 The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) has scheduled public hearings on July 12 and July 14 as part of the toll rate range setting process public comment period for proposed High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes within Phase 1 South: American Legion Bridge I-270 to I-370.
Elements of the MDTA staff tolling proposal for public comment include: Minimum and Maximum Toll Rate Ranges, Soft Rate Caps, Escalation Factors, and Discounts, and are explained further within the Virtual Information Room. The public comment period opened May 20 and continues through August 12. Written and voicemail comments are now being accepted, and the hearings will provide additional opportunity to comment on the proposed toll rate ranges for the official record through verbal public or one-on-one testimony.
Two in-person testimony hearing sessions are being held from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, July 12, at the Hilton Washington D.C./Rockville Hotel & Executive Meeting Center in Rockville, and two call-in testimony hearing sessions are being held from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 14. There will be no formal presentation during the public hearings, and no responses to questions will be given. The public can listen live to the hearings via telephone (855-701-1977) or livestream at mdta.maryland.gov/ALB270TollSetting.
Registration is now open for those wishing to provide testimony during a public hearing. Click here to register or call 888-725-0174.
Members of the public will be allotted three minutes, and elected officials will be allotted five minutes, per person for testimony. Prior to attending a public hearing, the MDTA encourages review of all public hearing materials available in the Virtual Information Room.
The in-person testimony public hearing held on July 12 in Rockville will provide opportunities for verbal public testimony for the record and will be livestreamed. For those who wish, one-on-one testimony can be provided via court reporter in a separate area. Limited printed copies of the informational boards presented in the Virtual Information Room will be available.All MDTA staff and participants at the in-person hearing will be required to follow current CDC guidance regarding COVID-19 precautions. During the sessions, a limited number of registrants may be allowed, socially distanced, in the testimony room. Observers and others in the queue to present testimony will be required to wait in a designated space to allow social distancing within the building.
The July 14 call-in testimony public hearing sessions will allow an opportunity for verbal public testimony via telephone (advanced registration required to be admitted to the phone queue). To provide one-on-one testimony during the call-in hearing sessions, call 855-701-1977 and leave a single voicemail message limited to three minutes.
In addition to the hearings, written comments and call-in testimony through voicemail will be accepted for the official record through 5 p.m. Thursday, August 12. Those interested may:
- submit an electronic comment form;
- download and email a completed comment form to ALB270TollSetting@mdta.maryland.gov;
- print and mail a completed comment form to Phase 1 South: American Legion Bridge I-270 to I-370 Toll Rate Range Public Comment, Maryland Transportation Authority, 2310 Broening Highway, Baltimore, MD 21224; or
- provide call-in testimony at 855-701-1977 and leave a single voicemail that is limited to three minutes.
Visit the Virtual Information Room
ALL COMMENTS received, whether at the hearing or through other methods, will be given EQUAL CONSIDERATION.
If you are unable to access the hearing materials online, or if you require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or require language translation services (free of charge), please contact the MDTA’s Title VI Officer at mdtaeeo@mdta.maryland.gov or at 410-537-6720 at least ten days prior to the first hearing.
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