Today, Governor Larry Hogan and the Maryland Department of Transportation announced toll decreases effective July 1st for roads, tunnels and bridges around Maryland. There will not be a decrease when paying cash at the Fort McHenry Tunnel, Harbor Tunnel or Key Bridge, however there will be a decrease for drivers using an E-ZPass, taking the toll from $3.60 each way to $3 each way.
No changes were announced for commuter plans. A commuter plan for the Fort McHenry Tunnel, Harbor Tunnel or Key Bridge currently costs $70 every 45 days, equating to 50 trips at $1.40.
The $1.50 administration fee each month for E-ZPass users will also be eliminated. “If you turned in your E-ZPass years ago because of the monthly maintenance fee, it’s time to come back,” said MDTA Executive Director Bruce W. Gartner in a press release.
In 2003, the tolls at the Fort McHenry and Harbor Tunnels, as well as the Key Bridge, increased from $1-$2. In 2011, they went from $2-$3 and in 2013 they rose from $3-$4. Prior to 2013, trips with a commuter plan could be made for $.40.
Other toll decreases include the Bay Bridge dropping from $6-$4 and reduced mileage rates on the ICC/MD-200 by $.03 per mile.
In a press conference today, Governor Hogan called the recent back-to-back toll increases the fee or tax increase he heard the most complaints about when traveling around the state.
The following toll reductions and changes are effective July 1, 2015:
- Eliminate the E-ZPass Maryland monthly $1.50 account fee for Maryland residents.
- Reduce all Cash, Video, Commuter and Shoppers’ toll rates at the Bay Bridge (US 50/301), including a reduction in the two-axle cash rate from $6 to $4 round trip and in the Commuter rate from $2.10 to $1.40.
- Increase the E-ZPass Maryland discount from 10% to 37.5% at the Bay Bridge – toll drops from $5.40 to $2.50 round trip.
- Increase the E-ZPass Maryland discount from 10% to 25% for the Baltimore Harbor (I-895) and Fort McHenry (I-95) tunnels, the Francis Scott Key Bridge (I-695), the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge (US 40) and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway (I-95) – toll drops from $7.20 to $6 round trip – and for the Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge (US 301) – toll drops from $5.40 to $4.50 round trip.
- Reduce two-axle toll rates on the ICC/MD200 and I-95 ETL for all pricing periods by $.03 per mile. This change reduces a two-axle, peak period trip from I-270/I-370 to US 1 on the ICC from $4.40 to $3.86 (E-ZPass), and a two-axle, peak period trip on the I-95 ETL from $1.75 to $1.54 (E-ZPass). Other ICC and I-95 ETL toll rates also will be reduced based on standard multipliers per axle.
- Establish a 30% discount at the Hatem Bridge for three- and four-axle vehicles with E-ZPass Maryland – three-axle toll drops from $16 to $11.20, while four-axle toll drops from $24 to $16.80.
- Increase E-ZPass Maryland supplemental rebate program for vehicles with five or more axles by 5 percentage points per trip level.
The following change is effective January 1, 2016:
- For vehicles using the Childs Street and I-695 turnaround exits at the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel and Key Bridge respectively, toll rates will decrease to $2 per axle for three-to-six-plus-axle vehicles. For example, three-axle vehicles will see a toll reduction from $8 to $6 and four-axle vehicles from $12 to $8.