Lower tolls didn't cost Maryland as much as expected, transportation secretary says

The amount of money the state collects at the Bay Bridge fell by more than $28.1 million last year, after Gov. Larry Hogan reduced toll rates.

That's a 35 percent drop. But a 9.4 percent increase in highway traffic helped defray that dip, according to figures released by the Maryland Transportation Authority. Revenue increases at other toll facilities helped keep the overall drop to $5.1 million, or less than 1 percent.

The MdTA said the tolls still exceeded the revenue forecast for 2016. The tolls were raised in the 2012 and 2014 fiscal years to finance construction projects.

Money from tolls supports the transportation authority and its construction projects. Some have expressed concern that the toll reductions would mean less money for infrastructure projects such as the planned replacement of the Harry W. Nice Bridge in Southern Maryland.

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