WCBC

May 24th, 2013 by WCBC Radio

As the summer travel season starts this weekend, motorists can expect higher gasoline taxes, and higher tolls starting July 1. The toll hikes will be the second increase to take effect in 18 months, after the Maryland Transportation Authority approved the toll increases in September, 2011.  The toll increases took effect in November of that year. EZ-Pass customers are already being notified, and the Maryland Transportation Authority has posted the notice of the toll increase on its website. Tolls at the Bay Bridge and Nice Bridge in Southern Maryland will increase from $4 to $6. When the authority considered the toll increase in 2011, many motorists and lawmakers complained about the toll hike.  Some motorists said they would stop using the crossings, but Deb Sharpless, the deputy executive director of the Maryland Transportation Authority, says it appears the authority is seeing roughly the same number of motorists use the crossings. Sharpless says the state's toll roads, bridges and tunnels are run by the Maryland Transportation Authority and are funded through toll hikes- so that is where all of the revenue goes…