25 Percent of Hatem E-ZPass Plans Sold To Locals

Only one quarter of the E-ZPass plans sold since February have gone to local residents, state officials say.

The Maryland Transportation Authority announced this week that since February. In an email to Friday morning, an MdTA spokeswoman said only 6,300 of those were sold to residents in and .

MdTA Marketing Coordinator Lesli P. Leath told Patch in an email that the agency has "determined that of the approximately 26,000 Hatem Bridge E-ZPass Plans sold since February, nearly 4,000 accounts were opened by Havre de Grace residents and over 2,300 accounts were opened by residents of Perryville."

The AVI decals preferred by most local residents remains in use through September 30, at which time the bar code stickers will no longer be accepted at the Hatem Bridge toll plaza.

The Hatem-specific E-ZPass plan—or "Choice A"—is the "AVI equivalent," the MdTA said.

A transponder will cost $10 for unlimited trips in the next year.

E-ZPass transponders are offered in two options:

• CHOICE A: an E-ZPass for use on the  only. The annual fee is $10, with no fees, pre-paid toll deposits or account statements. The transponder is free until Jan. 31, 2013, when the price moves to $9 for a new transponder. This option is considered the "AVI equivalent" by the MdTA.
• CHOICE B: an E-ZPass valid wherever E-ZPass is accepted. This account is $10 per year for  use, and includes a $25 pre-paid balance for use at other toll facilities. It is subject to a transponder charge and a monthly account fee, unless used at least three times the previous month to pay tolls in Maryland. This plan offers a 10 percent discount off the cash rate at Maryland toll plazas. It is considered the more flexible option by the MdTA.

The annual rate for the Hatem Choice A plan goes to $20 on July 1, 2013. For more on the plans, click here.

Transponders can be purchased at stop-in centers. The MdTA advises commuters to utilize the stop-in center along Interstate 95 in Perryville. The JFK I-95 E-ZPass stop-in center is accessible via MD Route 222 at Turnpike Drive. It is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays through September.

Plans are available at other stop-in centers, including the one at Hatem Bridge—which officials say is likely to be more crowded than the Interstate 95 facility. 

The Hatem Bridge is one of three options to cross the  in Maryland—along with the Tydings Bridge (Interstate 95) and the Conowingo Dam (U.S. Route 1).

TELL US: Have you purchased an E-ZPass plan for the Hatem Bridge? Will you purchase one before September 30? Leave a comment.