Bay Bridge Truck Tolls Rise

Truckers will be marking the new year by paying higher tolls in Maryland. The $6 to $12 bump in tolls on Maryland Transportation Authority highways, bridges and tunnels is part of a two-tiered hike approved in September. Transportation officials say they need to raise about $225-million more by 2014 to keep from defaulting on bond payments. Tractor-trailers will pay $24 to cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and $36 on Interstate 95 and the Hatem Bridge on Route 40. Cars and other two-axle vehicles saw an increase in November. The authority says it saw November revenue from two-axle vehicles jump 36 percent to $21.7-million when compared to last year. Both car and truck rates will increase again July 1, 2013.