Maryland Tolls Likely To Rise After 2010 Election

ANNAPOLIS Md. (WUSA) -- Toll increases on Maryland roads are a virtual certainty by 2011 thanks to increasing debt and decreasing revenues at the toll plazas, according to a new state report.

Maryland's Transportation Authority will need a 45% revenue increase in the next two years, according to the analysis from the Department of Legislative Services.  The hikes are likely to come after the 2010 statewide election.

Debt for construction of the Intercounty Connector in Montgomery County is significantly affecting the agency's balance sheet, the report says. Currently 53% of the Transportation Authority's budget is dedicated to ICC construction.

Montgomery County officials are pushing back against proposed tolls of more than $6 to drive the new roadway end to end.

Elsewhere, no specific proposals for toll increases have been made, but Transportation Authority officials acknowledge the expected increases system wide.

"It's more money out of my pocket every day it seems for taxes and other people's projects that I'm not concerned about," said motorist Brenda Kidwell as she prepared to cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.