Press Releases - Department of Transportation

For Immediate Release: Thursday, March 3, 2011

Governor O'Malley speaking in front of podium

Governor Martin O’Malley speaks to attendees at the ribbon cutting for the first segment of MD200--the Intercounty Connector. Seated behind the Governor from the left are US Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, MD Department of Transportation Secretary Beverley Swaim-Staley, Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker, III
and MD Senator Jennie Forehand Photo by Edgar Gonzalez

On Presidents’ Day (February 21st), Governor Martin O’Malley and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood joined local officials including County Executive Leggett and MCDOT Director Holmes to celebrate the completion of the first segment of Maryland’s new all-electronic toll road. The Intercounty Connector, officially designated as MD 200, is now open for traffic.

The ICC, which will connect Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, has been in the making for more than half a century. The first segment connects I-270/I-370 at Shady Grove to MD 97 (Georgia Avenue) in Rockville/Olney. A temporary ramp beyond Georgia lets eastbound motorists take Norbeck Road to MD198 to I-95 to reach points north, such as the BWI airport or Baltimore, until the final segments of MD200 are completed, projected for the end of 2011.

An economic catalyst, the $2.56 billion ICC is supporting 4,500 jobs involving more than 200 contractors in its construction alone. An independent study by the University of Maryland projects that the ICC, when fully open, will support the development of about 14,000 jobs in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. The study also found the ICC will save Maryland drivers and businesses an estimated $6.7 billion over the next 20 years in time, fuel, and wear-and-tear on vehicles.

The ICC is one of the “greenest” highways ever built in the nation. More than 15 percent of the project’s budget -- $370 million -- is devoted to mitigating environmental impacts.

All-electronic tolling on the ICC helps maintain free-flowing traffic conditions and improves air quality by eliminating stop-and-go traffic at toll plazas. MD200 will be operated and maintained by the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA). Tolls will be charged based upon miles traveled on the roadway and time of travel, with higher charges occurring during midday and peak hours to manage congestion. The road pricing system will help ensure motorists have a predictable travel time through this corridor. For this first 5.5 mile segment, the toll will be $1.45 during peak hours - Monday to Friday from 6 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. The toll is $1.15 during off-peak hours, and $0.60 overnight. ICC tolls are collected electronically at highway speeds using E-ZPass®. There will be no toll booths or cash toll collection on the ICC. Traveling the ICC without a valid E-Z Pass will result in a “Notice of Toll Due” being sent to the registered owner of the vehicle for the cost of the toll plus a $3.00 service fee.

You can learn more about this and other transportation projects at the Maryland Transportation Authority’s website.