ICC tolls set at low end of range
The Maryland Transportation Authority has come in on the low end of its proposed range of tolls on the Intercounty Connector as it prepares to open the first segment of the highway sometime about the beginning of next year.
The authority announced Friday that it will charge 25 cents per mile at peak traffic periods for a typical passenger vehicle to use the stretch of the ICC between Interstate 270 corridor and Georgia Avenue. That translates into about $1.45 for the full 5.6-mile trip.
The authority board had previously adopted a policy allowing the agency’s executive secretary to set peak rates in a range of 25-35 cents.
The high end of that range would have translated into a peak toll of roughly $6 for a trip between the I-270 corridor and Interstate 95 when the second segment of the highway is opened in late 2011 or early 2012. Those estimates sparked protests from many residents of Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, who are expected to be the heaviest users of the ICC.
The authority’s most recent decision, if it continues into effect when the second segment opens, would hold the cost of a peak-time, 270-to-95 toll to about $4.
Executive Secretary Ronald Freeland said the authority took the comments from citizens into account when its set the initials rates. However, he acknowledged that if traffic volumes were to build quickly, the authority could raise its peak rate up to 35 cents a mile without a board vote in order to prevent congestion from building.
The ICC was built under the premise that tolls would rise to whatever level it takes to ensure the free flow of traffic on the highway, which is eventually expected to reach U.S. 1 in the east. The final segment between I-95 and U.S. 1 has been delayed because of costs.
The peak times on the ICC have been set at 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekday. The off-peak tolls, also set at the low end of the possible range, will initially be set at 20 cents a mile, while overnight tolls – from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. will be fixed at 10 cents a mile.
That would put initial tolls for the 270-Georgia Avenue stretch, which is expected to open late this year or early next, at $1.15 off-peak and 60 cents overnight.
Comments
This is an outrageously bad public policy decision, which reeks of politics.
The idea behind the ICC was to create a limited access expressway between I-95 and I-270. Over the years, the project has expanded to include 7 interchanges at the radial routes (NH Ave, 29, etc. which cross it.) Not only have we allowed 7 interchanges on the ICC, but we've made it remarkably inexpensive to do so. Making it inexpensive will probably relieve some of the traffic on the beltway and push it to the ICC, making it less of an expressway.
Second, the exceedingly low tolls will put more of a burden on the non-DC-suburban areas to pay the costs of the ICC. Again, the idea was that the tolls would eventually pay back the bonds on this project. At a $1.45 (which is cheaper than a MTA one-way bus fare, by the way), we are exposing the State to additional financial risk.
This is all about O'malley keeping the politics of the DC suburbs cool and calm between now and November; not about good transportation policy
Posted by: ICC supporter | June 11, 2010 5:05 PM
"The final segment between I-95 and U.S. 1 has been delayed because of costs. "
I was unaware of this fact.
The whole purpose was to connect I-270 to I-95.
The failure to do so because of costs just highlights the need to revise and increase contributions to the federal & state transportation trust funds.
Posted by: Dave | June 14, 2010 8:31 AM
As a once supporter (emphasis on the once) of this road, i'm glad to see the tolls are in at the low end, as I do not think people in, or just coming out of this recession, would be willing to pay a ton of money to use this road on a daily basis. The thing is 3 or 4 lanes wide in each direction, I can't imagine it filling to capacity at $4 a car to travel its full completed length.
I'm actually slightly frustrated that the 'off peak' price is only 5 cents a mile cheaper than the peak. There has to be a balance between charging a toll that generates money vs. the road actually being used. I do hope it's truly flexible so prices can adjust over time as real data is collected. If i'm wrong and people do still flood the road at these toll rates, then hey, I guess raise the tolls.
The non completion of the final segment to US 1 will not effect the main purpose of connecting 95 to 270, but will probably not make the Kontera Town Center developers very happy. Although the article also leaves out the cutting of the I-95 improvements to add collector/distributor lanes from MD 212 to MD 198. We'll see how much of a traffic nightmare this becomes for 95.
Posted by: BB | June 16, 2010 8:37 AM