Maryland Express Toll Lanes
Regardless of whether Maryland uses a public-partnership to add capacity to the Beltway, the state is considering two alternatives that would use ETLs to raise revenue and help relieve congestion. These managed lanes would have variable or "value" pricing structures that work in a similar way as familiar peak period pricing and discount programs routinely offered by utilities, airlines, and transit systems. ETL programs can be structured to encourage motorists to travel during off-peak traffic hours and offer a fee-based alternative to reduce their commuting time during peak hours. An electronic toll collection system eliminates the need for tollbooths.
The State Highway Administration recommends further study on the below three alternatives for I-495 in Maryland (see Figure 10).
• Alternative I - No Build. This alternative includes routine maintenance and safety improvements but no additional lanes. It will serve as the basis of comparison for all other alternatives.
• Alternative II - 8 General Purpose and 2 Express Toll Lanes. This alternative provides one additional, tolled concurrent flow (no barrier separation) lane per direction. Tolls would vary based on traffic conditions or time of day. Although this alternative provides a more cost effective option with the use of Express Toll Lanes, it has limited revenue as there is only one toll lane in each direction. In addition, the inability to pass vehicles in the toll lane will reduce travel time savings.
• Alternative III - 6 General Purpose and 4 Express Toll Lanes. This alternative provides one additional, tolled lane per direction and it would convert one existing general-purpose lane per direction into a tolled lane. Similar to Alternative II, tolls would vary based on traffic conditions and time of day. This alternative would generate the maximum revenue because there would be two tolled lanes in each direction; therefore, it could provide a potentially cost-effective solution to Beltway congestion.
Figure 10: Diagrams of SHA Alternative for Further Study
Alternative I - No-Build
Alternative II - 8 General-Purpose and 2 Express Toll Lanes
Alternative III - 6 General-Purpose and 4 Express Toll Lanes
