The number of vehicles using the Intercounty Connector has plummeted to just over a third of the level taking test drives during the Montgomery County toll road’s free trial period.
The weekday average dropped from 30,000 vehicles for the free period to about 9,400 vehicles per day during the first week of tolls, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority. It has picked up slightly, to 10,900 vehicles through March 25.
But it remains below the estimated 21,000 vehicles per day officials initially said they expected to drive along the first segment, which connects Interstate 370 in Shady Grove to Georgia Avenue in Olney. Officials have predicted about 55,000 vehicles per day once the remaining 13 miles extend the road to Interstate 95 in Prince George’s County.
“The drop in traffic volumes from the test-drive period to the start of toll collection was expected,” authority spokeswoman Teri Moss said in an email. “Current traffic volumes are consistent with our projections and forecasts for early traffic volumes.”
Peter Samuel, editor of Tollroadsnews, said he was surprised to see traffic volumes drop so much once the tolls began, but he said the link to Georgia Avenue makes the first segment less appealing. “The real test comes in a year’s time when it goes through to Interstate 95,” he said. – Kytja Weir
