Hatem Bridge Toll Increases

Wow, what huge increases are being proposed in the toll fees to cross over the Hatem Bridge spanning the Susquehanna River between Havre De Grace and Perryville.

Surely Harford and Cecil County residents have helped pay for this bridge many times over. With the economic recession hitting both counties and the job opportunities created by BRAC it seems we should be promoting local commuter traffic between the two counties rather than penalizing it.

Obviously daily consumer shopping will be hampered by this extra financial burden. It seems our local state elected officials were either caught napping or have no clout to protect the citizenry.

Several weeks ago Senator Nancy Jacobs did issue a press release expressing her opposition to these increases. I marveled then that personal press releases fall short of actually getting the job done.

Do you think Senator Jacobs has any political clout at all in Annapolis?

The answer to that may well lie in her record of support or lack of support for the transportation needs of Harford and Cecil counties.

Did you know she voted against the funding for the extensive improvements now being completed on the Hatem Bridge? Did you know she voted against the funding for all road, bridge, and transportation improvements in Harford and Cecil counties for the last five years? Did you know that she also supported shifting funds out of the highway transportation trust fund to fund other non-transportation issues in the Maryland budget?

With that record what kind of clout do you think she has in Annapolis on this subject? Do you think she may have a credibility problem? 

Herein lies our fate on the toll increases.