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Jan 31, 2009

TOLL INCREASES * USA - Board votes to raise truck tolls, add E-ZPass fee

Baltimore,MD,USA -The Baltimore Sun, by Michael Dresser -29 Jan 2009: -- Over vocal objections from the public, the Maryland Transportation Authority's board voted this morning to raise truck tolls at its bridges and tunnels on Interstate 95 and to impose a $1.50-a-month fee on its E-ZPass customers... The board voted unanimously after hearing comments from Marylanders who turned out for a public meeting near the Key Bridge on the authority's proposed package of revenue increases — designed to make up for a shortfall caused by a drop in traffic that is part of a national decline in driving. About 30 people attended... Opponents argued that the truck toll increases of 50 percent or more come at a time when many operators are struggling to survive the economic downturn... (Baltimore Sun photo by Amy Davis / January 29, 2009 - The Maryland Transportation Authority held a public meeting on its proposed fee increases for E-ZPass use and truck tolls. MdTA board member Ronald L. Freeland, front, read the recommendations of the board from a prepared statement at the conclusion of the meeting, after which the authority voted to enact the increases)

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Jan 15, 2009

TOLLS * USA - Here we go again

Planned Maryland truck bridge toll, E-Z Pass hikes opposed

MAR,USA -The Delaware Business Ledger (Newark,DE), by Cheryl Mattix (Cecil Whig) -January 14, 2009: -- Maryland Transportation Authority wants to increase truck tolls on I-95 and Route 40 bridges over the Susquehanna River and hike E-Z Pass fees as well... They say the increase is needed to help the authority recover increasing costs required to operate the facilities. The move affects Delaware trucking firms and First State commuters who may be taking jobs further away from home in the current economy. The announcement came out last week and has already fueled opposition from Cecil County’s state delegation, county commissioners, chamber of commerce and economic development director... Part of the proposal is to increase the cost of Route 40 (Hatem Bridge) decals from $5 to $10, effective April 15. The truck tolls will also increase April 15, if the MdTA approves the plan at its Jan. 29 meeting. The E-Z Pass fee increases won’t become effective until July 1.E-Z Pass users will be charged a $1.50 per month administrative fee and $21 to replace lost or purchase new transponders (standard), $33 (exterior) and $40 (fusion)...


* Truckers: New Ohio Turnpike Toll Could Cost State Money


Berea,OH,USA -WLWT5 -January 13, 2009: -- Industry officials worry a new Ohio Turnpike toll could cost truck drivers more and cause them to change their routes... That would lead to increased wear and tear on highways, congestion and accidents, said regional manager Chris Bott of Con-way Freight in Cleveland... The turnpike commission said its proposal would reduce tolls for truckers, but the Ohio Trucking Association disagrees, arguing the toll discount by many trucking firms would be eliminated with the implementation of the toll...


* Spanish company lands four infrastructure projects

NC,USA -Land Line Magazine -January 12, 2009: -- Although new to the scene, a Spanish company is turning out to be a major player in the North American infrastructure market... Grupo ACS, a U.S. subsidiary of two Spanish companies, Iridium and Dragados, has been selected to pursue four long-term infrastructure projects since June 2008 in Texas, Florida, North Carolina and Quebec, Canada... The most recent agreement for Grupo ACS is the right to engineer the seven-mile, $700 million Mid-Currituck Bridge in North Carolina... The Mid-Currituck Bridge will connect U.S. 158 with North Carolina state Highway 12 and will be paid off through tolling. Officials are currently working out toll rates and the amounts needed to guarantee profitability to the eventual winner of the contract...


* Discounts for some, toll increases for others in Ohio

OH,USA -Land Line Magazine, by D1avid Tanner -January 14, 2009: -- OOIDA and trucking industry stakeholders warn that heavy trucks will divert to secondary roads in Ohio once a volume discount is eliminated and the way tolls are calculated changes... Commercial trucks compose 20 percent of Ohio Turnpike traffic, but account for 55 percent of the revenue... Ohio Turnpike commissioners have had three public hearings on the proposal and have concluded the comment period. However, a spokeswoman said the director welcomes comments at any time for consideration...

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Jan 14, 2009

TOLLS * USA - Truckers upset with Ohio Turnpike ones

Akron,OH,USA -The Akron Beacon Journal -Jan 13, 2009: -- Trucking industry officials say drivers will avoid the Ohio Turnpike if the state charges higher tolls, sending big rigs onto smaller, parallel roads and increasing traffic congestion... Tolls on the 241-mile highway that runs across northern Ohio are expected to climb at the end of 2009 when the new E-ZPass electronic toll-payment system is launched... But trucking industry officials dispute the notion they will save money... Many companies now receive a 15 percent toll discount each month after they spend $1,000 on tolls. The program, offered since 1997, would be eliminated under E-ZPass because it would be too hard to coordinate with electronic tolling... Commercial vehicles make up 20 percent of all turnpike traffic and provide 55 percent of toll revenues, turnpike officials said...

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Jan 6, 2009

TOLL INCREASES * USA - MdTA proposes increases for E-ZPass users, large trucks

Baltimore,Maryland,USA -The Baltimore Sun -January 5, 2009: -- E-ZPass users and operators of large trucks will pay more for the use of the state's toll facilities under a series of changes proposed by the Maryland Transportation Authority to offset declines in revenue and increases in the cost of maintenance, Transportation Secretary John D. Porcari said today... Under the proposal given preliminary approval by the authority's board, users of the E-ZPass electronic toll collection system will be charged $1.50 a month for bill processing even if they don't use a toll facility during that month... New and replacement transponders -- the electronic devices placed in vehicles to record tolls -- will no longer be free. Porcari said the state will begin providing the transponders at its cost, which is about $21... Meanwhile, the operators of trucks with three axles or more face toll increases from between 33 percent and 80 percent...

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