Daily Times Endorses Toll Hike

No thoughtful individual will argue that increasing the toll on the Bay Bridge 220% in less than two years will not have a detrimental effect on the economy of the Eastern Shore. Yet, that is just what the editors of Salisbury’s Daily Times have done.

In a Monday op-ed, the Daily Times takes the position that:

“an increase to $5 per trip is not unreasonable, nor should it create undue hardship for most users. The second increase to $8, however, should be revisited before it takes effect. If it's clearly necessary, then it should take effect, but if not, put it on hold until it's needed.”

This is almost word for word the position taken by Del. Norm Conway (D-38B) at last week’s toll hearing. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised.

Fortunately for Lower Shore residents not all members of the Lower Shore’s delegation share Conway’s (and the Daily Times’) view. Del. Mike McDermott (R-38B) takes exception with the DT’s view of reasonable:

The Daily Times has given us a new definition for ‘reasonable’. If a 200%+ increase is reasonable, then I’d like to see their definition of ‘unreasonable’.

The DT dismisses, as anecdotal, testimony given by one Shore farmer who cultivates land on both sides of the Bay. They are correct; it is anecdotal. However, the editors of the DT do the exact same thing when trying to argue that the Bay Bridge is only marginally profitable. They cite only four years of revenues vs. expenses. What about the entire lifespan of the Bay Bridge? In addition, the DT neglects to acknowledge that the MD Transportation Authority (MDTA) budgets their capital expenditures in their operating budget. Large capital expenditures that are paid for over time elsewhere in state government are counted as current expenses with the MDTA.

Why? It’s easier to justify toll hikes when you can claim that this bridge or that tunnel simply aren’t taking in enough revenue to cover current expenses. The state goes to the bond market for the money anyway, but now those excess dollars can be put to “better” use along the Baltimore – DC corridor.

The DT admits that “all tolls collected for all facilities go into one pot”. What they neglect to share is that this practice didn’t go into effect until FY 2011. Why? To better justify the massive toll hikes proposed by Gov. Martin O’Malley’s minions on the MDTA board.

The toll hikes WILL harm our local economy. For each tourist coming to the Shore, that is X fewer dollars that will be spent on the Eastern Shore. The increase in transportation costs for food, fuel, and other goods imported from off the Eastern Shore will not cause our cost of living to skyrocket overnight. No, but it WILL increase our cost of living. That is Y fewer dollars that can be spent, saved, or invested here on the Eastern Shore.

For some reason, the Daily Times has chosen to ignore these obvious facts. Why? To provide political cover to Sen. Jim Mathias (D-38) and Conway? We can’t say. We do agree with McDermott that the DT’s approach to this problem is linear and overly simplistic. To argue that we should double the toll now and see what happens 18 months down the road is merely a self-fulfilling prophecy.

With the MDTA throwing all revenue, and expenses, into “one pot”. The numbers will say whatever they want them too. With drivers of the ICC not facing a toll hike, there is no question that the MDTA will argue that the increase from $5 to $8 will “clearly be necessary”.

The Daily Times needs to quit worrying about what is best for Conway or O’Malley. They should be arguing for what is best for the Eastern Shore.