Dear Constituents,
The level of the proposed increase is outrageous during this austere time and is expected to generate an additional $77 million per year. Maryland Transportation Authority (MTA) toll revenue supports Maryland’s tunnels, bridges and turnpikes. The MTA says it wants to keep the tolls comparable to other states in the region. That is a ridiculous justification for imposing an extra burden on taxpayers and totally unfair in light of the recent increases in other tolls, vehicle registration fees and EZpass transponder charges.
The current proposal will increase tolls to $3.00 on 10/1/2011 and again on 7/1/2013 to $4.00 for the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel, Fort McHenry Tunnel and the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway and the Thomas Hatem Memorial Bridge will increase to $6.00 on 10/1/2011 and to $8.00 by 7/1/2013. The Bay Bridge will increase from the current $2.50 to $5.00 by 10/1/2011 and to $8.00 by 7/1/2013. The Nice Bridge will increase from $3.00 to $5.00 10/1/2011 and to $8.00 by 7/1/2013. For vehicles with three or more axles, the increases are even more staggering. I am vehemently opposed to these changes.
MTA’s “need” for the additional revenue stems from the fact that funds from the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) have been regularly transferred to the General Fund and not replaced. The TTF is a non-lapsing special fund that provides funding for transportation projects. It consists of tax and fee revenues, operating revenues, bond proceeds and fund transfers. The failure to replace the transferred money concerns me greatly because the dedicated purpose fund is not being used for transit projects and masks the huge problems with overspending. It is a classic example of “robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
Every one of us has been affected by this recession. Housing prices continue to deteriorate and are causing a downturn in construction trades, manufacturing and jobs. Many of our neighbors are out of work; the unemployment rate for May was 9.1%. The overall economy is at best in a tenuous recovery. Imposing this tremendous increase on commuters is wrong.
You may contact the Maryland Transportation Authority and submit comments for the official record via a web form at www.mdta.maryland.gov or by writing to: MdTA Toll Comments, 2310 Broening Highway, Baltimore, MD 21224. The public comment period is open now until August 1, 2011. Nine meetings will be held around the state, in Baltimore County the date is listed for June 22nd. The hearing locations are listed online at www.mdta.maryland.gov.
I appreciate your voicing your opinions to me and I encourage you to let all of our leaders know your views about these ill-advised increases.
Very truly yours,
Delegate Susan Aumann
District 42, Baltimore County
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