Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Today's Survey Question

DO YOU THINK THE PROPOSED TOLL HIKES ON MARYLAND BRIDGES AND TUNNELS ARE NECESSARY OR JUSTIFIED?

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I do believe they are necessary to keep the state from going further in the red.
If this is justification , then so be it.

Anonymous said...

since we have had no increases in many years; it's time for an increase. not sure how much, but yes we do need an increase.

G. A. Harrison said...

FYI - You don't need to GIVE any justification (unless you want to). We were just asking if you felt that the increase was necessary OR justified.

Anonymous said...

i think it should be higher, at least $100, unless you live on the shore then its only $10

or lets just shut the bridges down, do we really want them?

Anonymous said...

both

Anonymous said...

I don't know about all of them but a toll hike on the Bay Bridge has been needed for a long time.

Think of it this way... The Bay Bridge toll has been the same ($2.50 round trip) since the 1970s. If a toll of $2.50 in 1975 had increased each year according to the Consumer Price Index, that toll would be $10.10 today.

And believe me, the cost of maintaining that bridge certain has increased...at least as much as the CPI, I'll bet.

So a toll of $5 (or $8) round trip is still quite a deal if you factor in the rate of inflation.

Anonymous said...

Typical dems making those statements... "YES I will be glad to pay more out of my pocket because I have no money worries" go stick it and leave you comments out of here, You don't answer for me...

They are not justified nor is it necessary... They won't cut spending and make smaller govt so they will ALWAYS need MONEY or TAXES or TOLLS... PERIOD!!!

By saying it is time and that YES you will and NO you don't mind paying more, just gives the govt more ammunition behind their reasoning to make things cost higher and pay you less and to keep big govt...

To those who said yes you would love to pay more money out of your pocket, can I have some of your money that you seem to have enough of, that you invite more cost and less pay...

They already take money from other funds and places they are not supposed to, and now everything is short on cash... raising tolls just means they get more money from you so they don't have to actually do work in DC... They want bigger govt and you see what happens with it... everything goes broke...

Anonymous said...

Yet state employees continue to get pay DECREASES through furlough days. mmmmm...interesting. Tell me again how it won't affect tourism to OC?

And for those comments about maintaining the bridge, etc. Five years after the second bridge opened it was paid for. Everything since has been a revenue gain. Granted that fool Glendening in office before Ehrlich made some poor choices when bidding for repaving. It had to be done again but it's still a revenue gain.

Joseph Albero said...

And some people wonder why I call some people IDIOTS on this Blog.

anonymous 11:13, The Bridge was PAID FOR probably 20 years ago.

Our elected officials guaranteed that when the Bridge was paid for they would remove the tolls, LIARS!

The purpose oif these Tolls is NOT to make money. It's to pay for the expense of building it.

The Federal and State Governemt continues to prove they hold monopolies, while the private sector is forced by law not to have any manolopolies on ANYTHING!

Governot O'Malley is screwing not only the Maryland Taxpayers, he's sending a clear message that IF you want to visit or travel through the state of Maryland, you're going to pay dearly for it. Mind you, if you just happen to LIVE in the state, well, he's bending you over more than twice and having his way with you as the Bridge is not only paid for, YOU never got a penny back in ALL of the revenue the Bridge takes in every year and he took ALL of your highway user funds from you on top of that.

This guy has to be the biggest THIEF this Country has ever seen!

Anonymous said...

I think that a rate increase would be more palatable if it had been done in smaller amounts over the years (like 50 cents at a time). To go from $2.50 to $5.00 (100%) is a bit much. Then it's going to go to $8.00 in a couple more years.

Anonymous said...

Have to pay those transit cops salaries don't they? pffffft

Anonymous said...

neither justified or necessary. I got some better ideas to save/make money for the state!,
end the free college for illegals.
start drug testing welfare recips? think how much that will save. Then tax the obese since they use a larger percentage of resources to move about and exist!!
Then tax those with little or no education since their stupidity will end up costing society in some way shape or form!

Anonymous said...

yes

tedh said...

Do any of you remember when you paid $1.25 one way both directions? They saved money by switching to paying $2.50 one way on direction.
I would love to know how much money is currently brought in compared to the current cost of the upkeep of the bridge.

Anonymous said...

Neither...especially when they admint that the money will be used for other infrastructure.

Anonymous said...

Yes

Anonymous said...

1239-You hit the nail on the head. MD Transit proved our point, by stating the increase won't go to repair/upkeep the Bay Bridge, it will go to other roads/bridges that are in the red. It is not necessary or justifiable. The toll, as it stands, covers all maintenance/upkeep on the bay bridge. On that basis alone, there need not be a toll hike.

Bullard Construction said...

No

Daddio said...

tedh, I can remember paying $1.00 each way.

I still think they should look at making the beach bums pay more by surcharging the tolls only on the weekends, same as Delaware is doing on its Route 1. That would not affect the daily commuters and regular business users of the bridge, but make those who cause the heavy traffic cough up more for their trouble ;)

Anonymous said...

11:19 very liberal of you asking for a handout from people that have more money than you...
12:22 no illegals college is free, they pay the same tuition as other residents do, with less access to grants and loans...