Maryland Tolls Going Down, Taxpayers to Save Big Bucks: Governor

Do you pay too much in tolls?

Gov. Larry Hogan thinks so, announcing Thursday that reductions would begin taking effect this summer.

“We are proud to announce what by far is our largest tax relief package to date and marks the first time tolls have been lowered in Maryland in nearly 50 years,” Hogan said in a statement. He expects Marylanders to save $270 million in the next five years.

Related: MDTA Says Toll Reductions Will Not Impact Service

Changes effective July 1, 2015:

• E-ZPass: Eliminate $1.50 monthly account fee for Maryland residents. Increase supplemental rebate program for vehicles with five or more axles by 5 percentage points per trip.
• Bay Bridge: Reduce two-axle rate from $6 to $4 and from $2.10 to $1.40 for commuters. For E-ZPass, toll drops from $5.40 to $2.50.
• Harbor Tunnel (I-895): Increase E-ZPass discount from 10 to 25 percent; round-trip rate drops from $7.20 to $6.
• Fort McHenry Tunnel (I-95): Increase E-ZPass discount from 10 to 25 percent; round-trip rate drops from $7.20 to $6.
• Francis Scott Key Bridge (I-695): Increase E-ZPass discount from 10 to 25 percent; round-trip rate drops from $7.20 to $6.
• Hatem Memorial Bridge (US 40): Increase E-ZPass discount from 10 to 25 percent; round-trip rate drops from $7.20 to $6. Establish a 30 percent discount for three- and four-axle vehicles with E-ZPass, so three-axle rate drops from $16 to $11.20, while four-axle rate drops from $24 to $16.80.
• JFK Memorial Highway (I-95): Increase E-ZPass discount from 10 to 25 percent; round-trip rate drops from $7.20 to $6.
• Nice Bridge (US 301): Toll drops from $5.40 to $4.50 round-trip.
  
• ICC (MD 200): Reduce two-axle toll rates by 3 cents per mile, reducing a two-axle, peak period trip from I-270/I-370 to US 1 on the ICC from $4.40 to $3.86 (with E-ZPass). Other ICC rates will be reduced based on standard multipliers per axle.
• I-95 Express Toll Lanes: Reduce two-axle toll rates by 3 cents per mile. two-axle, peak period trip on the I-95 ETL from $1.75 to $1.54 (using E-ZPass). Other rates will be reduced based on standard multipliers per axle.

Changes effective Jan. 1, 2016:

• Harbor Tunnel: Rate drops to $2 per axle for vehicles with three-to-six-plus axles using Childs Street turnaround exit (e.g., three-axle vehicle toll drops from $8 to $6 and four-axle vehicles from $12 to $8).
• Key Bridge: Rate drops to $2 per axle for vehicles with three-to-six-plus axles using I-695 turnaround exit (e.g., three-axle vehicle toll drops from $8 to $6 and four-axle vehicles from $12 to $8).

See more on the toll rate change from the Maryland Transportation Authority.

Photo Credit: Maryland Transportation Authority.