MD Tolls Could Rise Under Proposed Bill, 1st Time In Decade

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Drivers could see tolls increase on Maryland roads for the first time in a decade if legislation recently introduced in Annapolis is passed by the state General Assembly, according to documents and reports.

Del. Marc Korman, a Democrat from Montgomery County, introduced HB 1070 as the General Assembly entered the final month of its 90-day session.

If passed, the legislation would require the Maryland Transportation Authority to implement "near-optimal toll rates," which would maximize revenue for the state by increasing costs for drivers.

“I have a dirty secret for you. The tolls need to go up no matter what,” Korman said in a committee hearing last week, according to Baltimore Sun and Fox Baltimore reports.

He continued, "The goal is to have $50-$100 million of the toll authority revenue be available for other transportation needs of the state. To do that you’re going to need more revenue."

The plan's specifics remain unclear, including who would be affected by the toll hikes and how much tolls could increase.

Currently, it costs $3 for cars with Maryland E-ZPasses to cross any of the three Baltimore Harbor points and $2.50 to go over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The standard video rate is $6 for both.

Tolls have not increased in Maryland since a decision in 2011 led to hikes that year and in 2013, according to the Sun. Former Gov. Larry Hogan cut tolls in 2016 and 2019, which led the state to lose about $500 million in revenue.

Other bills moving through the General Assembly could also impose a $100 registration fee for electric vehicles or raise registration fees for all vehicles, reports said. Another introduced by Korman would impose a 50-cent delivery fee on every online purchase and home delivery transaction.

“It basically, to keep it simple, adds 50 cents a package for a road impact fee because we know from the data that the delivery vans and trucks are tearing up our roads," Korman said, according to a Baltimore Banner report. "And the impact of those, believe it or not, is actually higher than if people just drove themselves to the market."