Analysts warn that Hogan's suggested toll cuts may be unwise

The Baltimore Sun ^ | February 13, 2015 | Michael Dresser

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

The General Assembly's policy analysts warned lawmakers Friday that Gov. Larry Hogan's suggested decreases in tolls could have a harmful effect on the maintenance and operations of the Maryland Transportation Authority's highways, bridges and tunnels.

The Department of Legislative Services told a Senate budget subcommittee that too large a toll reduction could throw off the debt service ratios that allow the authority to maintain a stellar bond rating. The analysts also noted that the authority's revenue forecasts don't take into account the acknowledged need to replace a Southern Maryland bridge at a cost of $1 billion or more. In addition, they noted that revenues are growing at about one-third the rate of increases in expenses.

During last year's campaign Hogan criticized the administration of Gov. Martin O'Malley for raising tolls in 2011 and 2013, often lumping them in with what he called O'Malley's "40 consecutive tax increases." Upon taking office, Hogan said his administration would review the tolls with an eye toward cutting them.

The analysts' report says those increases, which were adopted largely to pay back the bonds that financed two "mega-projects" launched during the administration of Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., have put the authority on a sound financial footing.

Bruce W. Gartner, the authority's executive director, confirmed that the agency is in good fiscal shape and does see any need to raise tolls through the rest of this decade.

Gartner said the authority's board is studying whether an toll cuts are possible. He said any decreases it adopts would be applied to E-ZPass transactions only. He said it would be impractical to lower cash tolls by less than a full dollar.

"It's not very practical for us to go back to quarters," he said.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Maryland “Freak State” PING!

[Inyo-Mono]

I haven’t driven east of the Mississippi since the late 1970s, but I do remember dropping quarters in toll booth baskets back then. A whole new experience for me back then as I was used to driving toll free in the West.

[Ray76]

Interstates should not be tolled.

[TaMoDee]

I guess you never drove the Oklahoma or Kansas turnpikes.
They been there forever!

[Inyo-Mono]

Actually, I did drive the Kansas turnpikes. Forgot about those. Only turnpikes west of the Mississippi that I drove on. But then again, that is the Mid West, not the West.

[hosepipe]

Removing, lessening, reducing TAXES must scare the hell of of democrats..
sets a dangerous precedent to any democrat..

better to increase the waste, graft and corruption..

[Ken H]

He’s a hero.

[Joe Boucher]

Guarantee ya there is enough graft, corruption and outright theft in the Maryland Transportation Authority to pay for it several times over.
Same for ALL Maryland gub mint crappola.

[BobL]

“Even if the state enters into a PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP to defray some of the costs, higher tolls at other facilities will be needed to cover the project’s costs, Gartner told senators.”

There’s that term again - HOLD ON TO YOUR WALLETS, these “PPPs” always wind up charging 2 or 3 times what a government owned toll road would charge.

[Fzob]

In addition, they noted that revenues are growing at about one-third the rate of increases in expenses.

Here's a crazy thought. How about decreasing expenses. My experience is transportation agencies are about as efficient as a dozen baboons assembling a 1000 piece puzzle.

[Smokin' Joe]

If that So. MD bridge is the Harry Nice Memorial Bridge across the Potomac, they’ve been collecting tolls on that forever and it was supposed to be paid off in the ‘60s. Then, the tolls were supposed to end. (of course, that didn’t happen). I don’t know what other bridges there would be a billion dollars.

[cyclotic]

I was told directly in writing by some government troll that the doubling of the bridge and tunnel tolls was to help pay for a toll road called the Intercounty Connector that hardly anyone was using. I responded and asked why I, who live 50 miles from this connector and will never, ever use it am being penalized for it?

Lower prices mean more usage meaning more revenue overall. I know several people who go through the city on their daily commute to bypass the tunnel at $4.00 a trip.

[Albion Wilde]

I haven’t driven east of the Mississippi since the late 1970s, but I do remember dropping quarters in toll booth baskets back then.

Quarters. I remember them. Now, it just rapes your credit card for "minimum balance" money in advance to cover your EZPass trips that may not materialize for months to come.