A proposed toll increase in Maryland would spare passenger cars an increase but would charge trucks and other multi-axle vehicles more.


Effective April 15, the proposal would raise toll rates for multi-axle vehicles, including trucks with three or more axles and vehicles towing trailers. The proposal eliminates the Class 7 toll-rate schedule; and, in its place, implements an oversize permit charge to use Authority facilities. The proposal includes a $2-$5 toll increase per trip depending on the number of axles at the Francis Scott Key Bridge and Fort McHenry and Baltimore Harbor tunnels; a $4-$5.50 increase per trip at the Bay Bridge; a $5-$13 increase per trip at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway and Hatem Bridge; and a $3 increase per trip at the Nice Bridge. The cost for A-series commercial tickets at the Hatem Bridge would also increase proportionately.

E-ZPass users also would pay a $1.50 monthly service fee starting in July and have to buy transponders.

The agency calls the proposal "a cost-recovery initiative expected to generate approximately $60 million annually for the self-supported agency that operates Maryland's seven toll facilities."

Public comment on the proposed changes will be accepted until Jan. 27, and the authority board is expected to act on them Jan. 29.

Monday night after the proposal was announced, Maryland Motor Truck Association Chairman Alex Klemko, Intermodal Council Chair Paul Kelly, MMTA President Anne Ferro and MMTA Senior Vice President Louis Campion met with the MdTA executive secretary to discuss the proposal.

The authority has scheduled a public hearing on the matter for Jan. 29, with written comments due by Jan. 27. MMTA is working diligently on a strategy to present to the Authority before and at the public hearing in an effort to reduce the impact of this toll hike on the trucking industry, says Campion. Their position so far is as follows:

* The toll hike is significant (50 percent on commercial vehicles) and comes during tough economic times for the industry.
* The lack of a toll hike on passenger vehicles is an affront to the trucking industry and reflects how little the authority understands about how vital this industry is to the state's well-being.
* We understand and support the need for infrastructure investment and the need to raise tolls for same, but at a minimum we expect an equitable toll hike. The current proposal strikes of political pandering by imposing almost the entire increase on commercial vehicles while hardly touching passenger vehicles.

The Maryland Transportation Authority contends that trucks should pay more, because wear and tear caused by trucks account for 35 to 39 percent of the cost of maintaining highways.

Tolls were last increased in 2003.

The public can e-mail comments regarding the proposal until Jan. 27 to mdtatollrates@mdta.state.md.us or can send comments to Mr. Ronald L. Freeland, Executive Secretary, Maryland Transportation Authority, 2310 Broening Highway, Suite 150, Baltimore, MD 21224.