Stop the "Luxury Lane Water Tax"

The Washington Suburban Sanitation Commission (WSSC) estimates widening I-495 and I-270 for high-cost Luxury Lanes could increase our water bills by as much as 58% over the first ten years and by 277% over 40 years! Read the Washington Post coverage on this issue here.

WSSC told county officials today the $11 billion Luxury Lane plan could cost another $2 billion to move water and sewer mains. That means every WSSC customer in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties will foot the bill. The Washington Post reported that the WSSC estimated that this could reach $2,253 per typical household over the next 40 years

This huge potential increase in water bills for Montgomery & Prince George’s County residents is a complete surprise. In over two years of testimony and public meetings MDOT hasn’t said one word about us footing a $2 billion construction bill for the Luxury Lane company.

First, MDOT wouldn’t tell us how high the tolls will be—and now this. What other “surprises” are waiting for us?

ACTION ITEM

Send a message to Environment and Transportation Committee Chair Kumar Barve before Monday March 16th, a key legislative deadline. His contact information is here.

Tell him to “Say No to the Luxury Lane Water Tax” and “Yes to protecting Maryland” from predatory privatized highway boondoggles. Be sure to include your home address in the e-mail.

Sample Letter

Dear Delegate Barve:

According to Thursday’s Washington Post, the WSCC told the Montgomery and Prince George’s County Councils that paying off the debt to move utilities as part of toll lane construction “would cause customers’ water and sewer rates to swell by 277 percent over the next four decades. That would translate to the typical household paying an additional $2,253 over that time.”

This is unacceptable! Governor Hogan promised that the I-270/I-495 P3 Program would not cost taxpayers a dime.

As you know, Delegate Barve, many of your constituents are very much opposed to the I-270 toll lane plan. To ask them and hundreds of thousands of others to foot this Luxury Lane Water Tax is unconscionable. Please protect us from this travesty.