Toll plan for controversial ICC released

GREENBELT, Md. -- Supporters say it will improve your commute, but just how much will the controversial Intercounty Connector cost drivers who plan to use the road?

When it opens, the 18.8 mile ICC, which will link the I-370/270 corridor in Montgomery County to the I-95/U.S. 1 corridor in Prince George's County, will be a toll road. On Wednesday, the Maryland Transportation Authority approved preliminary plans for how much it will cost to take a ride on the ICC.

"For passenger vehicles, the proposed ranges would allow the tolls to vary from 25 cents to 35 cents per mile during the peak travel periods, and then 20 to 30 cents (per mile) during the off peak periods," Maryland Transportation Secretary Beverley Swaim-Staley says.

The peak travel period in this case would be between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. weekdays, and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays.

"We do want to emphasize that we anticipate that the average trip length will be 6.6 miles. So, under this scenario that would cost between $1.65 and $2.35 for the peak, or $1.35 and $2.00 for the off peak. That's for your regular two axle passenger vehicle."

In addition, the rates can rise or fall given the level of congestion on the roadway. But unlike HOT (High Occupancy Toll) lanes, the ICC will not change the rates for the road on a daily basis. If a rate is going to be raised or lowered, there will be 10 days advanced notice before that happens.

"For instance, if we start out with a rate of 30 cents per mile and we chose to reduce it to 28 cents per mile, we'll notify the public -- give them 10 days notification -- and then actually implement that change," said Ron Freeland with the MdTA

If there is a scenario where there is too much congestion on the roadway, and rates have to be raised beyond the current approved range, that process would have to go back to another public hearing.

"If the road becomes congested immediately, we will go through the public comment period again," Freeland says. "We do have regulations that require us to go through a public comment period if we were to raise the top rate per mile for a two axle vehicle from let's say 35 cents to 40 cents."

Estimates from the MdTA show that less than 5 percent of traffic would actually ride the ICC for its entire length. But with the current numbers, a trip along the entire tolled portion of the roadway would cost as much as $6.15 during the peak hours and $5.30 during the off peak hours.

The approved rates now go out for a public comment period, and are not final. The MdTA hopes to nail down a final range of numbers in December.

However the final numbers shake out, how you actually pay for the tolls could vary. The ICC is going to be a completely electronic tolling system with no toll booths, just overhead transponders.

E-Z pass users will simply cruise down the road and have their toll tacked on or subtracted from their account. However, if you do not have an E-Z pass, cameras will snap a picture of your license plate and a bill will be sent in the mail. That bill also comes with a $3 service fee for the process of taking the picture, finding who the vehicle belongs to and the sending out a bill.

The first segment of the ICC, from I-370 to MD 97 (Georgia Avenue) is scheduled to open in the fall of 2010. The entire roadway is scheduled to be open in late 2011 or early 2012.

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