The State of Maryland released a report from the Federal Highway Administration showing the total cost of the proposed ICC, a 6 lane toll-road from I-270 to Route 1 in Laurel, has risen to $1.8-2.1 billion in 2004 dollars, not including interest and financing costs.
“These increasing costs do not include likely cost overruns or financing taxpayers will have to foot the bill for,” said Dolores Milmoe, Audubon Naturalist Society’s Maryland conservation advocate. “As we’ve said all along, this is a $3 billion highway that mortgages Maryland’s transportation future on a single toll-highway.”
The State’s Department of Legislative Services estimated the total cost of the ICC at $3 billion last year. This included $1.7 billion in construction costs and $1.2-1.3 billion in financing costs.
“Now the total cost would be $3-4 billion. Plus drivers would pay a $5 toll for each trip. What services and projects will be cut to pay for this?” asked Laura Olsen, Assistant Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. “We can’t afford to spend $3 billion or more on a project the state has said will not relieve traffic on the beltway, I-95 or I-270.”
Earlier this year, the State Highway Administration reversed claims that the ICC would relieve traffic on the beltway or other major highways.
Milmoe and other opponents of the ICC point out that the high cost of an ICC monopolizes large amounts of Maryland’s available credit and funding for more important capital investments and transportation upkeep—making it more difficult to build other projects such as the Baltimore Regional Rail Plan and the Corridor Cities Transitway.
“To truly address traffic congestion problems across the state, we need a variety of transportation solutions working together, options that provide people with more choices about how they get around and where they live and work. An ICC would put all our eggs in one basket. It promises less choices and more driving. We can do better,” finished Milmoe.
The Audubon Naturalist Society supports greater equality in the use of Maryland’s scarce transportation funds, including investments in transit, and improvements to existing roads all across the state. Audubon Naturalist Society is also calling for a greater focus on transit oriented development of homes, businesses and retail which can reduce traffic congestion while preserving air and water quality.
