Marylanders To See Reduced Tolls Starting July 1
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- This summer, expect your travel budget to be cut. Governor Larry Hogan is reducing tolls across the state, beginning July 1.
Tracey Leong explains the change will save Marylanders some $54 million a year.
A big part of Governor Hogan's campaign was to put money back into Marylanders' pockets. Thursday, he followed through on that promise.
Your daily commute just got a little cheaper.
"Praise the Lord. Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus," said Judah Baruch-Pinder, driver.
Drivers are rejoicing with the news of the statewide toll rollbacks.
"I feel good. Don't have to pay those expensive tolls," said Samuel Brown, driver.
"It's the reason why I was elected--to change that downward spiral and to put Maryland on a new path," said Governor Larry Hogan.
Governor Hogan is on a path to saving people money. He is crossing out the fees to show how much drivers will save using the Bay Bridge.
This summer, cash customers will save 30 percent. Maryland E-ZPass drivers' bills will be cut more than 50 percent to $2.50.
The last time it was this cheap was 1975.
Over the next five years, Governor Hogan's toll rollback plan will save Marylanders more than $270 million--money that will be made up in other areas.
"This is made up from some very tough situations that have been made by the staff of the authority and opportunities to downsize where appropriate," said Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn, MDTA.
This new reduction will benefit more than 2 million drivers a year.
It also encourages more people to use an E-ZPass, since the rates are cheaper than cash-paying customers and the monthly fee will be eliminated.
On average, Maryland families spend $4,600 a year on tolls.
"We're allowing Maryland families and businesses to keep more of their hard-earned money, which helps our struggling economy," the governor said.
Giving drivers more flexibility with their budget.
"It's going to help me a lot, going to save me some money," said Baruch-Pinder.
"Take care of my daughter with it," said Brown.
This is the first time Maryland tolls have been reduced in more than 50 years, with biggest toll hikes in 2011 and 2013.
This is Governor Larry Hogan's largest tax relief packet since taking office.
Here's a breakdown of the changes coming on 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.
To take advantage of the new E-ZPass discounts, motorists are urged to sign up for a Maryland E-ZPass. The new discounts increase from 10% to a range of 25% to 37.5%.