Posted on 06/27/2011 11:00:35 AM PDT by 92nina
...One particular problem with the toll increase plan in Maryland is that, being a relatively small state, travelers will find it easy to reroute themselves through neighboring states or use alternate routes. One Maryland resident noted, at one of the MTA’s public hearings, that he will be forced to drive his RV through cities to avoid the high tolls: “I can go up (Interstate) 95 and take Route 1, so I would miss every toll I would have to come through. If that's what they want, they'll have a big traffic jam in the city with big campers and trucks.” Avoiding traveling through Maryland would be even more beneficial considering some of Maryland’s neighbors charge far less in gas taxes. The gas tax in Maryland is over 23-cents, whereas the gas tax in DC is 20-cents and is 17.5-cents in Virginia. The toll increase could result in Maryland’s few remaining businesses relocating to other states, especially if they must ship their products, and Marylanders will see their wallets run-over by a semi-truck.
Read more: http://www.atr.org/toll-hikes-maryland-off-road-recovery-a6285#ixzz1QV20fW1s
(Excerpt) Read more at atr.org ...
Take this article and others I found to the fight to the Libs on their own turf; put the Left on the defensive at at Digg and at Reddit and at Delicious and Stumbleupon
“One Maryland resident noted, at one of the MTA’s public hearings, that he will be forced to drive his RV through cities to avoid the high tolls:”
That’s OK. It makes life easier for the Government apparatchiks and rich Democrats who will welcome less traffic on the tollways.
Did anyone think of the deaths this would cause? Secondary roads have a much higher death rate than controlled-access highways, so diverting traffic will result in more deaths.
Not to worry, our Governor will run for and become President and spread this business model accross the great nation. Slick Willie Part Deux.
When I was living in the Socialist State of Maryland, I would fill up every time when I visited my folks in Arlington Virginia. I knew a discount station and could save a bunch over MD gas.
Ultimately I got tired of the high taxes and moved to Georgia saving a ton of income taxes (less by 3%) and 1/4 on property taxes. This enabled me to put 3 kids through college and come out with no loans left over.
My word on Democratic/Progressive high tax states. MOVE OUT OF BEVERLY.
Maryland is not so small that most of us can reroute ourselves easily.
For instance for me to avoid the Bay bridge I would have to drive amost to Wilmington Delaware from St. Mary’s County. Adding At least 150 miles to my trip to Ocean City, and then I would have to drive around the baltimore Beltway the wrong way to avopid the two tunnele and the Key bridge.
To get around the Potomac River Bridge and get to Richmond would add 100 miles to my trip.
O’Malley and his 40 thieves know this.
Here in Md. We may be small, but our shortcuts are limited due to rivers and we will have to pay.
We cannot afford to burn an extra 50 dolars in gas to avoid $8.00 in tolls. We are being robbed and there isn’t a damned thing we can do about it ,because Democrats have a lock on our public offices..
I recall some slick-meister, Irish band member called MOM who ran a campaign painting then-Governor Bob Ehrlich (R) as a liar for raising user fees for specific activities and not calling them tax increases. But he would never turn around and raise tolls - that would make him a hypocrite. Oh, wait ...
For non-Maryland residents: The nominal governor is Martin O'Malley. And MOM perfectly describes how he view the state's role in people's lives.
Tolls on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge [and elsewhere] are gonna go to $5 [from $2.50] now and up to $8 in 2 years ...
WHY, you may ask?
Because our MORON guv spent $2 Billion building the Inter-County Connector [ICC]!!!
The projections that they had for road use [and toll revenue] were GROSSLY over-projected. The road is NOT going to pay for itself to service the bond debt so the guv wants everyone else WHO DON'T use it to pay for it !!!
The ICC [when completed] will span approximately 20 miles and connect I-270 and I-95. If you look at a map, you will see that these roads run N-S through the state and are connected at the south end via the Beltway. In order to relieve traffic congestion on the Beltway, they are building the E-W ICC to connect the two roads about 10 miles north of the Beltway.
The trouble is that if I live in Gaithersburg [off I-270] today - chances are I DON'T work up near Baltimore [off I-95]. That is, I don't travel 10 miles south on I-270, go east on the Beltway for 15 miles, and travel 20 miles north to go to work in Baltimore. Same goes if I live in the Baltimore area - I DON'T work off of I-270 [reverse direction] ...
If I live in G-burg off I-270, I work near there or I work south near DC. Same if I live near Baltimore off I-95 [I either work north near Baltimore, or south near DC.
So who's gonna use the ICC - VIRTUALLY NO ONE!!!
The first 7 miles is open now [costs $1.25] and I took a side road during that has an overpasss to check on the amount of traffic. I could see about a mile in each direction - 6 count 'em 6 cars!!!
End-to-end its gonna cost about $7 one-way [20 miles] during rush hour, or $14 a day ... NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE ARE GONNA PAY THAT !!!
ALSO, if I have to get there and don't wanna pay - I can drive 20 miles north of G-Burg, take I-70 [not I-270] east to Baltimore, take the Baltimore Beltway, to I-95 [or vice versa if I live on the other end]. IT'S FREE !!!
The ONLY reason I would use the ICC from G-Burg is if I had to catch a flight at BWI [which is off I-95] and I am in a hurry. AND THAT'LL HAPPEN ONCE IN A BLUE MOON !!!
When they do [and they will], all of these homeowners along the ICC are gonna have to work somewhere. Most likely DC or Baltimore - so, what are they gonna do???
They are gonna use the ICC to get out to I-270 or I-95 and then either head to Baltimore [north on I-95] or to DC[south on either I-270 or I-95] ...
So, what is the net effect ???
INCREASED traffic on I-270, I-95, and the Beltway - something the ICC was supposed to relieve ...
You make me glad that I live in Virginia. Thank you for the info.
I just arrived in Maryland to live and this the welcome party. Wonderful. How lucky for my family. Job brought us here.
Don’t go to a bar, the taxes on alcohol served at a pub went up also.
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