Mackinac Bridge One-Way Toll Study Discussed
Mackinac Bridge One-Way Toll Study Discussed
Three public hearings will be held to release study results.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) have scheduled three public hearings this month to release the results of a study conducted regarding one-way tolls. The sessions will be held in Mackinaw City, St. Ignace and Lansing.
The Mackinaw City session is Thursday, March 25, 1999 at 3:00 p.m. at the Ramada Inn Convention Center, 450 S. Nicolet, Mackinaw City. In St. Ignace, the meeting is at 7:00 p.m. on March 25, 1999 at the Howard Johnson Express Inn, 913 Boulevard Drive. Lansing’s session will be Wednesday, March 31, 1999 at 1:00 p.m. at the Michigan Library and Historical Center, 717 W. Allegan Street.
“The study looked at several areas of the Mackinac Bridge and its operations to determine whether one-way tolls are viable from an operational standpoint,” said State Transportation Director James R. DeSana. “We want to be able to discuss this report with the public, both in the Straits area and in our state capital, and hear our customers’ perspectives on one-way tolls.”
The study looked at three major areas for which the conversion of one-way tolls were evaluated; revenue impacts, including potential traffic diversion from doubling of tolls in one direction; operating and physical requirements, such as toll plaza modifications, speed control, facility accessibility and truck weighing/inspection; and financial impacts, that is, operating and capital costs. One-way tolls have been implemented in various bridge locations in the country, with some savings in operating costs.
“We are pleased to host these public hearings on the important topic of one-way tolls, ” said MBA Executive Secretary Hank Lotoszinski. “We expect to share findings from the study, learn the public’s interest in one-way tolls and come away with a solid customer perception.”
The final report of the study was prepared by Vollmer Associates.
In 1998 fare revenues totaled $10.6 million with more than 4.8 million vehicles crossing the bridge. The Mackinac Bridge opened to traffic on November 1, 1957 and celebrated its 100 millionth vehicle crossing in June 1998.
