Phase 1 South: American Legion Bridge I-270 to I-370

Toll Rate Range Setting Process and Approved Toll Rate Ranges

The MDTA is involved in selecting the Phase 1 South: American Legion Bridge I-270 to I-370 Section Developer and has many responsibilities, including establishing the minimum and maximum toll rate ranges and setting the soft rate caps, maintaining tolling customer accounts and interactions, transferring toll revenue to the Phase 1 South Section Developer, issuing bonds, utilizing updated Customer Service Center and back-office systems, establishing operating reserves and administering toll collection.

On May 20, 2021, the MDTA staff presented the Phase 1 South: American Legion Bridge I-270 to I-370 tolling proposal to the MDTA Board via a livestreamed meeting open to the public.  At this meeting, the MDTA Board voted to seek public comment on the tolling proposal for Phase 1 South: American Legion Bridge I-270 to I-370 (including minimum and maximum toll rate ranges and the soft rate cap within, the escalation process, and discounts). All public hearing materials were made available for public review and comment in a Virtual Information Room on May 20.  Public hearing materials, including the original tolling proposal, have been archived and may be accessed by visiting the Public Hearing Virtual Information Room Archive.  Information and studies used in the development of the Phase 1 South: American Legion Bridge I-270 to I‑370 tolling proposal were also posted to the webpage on May 20. *NOTE: The Public Hearing Virtual Information Room Archive reflects MDTA staff’s May 20 proposal. The minimum toll rate range (specifically as shown on Board 25 of 35) was lowered in MDTA staff’s September 30 Recommended Action (recommended toll rate ranges) based on feedback received from the first public comment period and was approved by the MDTA Board on November 18, 2021.  

On June 4, 2021, the MDTA announced public hearings for the Phase 1 South: American Legion Bridge I-270 to I-370 tolling proposal. The MDTA held an in-person testimony hearing on Monday, July 12, and a call-in testimony hearing on Wednesday, July 14, 2021. An option to provide either one-on-one or public testimony was given at the in-person hearing. Registration was required to provide testimony at the in-person or call-in public hearings.  A quorum of the MDTA Board Members (a minimum of five MDTA Board Members) and the MDTA Chairman or his designee were present for both in-person and call-in testimony public hearings.  The MDTA continued to accept voicemail testimony, as well as online and written comments, from the public until 5:00 PM on August 12, 2021 for inclusion in the official record.  May 20, 2021 through August 12, 2021 served as the first of three public comment periods included in the Phase 1 South: American Legion Bridge I-270 to I-370 toll rate range setting process. 

On August 26, 2021, the MDTA staff presented a summary and analysis of comments received during the first public comment period to the MDTA Board via a livestreamed meeting open to the public.  The comment summary and analysis, and raw comment database, were also posted to the MDTA webpage on August 26. As a result of comments received during the first public-comment period from May 20 – August 14, 2021, the Recommended Action (recommended toll rate ranges) were revised to reflect a new base minimum per-mile toll rate of 17 cents/mile -- lower than the 20 cents/mile proposed in May. The 17 cents/mile is consistent with the base off-peak minimum per-mile toll rate for the MDTA’s Intercounty Connector (ICC)/MD 200.

On September 30, 2021, the MDTA staff presented the Recommended Action (recommended toll rate ranges) for Phase 1 South: American Legion Bridge I-270 to I-370 to the MDTA Board via a livestreamed meeting open to the public, and received approval to seek public comment on the recommendation.  This approval vote initiated the second public comment period, which spanned from September 30, 2021 through 5:00 PM on October 28, 2021. September 30, 2021, through October 28, 2021, served as the second of three public comment periods included in the Phase 1 South: American Legion Bridge I-270 to I-370 toll rate range setting process.

On November 12, MDTA staff posted a summary and analysis of comments received during the second public comment period (and raw comment database) to MDTA’s web site. The comment summary also was presented during a livestreamed MDTA Board meeting that was open to the public on November 18, 2021 at 9 a.m. At this meeting, MDTA staff presented the final toll rate range recommendation to the Board, which included no changes to any elements of the Recommended Action (recommended toll rate ranges) that were presented on September 30. Prior to the vote to approve the final toll rate ranges, which will be part of the Op Lanes Maryland program, the MDTA Board opened the floor for additional in-person comments.

