Hatem Bridge commuters likely to pay more
Commuters on the Hatem Bridge on U.S. 40 over the Susquehanna River will likely have to pay significantly more to use that route under a Maryland Transportation Authority staff recommendation that is supported by a consensus of the board's finance committee.
The plan would eliminate the current decal system, which lets subscribers buy a $10 decal that allows unlimited use of the facility for a year. Instead commuters would have to get an EZ-Pass at the cost of $25 and pay the $1.50 a monthly fee. Then they would be charged $36 a year for unlimited use of the bridge for a year.
All of this would have to go to the full board and to public hearings.
Posted by Michael Dresser at 10:00 AM | Permalink
| Comments (9)
Categories: Maryland toll facilities
Categories: Maryland toll facilities
Comments
Nice. $79 for what used to costs $5, and is now $10. HdG will become a ghost town.
Posted by: Overtaxed | May 12, 2011 11:14 AM
Okay , we now pay more for gas ..higher taxes on everything and now a trip up and over the Hatem bridge will cost me (that is if a i get a easy pass) 38.00 a year when it was only 10.00 for a sticker.
Come one MD elected.. how about we cut your pay in half! and see how you like it. and we thought england was doing us in... they had nothing on you guys!!!
Posted by: hope Green | May 12, 2011 1:10 PM
This is an outrageous increase, especially given that much of the traffic over the bridge is, basically, commuter traffic. Also, has anyone considered how many of our veterans have to cross the bridge regularly to visit the VA facility at Perry Point? The decal system works nicely for commuters. If the price of the decal has to be raised a nominal amount, then fine, but don't scrap the current system, which seems to work.
Posted by: Greg | May 12, 2011 5:11 PM
This is ridiculous. This is screwing the commuters of cecil county that work in Harford, APG, or Downtown. I hope the board does something. I am okay with removing the decal system, as it's outdated and EZPass is sufficient. But lets keep it at $10 and not $36!
Posted by: David | May 13, 2011 9:03 AM
The decal system dates back to 1976. It is seriously outmoded technology. Yet it receives three dedicated lanes at the Hatem Bridge plaza while E-ZPass has to share the staffed cash lane.
$36 a year isn't bad at all for unlimited trips across the bridge. That breaks down to $.75 a week or 6 full trips across the Tydings or Hatem Bridge at the regular rate.
Posted by: Alan | May 13, 2011 11:46 AM
Are you serious how much more can you nickel and dime people. I have personally sat in traffic at Havre de Grace for well over 40 minutes for months/years since this project started and now this. The average working person is already in hard times the economy is bad and to make it worst you want to take more of our money. I go over the bridge twice a day at least and see a whole bunch of bums standing around and you want more of my money to pay for it. UNBELIEVABLE ALL CROOKS
Posted by: jamison | May 13, 2011 4:12 PM
I am do not understand to prosed new system, sounds like a government rip-off to me. I they want to increase the sticker - accepable. As a Cecil County resident working Harford County I wonder how many decal users are not locals of either county? I see a lot of drivers heading off towards 95. Limit the decals to Cecil & Harford County residents only with proof. If you do not live in either county, pay the toll!
Posted by: Parker Dorsett | May 13, 2011 7:20 PM
ARE THESE PEOPLE FOR REAL. OBVIOUSLY, THEY DO NOT LIVE IN OUR AREA OR THIS WOULD BE A NON- ISSUE.
Posted by: FED UP | May 22, 2011 11:41 AM
While the decal system should apply to all Maryland residents, it really irks me to see out of state vehicles zipping through the AVI lanes.
Years ago, you had to physically walk in with your registration to get a sticker and out of state vehicles were sold a book of tickets that were good for 60 days, which was for commuters who were not MD residents. The tickets were still cheaper than paying the toll daily. I just dont know when or WHY it was decided to give anyone a sticker who waved a $5 bill at the toll booth. Surely all those cars with Florida tags are not residents or they would display MD tags.
I live in Cecil and work in Harford and will certainly feel the financial crunch when I have to pay every trip. I have no problem with raising the cost of a sticker to residents only.
I feel that the decision should at least be put on the election ballots.
Posted by: Denise Lewis | November 10, 2011 3:53 PM