Long-Term Needs [Explore the Bridge]

Bay Bridge Long-Term Needs

We know Bay Bridge traffic. And we created the Bay CrossingTask Force to examine the range of issues surrounding the need for additional traffic capacity across the Chesapeake Bay, including how to balance the complex environmental, economic, traffic and community impacts. The Task Force consisted of elected officials representing the communities around the Bay, as well as local representatives of the travel, trucking, banking and construction industries that depend on transportation across the Bay. Members of the Task Force worked between May and December 2005, holding five fact-finding meetings and five public information meetings during this time.

In 2006, the Task Force released a comprehensive report on its findings, including all public comment and testimony received. This report assesses and outlines needs associated with the Bay Bridge, including the need for additional Bay crossing traffic capacity. Planning for any future project will occur through federal and state mandated planning and review processes.

The Authority jointly managed a study with the Maryland Transit Administration to determine if transit was a feasible option in addressing the needs identified by the Task Force. In cooperation with the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), Authority staff focused on answering the following questions during the study:

• Would people use a transit-only system across the Bay?

• Would it be cost-effective?

• Would it address Bay Bridge capacity needs without additional highway capacity?

Specifically, the study concluded that:

• The forecasted transit ridership would not meet accepted thresholds for cost-effectiveness.

• On a summer-weekend day, about 2,900 people would switch to transit by 2030, leading to 1,250 fewer cars traveling to the Eastern Shore (a 1.1 % reduction in vehicles).

• For weekday morning rush-hours, about 870 people would switch to transit by 2030, leading to 620 fewer cars heading westbound (a 4.3 % reduction in vehicles).

• Transit service alone will not provide significant relief to either weekday-rush or summer-weekend traffic congestion.

 

Click here to view or download the Task Force Final Report (PDF/10.6MB).

Click here to view or download the Bay Bridge Transit Study (PDF/2.48MB).

Working to Create EZ Passage between Maryland’s Shores