The public is welcome to watch all MDTA Board Meetings via livestream or attend in-person at 2310 Broening Highway, Baltimore, Maryland 21224.  

If you are unable to access materials posted online, or if you require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or require language translation services (free of charge), please contact the MDTA’s Title VI Officer at mdtaeeo@mdta.maryland.gov or at 410-537-6720.

Approved Toll Rate Ranges

The table below provides the Approved Toll Rate Ranges in cost per mile ($/mile) for all vehicle and payment types associated with use of future High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes within Phase 1 South: American Legion Bridge I-270 to I-370, which will be part of the Op Lanes Maryland program.  . 

The vehicle classifications, payment methods and associated multipliers are consistent with existing MDTA facilities. For example, the 3-axle light multiplier is 1.5x the 2-axle rate for the same payment type and the multiplier between Video Tolling (unregistered video) and electronic toll collection (ETC) for the same vehicle classification is 1.5x.  Tolls will be collected electronically at highway speeds, using overhead gantries, with no toll plazas or toll booths (cashless tolling).  Overhead tolling gantries will be placed within each tolling segment along Phase 1 South: American Legion Bridge I-270 to I-370.  The toll rates are determined on a segment-by-segment basis and summed to form a trip. The toll rate per mile may vary within each tolling segment based on traffic conditions, resulting in higher rates in more congested segments and lower rates in less congested segments.  The Executive Director may set or adjust the soft rate cap, operational metrics, or toll zones consistent with the toll ranges established by the MDTA Board.

APPROVED TOLL RATE RANGES, SOFT RATE CAPS, DISCOUNTS (FREE PASSAGE) AND ESCALATION FACTORS FOR VEHICLE CLASSIFICATIONS BY PAYMENT TYPE

¹Total unregistered video surcharge (difference between ETC toll and unregistered video toll amount) cannot exceed $15 per trip. The surcharge is subject to escalation as defined below.
²The minimum trip toll (not per mile) by payment type for all vehicle types would be $0.50 for customers using E-ZPass^®, $0.63 for customers using Pay-By-Plate (Registered Video), and $0.75 for customers using Video Tolling (Unregistered Video).
³Escalation formulas can be found in the 09-30-2021 Board Book.
⁴Customers can receive an early payment discount of 15% off their toll up to $5 for unregistered video trips if paid before notice is mailed.

Elements of the approved toll rate ranges include:

• Minimum and Maximum Toll Rate Ranges: This is the lowest and highest per-mile toll rates that may be charged within any tolling segment. The minimum toll rate also refers to the lowest total toll (not per mile) that may be charged, regardless of how far a vehicle travels, to ensure short Op Lanes trips are charged a flat minimum toll to cover toll collection costs.
• Soft Rate Cap: A per-mile toll rate within each toll rate range that can only be exceeded if and when vehicle speed is reduced, or traffic volumes increase, to predetermined speed and throughput thresholds. The caps protect our customers by ensuring the Section Developer may only exceed a specific per-mile toll rate (within the approved ranges) for the impacted tolling segment as specified by predetermined thresholds. This will provide drivers choosing to use the Op Lanes a faster and more reliable trip.
• Discounts: To provide opportunities for faster, more reliable carpooling, vanpooling and transit options, free passage will be granted in the Op Lanes for High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV) 3+ (all vehicles carrying three or more passengers) and buses, as well as for motorcycles.
• Escalation Factors: The approved toll rate ranges are intended for the duration of the Phase 1 South agreement. For the toll rates to effectively manage demand and ensure reliability for users of the Op Lanes into the future, the maximum toll rate range, soft rate cap and unregistered video surcharge will escalate over time to account for inflation, population employment and income growth. The minimum per-mile toll rate and minimum toll are subject to escalation for inflation only.

