The first year of toll reductions across Maryland led to a drop in toll revenue, but a rise in traffic volume helped offset that decrease, according to a new report released by state transportation officials.
The Maryland Transportation Authority says toll facilities across the state took in more than $644 million in fiscal 2016 (July 1, 2015-June 30, 2016), compared with more than $649 million the previous year — a drop of less than 1 percent.
That decrease, according to the MDTA, was smaller than expected and “exceeded the revenue forecast.”
Toll revenue has been going down since Gov. Larry Hogan announced a reduction in tolls and fees in 2015. He said it would save Marylanders $54 million each year and would be “by far our largest tax relief package to date.”
Tolls at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge went from $6 to $4 for those paying with cash, and from $5.40 to $2.50 round-trip for E-ZPass users. Tolls also went down at the Baltimore Harbor and Fort McHenry tunnels, along with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge, John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway and the Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge.
“This is the first time tolls have been lowered in Maryland in 50 years,” Hogan said.
Click here for to read the rest of the article written by Nick Iannelli over at WTOP