THE LAST time Maryland highway planners floated the idea of express toll lanes - on Interstate 270 and Route 50 - it was met with a storm of demagogic criticism highlighted by Gov. Parris N. Glendening's decrying them as sprawl makers and "Lexus lanes" and canceling a study of the idea.
But little opposition was expressed this spring after the administration of Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. unveiled its proposals for installing express toll lanes, or ETLs, along the busiest Maryland highways, which included the state's two beltways and Interstate 95.
Of course, silence doesn't mean approval; many legislators and other officials are no doubt reserving judgment and allowing the idea to be fleshed out before committing themselves.
ETLs are one of the few interesting, new ideas for how to combat highway congestion. They are best envisaged as mini-toll roads that allow pressed-for-time motorists to pay a toll electronically and bypass the more congested main lanes. To keep traffic moving, the toll would increase with congestion, thus using pricing to discourage motorists from overwhelming the ETLs.
The rationale for ETLs is that Maryland can't build its way out of traffic congestion with traditional gas-tax-funded roads. There isn't the money, and at zero price, the traffic will always overwhelm the available road space in peak hours. Maryland also can't build its way out of congestion with fanciful new commuter rail lines because those hyper-expensive projects don't attract enough people to make a difference.
The state can't prevent roadway congestion, but it can provide motorists a premium service. That way, people can confidently make trips for which it is especially important to be punctual. When driving to the airport, to a job interview or to pick up their children from day care, people of all income groups will know they can arrive in time - if they pay the price.
Tolled express lanes have been tried on a smaller scale elsewhere in the United States with very good results.
California pioneered the idea with 10 miles of express lanes (built with private financing) on State Route 91 in Orange County and also with the so-called HOT lanes on Interstate 15 in San Diego. Texas has used the idea on a smaller scale on two freeways in Houston.
Several places have successfully used varying toll rates to manage traffic flow. In New York, the George Washington Bridge over the Hudson River and the Lincoln and Holland tunnels underneath it use varying tolls.
