Good afternoon all,
Some readers were not happy with the news that the U.S. Department of Transportation was handing out a federal BUILD grant of more than $22 million for a system aimed at reducing chances of a catastrophe that would occur if a ship collided with piers that support the twin spans.
They point out that the announcement comes on the heels of a proposed toll increase from $4 to $5.
Longtime Delaware River and Bay Authority spokesman James Salmon noted that the he ship collision protection system runs $45 million. The BUILD grant will make a nice down payment on the project.
Salmon also pointed out that the DRBA has more than $440 million in projects planned over the next five years. Current tolls are not sufficient to finance the projects in the pipeline. In other words, the BUILD grant won’t make much of a dent.
The twin spans are getting up there in age, with the younger of the two now a half-century old and the original structure pushing 68.
The Memorial Bridge is a bargain of sorts since spans to the north and east charge $5.
The projected toll hike is more evidence that drivers can expect states to look to tolls to pay for the cost of highways as gas tax revenues remain stagnant. Fuel economy continues to improve and more electric vehicles are taking to the highways. Moreover, we haven’t seen a federal gas tax increase since the 1990s.
Early work is underway on a way to charge drivers by miles driven. So far that idea is about as popular as a skunk at a picnic.
Delaware legislators have avoided a gas tax increase by keeping the I-95 turnpike tolls among the most expensive to drive in the nation on a per mile basis.
The pot is sweetened by Delaware getting away with charging tolls in both directions. That’s not the case with the Delaware Memorial Bridge and the I-95 and 40 bridge tolls in Maryland.
For motorists not getting off on Route 40 in Delaware, a trip down the Jersey Turnpike along I-95, combined tolls can cost more than 30 cents a mile. In the meantime, technology continues to advance and we could one day see toll roads on other routes. Ouch.
Let me know what you think. Hit return on this message and start typing. – Doug Rainey, publisher.
