Commuters who frequent Interstate 95 in Harford and orthern Baltimore counties may be able to travel faster and more safely ? for a price.
Gov. Robert Ehrlich announced at a Cabinet meeting this week that planning has begun to alleviate increasing congestion and safety concerns along a 16-mile stretch of the interstate from north of Exit 67 in Baltimore County to north of Exit 85 in Harford. Express toll lanes are one option being considered.
Traffic along that stretch has increased 11 percent since 1995, according to State Highway Administration data, and Transportation Secretary Robert Flanagan said half the area?s accidents between 2002 and 2004 were congestion-related.
By 2030, traffic volume on that portion of the interstate is expected to increase about 40 percent, the Maryland Transportation Authority said.
“The goals of the project are to improve congestion and delays that we?ve found in that area, as well as to improve safety,” said Kelly Melhem, Maryland Transportation Authority spokeswoman.
Under consideration are two express toll lanes anyone could drive on for a price yet to be set.
“It?s the driver?s choice,” Melhem said. “It?s there when you need them. Those lanes would be there for generally noncongested traffic, and at the same time would hopefully free up traffic from general lanes.”
She said she could not project toll rates or even a general range.
Parts of Interstate 495 in Virginia are three times more congested, and construction should begin next year on high-occupancy toll lanes, which are similar to express toll lanes but allow carpoolers to ride free, said Joan Morris, a Virginia Department of Transportation spokeswoman.
Rates for Virginia toll lanes will fluctuate, depending on the amount of traffic, Morris said.
Amanda Knittle, a spokeswoman for AAA, said the organization is generally not in favor of adding tolls to existing roads. But AAA would support a project if adding tolls were the only way to increase capacity, she said.
“Either way, you?re paying no matter what,” she said, referring to a 2003 Texas Transportation Institute study saying Baltimore drivers wasted 17 extra gallons of gas that year because of congestion.
The report said Baltimore drivers spent an average of 50 hours in traffic in 2003, up from nine hours in 1992.
“People are already wasting money on rising fuel prices,” Knittle said, “and they?re wasting time.”
Melhem said it is too early to predict which way state officials are leaning.
“Routine maintenance and minor improvements like we would be doing anyway” is how Melhem described a “no-build” option that the federal process requires to be considered. “There would be no reduction in accidents or expanding of the highway,” Melhem said.
The other option is adding more regular lanes.
A decision should be made in two to three years, Melhem said.
