A toll hike could be coming for the Bay Bridge
The possibility of a toll increase was recently raised by Maryland Transportation Authority Executive Director Joseph Sagal, who said the bridge saw its last toll increase in 2011.
You may soon have to pay a higher toll to cross the Bay Bridge in Maryland.
The possibility of a toll increase was recently raised by Maryland Transportation Authority Executive Director Joseph Sagal, who said the bridge saw its last toll increase in 2011.
In fact, the cost of the toll has decreased twice – lowered by former Gov. Larry Hogan during his administration from $2.10 to $1.40 for E-ZPass users in 2015, and then again in 2019. Revenue has also declined during the pandemic, according to Sagal. , which he said could be a “trigger” factor in the agency’s toll increase.
Speaking at a Sept. 13 meeting of the Maryland Commission on Transportation Revenue and Infrastructure Needs, Sagal told members that costs have increased since then, “especially when it comes to personnel, l ‘equipment, custody needs and repairs’.
According to Sagal, the agency continues to “focus on (its) financial forecasts,” saying his team is working to develop an analysis of the impact of increased toll revenue on future budgets.
It’s not yet clear when the toll — currently $2.50 for E-ZPass holders and $6 for others — might increase or by how much.
The agency introduced high-speed, all-electronic tolling on the highway at the Bay Bridge in May 2020, mitigating the need for drivers to stop or even slow down to pay tolls. Instead, tolls can be paid via E-ZPass, Pay-By-Plate or Video Tolling technology.
This change promotes safety, decreases engine idling and leads to better fuel efficiency, according to the agency.
WTOP’s Kate Corliss contributed to this report.
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