-Gov. Martin O’Malley (D). At that time, the authority voted to raise cash tolls for cars crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge from $2.50 to $4.”
This was the political end of tax and spend Martin O’Malley. Same thing now is happening all over again.
The current Governor’s administration, after nine months in office, has already spent its way out of cash, and fiscal and budget responsibility. The WSJ recently reported an approximate $2 billion Maryland short fall for transportation. And who is getting the shaft this time. It’s the same old story, the working people in Maryland who need to cross bridges to earn a living, they’ll now pay through the nose to support the gigantic spending habits of their their new masters in Annapolis. Just like before with O’Malley, and Parris N. Glendening before O’Malley, there will come a time of reckoning, a taxpayer revolt.
Loretta Sue Murchake says
With all the travelers paying to cross the bridges will you tell me why an increase is needed think about those people on set incomes who are already having trouble trying to make ends meet. Government officials don’t care because their paychecks cover anything they want.
Reed Fawell 3 says
Is is the Washington Post article on Maryland’s upcoming $2 billion transportation budget shortfall:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/09/13/maryland-transportation-budget-projects/
Here is another article on same topic from the Baltimore Business Journal:
https://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2019/07/19/state-report-finds-maryland-transportation.html
This likely is what is behind the consideration of raising the tolls of current users of Chesapeake Bay Bridge, even though the bridge’s current operating budget is flush monies to cover its operation.
Dan Richardson says
Democrat governor = increased tolls. Now there’s a surprise!🙄
Reed Fawell 3 says
Here is some deep background as to why these far above actual cost bridge tolls are going to be inflicted on working class people who already bear a huge hidden share of progressive government policy costs and boondoggles. See this from today’s Wall Street journal editorial page:
… In many ways, this (auto) strike is made in Washington because of the Biden Administration’s policy mandating a rapid transition to electric vehicles. The UAW knows that EVs require fewer workers to make and will jeopardize union jobs making gas-powered cars. But the companies already lose money on EVs and worry about making too many concessions to the UAW that will cause them to lose even more as they are forced to build more EVs.
It’s hard to overstate the costs of this coerced EV transition. The Biden Administration, with California as its co-enforcer, is mandating that EVs make up an increasing share of automaker sales—two-thirds by 2032. California and other progressive states plan to ban all new gas-powered cars by 2035. But last year EVs made up less than 3% of Detroit auto maker sales. Auto makers are increasingly steering profits from their popular gas-powered pickups and SUVs into cranking up EV production and subsidizing their sales to meet the government mandates.
GM and Stellantis in 2021 each committed to spending about $35 billion through 2025 on electric and “alternative” vehicles. Ford last year said it would invest $50 billion in EVs through 2026. Even with the Inflation Reduction Act’s generous subsidies for battery production and for EV buyers, the companies can’t accept the UAW’s demands without putting profitability at risk. Ford lost nearly $60,000 on each EV it sold in 2023’s first quarter.
The companies have already laid off thousands of salaried workers, including engineers, to finance the EV transition. …”
Imagine the cascade of government shortfalls that will arise from the loss of automobile gas taxes that keep so many progressive government program costs afloat on programs what have the double whammy of paying for other peoples’ electric cars that simultaneously strip worker jobs out of our economy by reason of yet another government fool’s errant. One that filters all the way down to free charging stations in Easton Maryland.
Reed Fawell 3 says
In addition, the enormous EV costs over-runs imposed on auto makers also inflate the auto makers price on the most popular gas powered cars and trucks to cover the auto makers short falls on EVs. Individual tax payers also pay inflated tax rates to cover the government tax break subsidies given to EV car purchasers who today are typically the most wealthy among us in the nation. Yet again the typical working class American, often on a fixed income, gets caught holding the bag, as his take home pay and disposable income shrink. That’s the most important reality in America today. Yet few truly understand what is really going on and/or why?
Ralph Walker says
At an old age I have seen it all. Why are people not paying attention and repeating the same old crap and putting the same idiots back in control over and over. Party doesn’t seem to matter and all we get is more and more mail for more dollars for their campaigns.I have had enough as many,many of us live on a budget.
They flock to the Shore at election times to suck up support, carry signs, etc. I have done it all.
So goodbye to all the constant repetitive garbage and hope all of us that are not part of the so-called elites who complain but can buy expensive phones,and vacations, but complain about inflation can survive in this crazy world.