Posted on 09/19/2013 7:49:49 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Rush-hour commuters could pay nearly $5 a day in tolls to travel back and forth on a seven-mile stretch of express toll lanes set to open next year along Interstate 95 east and north of Baltimore, according to proposed pricing approved Thursday by the board of the Maryland Transportation Authority.
The new lanes, scheduled to open late next year, would offer a quicker travel option for commuters willing to pay.
The suggested tolls vary by the time of day and the type of vehicle, but a car traveling on the toll lanes during peak hours would pay between 25 cents and 35 cents per mile.
The board's unanimous vote kicks off a nearly seven-week period during which residents and commuters will have a chance to comment online, by mail and at public hearings. The comment period ends Nov. 4.
The board is scheduled to take a final vote Dec. 12 on the recommended tolls. The tolls will be set by MdTA Acting Executive Secretary Bruce Gartner, based on the board's recommendation.
Ragina Averella of AAA Mid-Atlantic welcomed the new lanes.
"They will alleviate congestion and give motorists options," she said. "While nobody is ever really happy about tolls, that being said, there are certainly other transportation options that exist if you choose not to pay those fees."
State officials estimate total daily traffic on the stretch of I-95 will be 178,000 vehicles on weekdays and 172,000 vehicles on weekends when the toll lanes open next year.
(Excerpt) Read more at baltimoresun.com ...
Your “drill” misses the mark if there are non-toll highways in addition to toll roads. I hope you’re not a Dentist.
This is Maryland, it still costs the taxpayer. These idiots did the same thing with something they call the Inter County Connector. Too few people use it so they doubled the rates on all the bridges and tunnels.
I drive past this lunacy on I-95 every day. It ain’t gonna get used.
I pay gas tax at the pump for ALL public road ways in the state.
let me know when you need that root canal.
Root canals need rat-tail files. You know that. :^)
(so do I)
I was just gonna use a corded drill and a rusty 1/2 bit. That’ll work right?
They should charge a ‘living toll’... like $20 a car...
I’d like to see a toll road builder try to get all it’s money back from just one car:
“That’ll be 30 billion dollars Mr Soros. No, don’t try to back up...”
Them toll gantries gotta eat!
I would peronally charge 5c/mile at night, 10c/mile off-peak and 15c/mile peak, so that those lanes would actually move them some cars!
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