Cashless Tolling At The Bay Bridge Starts This Summer

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Starting this summer, drivers can take advantage of full-time all-electronic cashless tolling at the Bay Bridge. Starting this month, drivers will see demolition of some existing toll booths in order to create wider lanes at the Bay Bridge plaza to prepare for the all-electronic tolling. Along the Eastern Shore side of the bridge, crews also will prepare for installation of overhead tolling gantries between the Bay Bridge and MD 8 on Kent Island. Toll operations will no longer exist approaching the bridge from Annapolis once the overhead tolling gantries are operational on Kent Island. Motorists traveling eastbound will be tolled as they get off the bridge.

An aggressive construction timeline rolled out by the Maryland Transportation Authority will allow for the cashless tolling option to be ready for summertime when an even greater traffic flow rolls through this area.

“We know motorists who use the Bay Bridge are ready to embrace all-electronic tolling,” said MDTA Executive Director Jim Ports in a statement. “This past fall, Gov. Hogan asked us to initiate cashless tolling at the bridge as soon as possible. This schedule will allow us to fulfill that mission, and this project is the next logical step as Maryland toll facilities move toward an all-electronic system.”

With all-electronic tolling, cash is not accepted as payment. Drivers do not have to stop to pay tolls, as overhead gantries collect tolls electronically by E-ZPass or video tolling. The benefits of all-electronic tolling include less idling time for better fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, decreased congestion, increased driver safety and a safer work environment for employees.

Construction to implement full-time all-electronic tolling at the Bay Bridge will start the evening of Jan. 12 when toll lanes three, four and five permanently close to allow workers to dismantle the toll booths in those lanes. Motorists will use the remaining open toll lanes and minimal traffic impact is expected.

At the Bay Bridge, 74 percent of drivers are already E-ZPass customers, according to the MDTA. There is no monthly fee for drivers with Maryland addresses. At the Bay Bridge, the two-axle E-ZPass Maryland toll rate is $2.50 and the two-axle video toll rate is $6. Bay Bridge commuter plans also are available and provide additional discounts.