It’s no surprise that many people – including many elected officials – simply accept MDOT’s endlessly repeated message: “The toll lanes will reduce congestion for all.”
MDOT has made it virtually impossible for the public to penetrate the vast, extraordinarily complex, and intentionally opaque toll-lane project or the Public Private Partnership (P3) agreement that governs it.
But we’ve found that a straightforward message, coupled with supporting evidence, is consistently successful at influencing people’s opinions: “Tolls will be sky-high. Traffic jams will get worse.”
Read the compelling details behind the winning argument, below, and check out what Transurban's CEO just said about toll lanes on the Beltway.
But first, see the Action Item that can help us amplify our message and much more, in surprising ways.
Action Item
We’re at the intense beginning of Maryland’s political campaign season. The outcome of the 2022 elections – particularly the gubernatorial, comptroller, and county leadership races – could have a huge impact on the outcome of the P3 project.
Right now, the fluid field of candidates is actively jockeying for support, contributions, and votes. It’s easier now than at almost any other time to get the attention of these candidates – including current office-holders at high levels. It’s an unrivaled opportunity for any of us to get them talking about what’s wrong with the toll-lane project, competing for the votes of everyone opposed to the toll lanes, and publicly spreading our messages.
Here are action guidelines for getting access to candidates, deciding what to ask for, and achieving what you want.
Make the connections
Try to literally put yourself in the path of candidates who can influence the course of the toll-road project. Here are the declared candidates for governor. A quick online search will show candidates for comptroller, county leadership positions, and others. Most have websites with contact information.
Connect with the candidates at in-person public forums, debates, fundraisers, and political party gatherings or at virtual gatherings where you can ask questions.
Take DontWiden270 signs or similar ones to hold up at events. The point is to keep the issue front and center.
Get in touch with campaign staff to see if you and like-minded activists can meet with a candidate or if they will come to a community or interest group event you’ll help organize.
Hold out for clear answers
When you talk to candidates, either one-on-one or via questions at meetings, be direct about your opposition to the toll lanes and ask for their position on the project.
Your goal is to have them oppose the project publicly.
Give them compelling examples of the harm the project will do, with a focus on the unaffordable tolls and increased congestion in the reduced number of free lanes.
Don’t accept easy statements like, “MDOT needs to stay within the existing right of way.” A candidate who wants your support has to be unequivocal in rejecting the P3 project.
Urge them to put their position in writing.
Focus on results
If the candidate is not well informed about the project – and many will not be – offer to help educate them or refer them to others who can. Encourage them to visit the DontWiden270.org and Citizens Against Beltway Expansion websites.
Send follow-up information about the impact of high tolls and increased congestion on the candidate’s potential constituents. Share information on any and all aspects of the project’s financial, environmental, community, public policy, transportation policy, and environmental and social justice deficiencies. Tell them why you and other constituents are personally opposed.
Monitor the candidate’s campaign website to see if they have posted or changed their positions on the toll lanes.
Keep following up.
Let them know you will publicly share the news when they declare a final position, whatever that may be. Be sure and thank them if they go public with opposition to the project.
For information about the 2022 Maryland election, including primary and general election dates and lists of certified candidates (most have until February 22 to submit forms), see the Maryland Board of Elections.
Evidence you can use to support our winning argument.
How we know the tolls will be exorbitant
According to Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) toll-range calculations, the initial maximum toll rate for Phase 1 South would be $3.76/mile in 2021 dollars.
Using MDTA’s yearly toll escalation factor (p. 6), the maximum toll rate when the express lanes would open in 2026 will be over $4/mile.
At over $4/mile, the rush-hour cost to go the 12 miles from Rockville to the American Legion Bridge (ALB) would be approximately $50 each way.
How we know the toll lanes will create congestion
Significant portions of lower I-270 currently have an HOV-2 lane plus six additional lanes on each side.
The toll-lane plan converts the HOV-2 lanes to HOT-3 tolled lanes. This removes one of the currently free-of-charge lanes in each direction and creates new congestion.
MDOT’s final Alternative 9 design calls for just five free lanes outside the toll lanes on each side of lower I-270. This further reduction of free lanes guarantees new congestion all along lower I-270. At I-370, the existing bottleneck will be worse.
Per MDOT’s own presentation, an additional bottleneck will be created at Old Georgetown Road.
Source: MDOT presentation to NCPC, Nov. 7, 2019
Transurban CEO says Beltway toll lanes are very much on the table
Transurban is MDOT’s P3 partner and the Australian for-profit conglomerate that will – if the Governor gets his way – design and build “our” toll lanes, then manage and maintain them for 50 years. To Transurban, we’re just a step to a very profitable future. In a recent interview, company CEO Scott Charlton shared his plans to encircle DC with toll-roads.
“Charlton says…while lucrative in its own right, delivering the first section of [Maryland’s express lanes] also sets his company up to win future stages of the project, valued at another $US9 billion to $US11 billion over the next decade or so. That would give Transurban a continuous network of roads through Maryland and Virginia that encircle Washington DC.
“Charlton says Transurban’s growing footprint around the US capital (with 85 kilometres of express lanes operating currently) also positions it to bid for other roads across America, where there are between $US200 billion to $US300 billion worth of toll roads owned by state or local governments.”
Governor Hogan and Transurban CEO Scott Charlton during Hogan’s 2019 trip to Australia