Toll Bridge Rate Hike May Force Residents to Take Alternate Route
By: Sujata Khandelwal
Updated: November 14, 2012
OLDTOWN, MD - Drivers have been paying to cross Oldtown Bridge for at least 30 years, but the dollars don't go to the state, they go to a private group.
"I appreciate the toll bridge, 100 percent," says Carolyn Wilson, a lifelong Oldtown resident.
It was built in the 1930s as a convenient way to get over the Potomac River to Cumberland. It has been an affordable shortcut costing just $0.50 one-way, but that could soon change.
"What this is going to amount to is my business from Oldtown is going to stop," says Ray Emerick, a Green Spring business owner.
Earlier this year the Historical Oldtown Bridge Preservation proposed a rate hike to the state's public service commission. In testimony given last year, the bridge's owner said the overall condition of the bridge was poor and that the needed repairs couldn't be made.
Residents on both sides of the bridge say they understand it needs repairs and can even appreciate that a rate hike is necessary, but they say to go from $1 to $4 round-trip is just too much.
"They're in it to make a profit, and they need the money to maintain it," says Larry house, an Oldtown business owner. "It's just that everybody needs to get together and be more fair."
"I agree that she needs an increase," says Emerick. "Her employees need an increase. We need maintenance on the bridge, but we need to be realistic here. She's asking for way too much."
The proposal also eliminates the discounted monthly pass, which costs $14. Residents say if that happens, they won't be able to use the bridge anymore.
"It's just ridiculous they want to take away the monthly pass," says Tina Rapson, a Green Spring resident.
"The monthly pass, we need that," says Wilson.
Residents say the toll may go up as early as January. If implemented, the new rates are expected to generate more than $250,000 annually.
"I appreciate the toll bridge, 100 percent," says Carolyn Wilson, a lifelong Oldtown resident.
It was built in the 1930s as a convenient way to get over the Potomac River to Cumberland. It has been an affordable shortcut costing just $0.50 one-way, but that could soon change.
"What this is going to amount to is my business from Oldtown is going to stop," says Ray Emerick, a Green Spring business owner.
Earlier this year the Historical Oldtown Bridge Preservation proposed a rate hike to the state's public service commission. In testimony given last year, the bridge's owner said the overall condition of the bridge was poor and that the needed repairs couldn't be made.
Residents on both sides of the bridge say they understand it needs repairs and can even appreciate that a rate hike is necessary, but they say to go from $1 to $4 round-trip is just too much.
"They're in it to make a profit, and they need the money to maintain it," says Larry house, an Oldtown business owner. "It's just that everybody needs to get together and be more fair."
"I agree that she needs an increase," says Emerick. "Her employees need an increase. We need maintenance on the bridge, but we need to be realistic here. She's asking for way too much."
The proposal also eliminates the discounted monthly pass, which costs $14. Residents say if that happens, they won't be able to use the bridge anymore.
"It's just ridiculous they want to take away the monthly pass," says Tina Rapson, a Green Spring resident.
"The monthly pass, we need that," says Wilson.
Residents say the toll may go up as early as January. If implemented, the new rates are expected to generate more than $250,000 annually.
