Maryland plan to build toll lanes on Beltway, I-270 piques companies’ interest

The Washington Post ^ | December 13, 2017 | Katherine Shaver

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn dangled a $9 billion carrot Wednesday in front of more than 100 companies potentially interested in adding express toll lanes to the Capital Beltway, Interstate 270 and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.

“It’s amazing,” Rahn quipped to more than 320 highway engineers, designers and builders in a ballroom at the BWI Airport Marriott in Linthicum. “You can get a lot of attention when you put a nine in front of a ‘B.’”

Officially, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s industry forum was intended to provide companies more details about the plan to add four toll lanes each to some of the Washington region’s most traffic-clogged highways. But as Maryland officials eyed the ballroom filled with business executives tapping on laptops and jotting notes, they also saw potential. It seems Maryland’s proposal to build $7.6 billion of the toll lanes via a public-private partnership has prompted a slew of firms to at least consider competing for the job.

State officials say it would be the biggest partnership of its kind in the United States, and several attendees said Maryland has one of the most massive projects up for grabs in the highway construction industry.

“I don’t want to just do something,” Rahn told the crowd. “I want to do something that delivers a ‘wow’” for traffic relief.

One big unknown: the cost of the tolls. After the meeting, Rahn said he was aware variable rates on toll lanes that opened last week on part of Interstate 66 in Northern Virginia had soared to as high as $40.

“Obviously, that caught my attention,” Rahn said.

[golux]

Pay, Sheeple... PAY! Rich people get faster commutes. Thank you, government! “Our taxes go to roads.” Now PAY! PAY!

[GreyFriar]

Just an other action reinforcing that my decision to depart Maryland.