Maryland Proposes Raising Truck Tolls
Maryland is proposing raising toll rates on trucks and other multi-axle vehicles in the face of a struggling economy, the Maryland Transportation Authority said.
The toll hike is significant — 50% on commercial vehicles — and comes during tough economic times for the industry, the Maryland Motor Truck Association said in a statement.
Standard two-axle and commuter toll rates would not rise. The transportation authority has scheduled a public hearing on the matter on Jan. 29, with written comments due by Jan. 27.
Under the proposal, effective April 15 toll rates for 3-plus axle vehicles would increase by $2 to $5 per trip, depending on the number of axles at the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Fort McHenry Tunnel, and Baltimore Harbor Tunnel; a $4 to $5.50 increase at the Bay Bridge; a $5 to $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 proposed changes would 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 facilities, MTA said in a statement.
The plan also would set service charges starting July 1 to help recover E-ZPass processing costs, including a $1.50 monthly account charge; charging for new and replacement transponders, instituting a $3 toll-due notice charge and raising toll violation charges to $25, from $15.
Maryland’s toll-rate schedule was last adjusted in 2003. Within the past year, toll authorities in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia and Ohio have either raised or announced plans to raise their tolls, MTA said.
