Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. talking points for meeting with the Maryland Highway Contractors Association, November 19, 2003

& oust- " T&'_ ftw^- t*'r* - fAO'Si1'3^ _ 0 £улЯ.»/'лС*,Т POSSIBLE TALKING POINTS RE: MARYLAND TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY PROGRAM fieVBRNOR’S MEETING WITH MARYLAND HIGHWAY , ' CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION . "In/o^. ч£> czh cfarylancN Transportation Authority recently increased standard toll rates at the Baltimore Harbor and Susquehanna River crossings. - /чрлв£+ Ъ£- I xjse&v&l W> S»' Benefits of the toll increase,- the increase will provide sufficient revenues to allow MdTA to: - fund its $1.5 billion capital program in the FY 2004 - 2009 period - allows MdTA to provide healthy and prudent fund balance and, - retains MdTA’s bonding capacity, (approximately $1 billion.) Bonding capacity could be used for: ^ ■ up to $350 million for the ICC (supplementing other funds for project) up to $400 million to help fund other projects which might go into MdTA’s program - or to be available as a “safety net” for additional ICC related costs if necessary reserve of $250 million for emergency / unanticipated events • Most importantly: a toll increase would allow MdTA to: - Address congestion, - Maintain and improve its aging facilities, - While maintaining its strong financial position, and Preserving capacity to address unanticipated needs as they arise. Toll increases will generated additional revenues of $60 million this year, and $95 to $100 million each year after • Re: MdTA Capital Proeram: • Growing from just under $60 million per year (prior to FY 2002) to $245 million per year average FY 04 - 09 Total FY 04-09 - nearly $1.5 billion