For more detailed information, please visit the Public Hearing Virtual Information Room Archive.  *NOTE: The Public Hearing Virtual Information Room Archive reflects MDTA staff’s May 20 proposal. The minimum toll rate range (specifically as shown on Board 25 of 35) was lowered in MDTA staff’s September 30 Recommended Action (recommended toll rate ranges) based on feedback received from the first public comment period and was approved by the MDTA Board on November 18, 2021.

Tolling Videos

Review the video below to learn more about the how the soft rate cap works. *NOTE: The Public Hearing Virtual Information Room Archive reflects MDTA staff’s May 20 proposal. The minimum toll rate range (specifically as shown on Board 25 of 35) was lowered in MDTA staff’s September 30 Recommended Action (recommended toll rate ranges) based on feedback received from the first public comment period and was approved by the MDTA Board on November 18, 2021.

Review the video below to learn more about how dynamic pricing works.

Review the video below to learn more about the how dynamic pricing works.

Information and Studies

In compliance with Maryland Annotated Code Section 4-312, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) is required to provide information and studies used in its analysis to justify a proposed increase in tolls. In accordance with this law, the documents below were used by MDTA staff in developing the toll rate range proposal for Phase 1 South: American Legion Bridge I-270 to I-370. Due to the unique nature of the toll rate range for this project which includes a minimum, maximum, and soft cap, a wide variety of information and studies were used by MDTA staff in their analysis. As such, the documents also include a wide variety of reports, memorandums, letters, and presentations. Many of the documents are highly technical and draw upon the best information and study methodologies available related to toll rate estimation for a dynamically priced HOT lane project. The documents are dated between November 2019 and March 2021.  A detailed review of the documents shows that certain elements of the information and analysis evolved over time to support the toll rate range proposal presented to the MDTA Board on May 20, 2021.

Two of the documents [191104_Final_495270_ManagedLanesTrafficRevenueStudy-Redacted.pdf and 201112_Final_495270_ManagedLaneTollRateSoftRateCapAnalysis-Redacted.pdf] include limited redactions of transaction, traffic, and revenue information. The redactions were made to preserve the Maryland public’s interest in financial negotiations with the Phase 1 Selected Developer and in financial negotiations with Virginia related to the Bi-State Agreement. Toll rate information in these two documents, which was most important for developing the toll rate range proposal, was not redacted. 

• 190809 MDOT 495270 Express Lanes Stated Preference Survey.pdf 11.3 MB Download
• 190900 MDOT 495270 HOT Lanes Independent Economic Assessment.pdf 12.6 MB Download
• 191104 Final 495270 Managed Lanes Traffic Revenue Study-Redacted.pdf 10.3 MB Download
• 200131 495270 Managed Lane Toll Rate Ranges.pdf 698 KB Download
• 200521 PPT P3Program Toll Rate Setting Escalation.pdf  634 KB Download
• 201020 MDTA 495270 Phase I Preliminary Due Diligence.pdf 505 KB Download
• 201100 495270 P3Program Toll Rate Letter Feedback Overview.pdf 401 MB Download
• 201104 Letter MDTA to AMEP Toll Rates.pdf 265 KB Download
• 201104 Letter MDTA to AMP Toll Rate Proposal.pdf 265 KB Download
• 201104 Letter MDTA to CEMP Toll Rates.pdf  265 KB Download
• 201104 Letter MDTA to PMG.pdf 265 KB Download
• 201112 495270 Managed Lane Toll Rate Soft Rate Cap Analysis-Redacted.pdf 994 KB Download
• 201118 Letter AMEP to MDTA Toll Rates.pdf 106 KB Download
• 201118 Letter AMP to MDTA Toll Rates.pdf 355 KB Download
• 201118 Letter CEMP to MDTA Toll Proposal Comments.pdf 304 KB Download
• 201130 Final 495270 P3Program Toll Rate Letter Feedback Overview.pdf 403 MB Download
• 201218 Letter MDTA to AMEP Toll Rate Proposal.pdf 269 KB Download
• 201218 Letter MDTA to AMP Toll Rate Proposal.pdf 267 KB Download
• 201218 Letter MDTA to CEMP Toll Rate Proposal.pdf 268 KB Download
• 210312 495270 P3Program Preliminary Toll Rate Due Diligence Report.pdf 1.6 MB Download