Bridge Transportation

**Young Spark** · 05-15-2007 11:19 PM

I found this to be a bit surprising to me. I was reading on WJZ-13 (Baltimore News Station) about the MdTA (Maryland Transportation Authority) offering to drive people across the "Chesapeake Bay Bridge." Now for some who don't know Maryland, this is a 4.5 mile bridge that connects the lower Eastern shore with Annapolis and up to Baltimore and D.C., etc.

But in the wake of a deadly accident on this bay bridge last week, MdTA has passed over the transporting across the bay bridge to a private company (you can read about the crash on the WJZ.com website if you can find it around the site somewhere.)

I visited the website of this "private company" and can you absolutely believe how high their prices are, and assuming that the MdTA usually transports 4,000 people across the bridge a YEAR (now with this accident, that number is sure to rise.)

Here is what I believe is easy money, transporting these people across the bay bridge... and to believe it's $25-$30 for ONE WAY transporting, and it only takes like 10 minutes to get over the bridge. They can make easily almost $2,000 a day assuming that they take 10 people across an hour. Subtract tha gas, your looking at only $200-$250 a day for gas.

What is everyone's opinion on this "bridge transporting?" Kind of makes me wanna go jump in a car and throw a transporting sticker on the side of it and start making money

**Deejay** · 05-15-2007 11:40 PM

Why can't people drive accross it themselves? Or is this aimed at people with no cars? Why can't they just catch a taxi?

Whats so special about this bridge that people pay to be driven accross it?

Damn im confused....

**Young Spark** · 05-15-2007 11:49 PM

Becuase, a lot of people are paranoid to drive across it cause:

1. Its 4.5 miles long
2. Your 180 feet in the air above the water
3. Alot of people get to driving across it, then STOP!!!! in the middle of the bridge because their having panic attacks

http://www.roadstothefuture.com/Ches...tos-Nov05.html

That should give you some ideas of how big it is.

THIS'LL DEFINITELY GIVE YOU A PICTURE: http://www.roadstothefuture.com/Bay-...R-Nov05-12.jpg <<

**SAMG** · 05-16-2007 09:52 AM

I do know this bridge, as I go to Ocean City, MD usually every 2-3 weeks. There is nothing in my opinion special about this bridge. Maybe is because where I live I cross a bridge about 15 times a day, over the river, or because I used to live in southern Florida and crossed bridges all the time. But I dont think this bridge is special enough to pay to be transported across it. Yea it looks like its going to fall any minute, but I don't think they would let you drive across it if there was risk of it falling. I don't see any profit in this type of business at all.

**Young Spark** · 05-16-2007 02:53 PM

^^ Yeah but too many on the eastern shore, it is a valuable asset (the bay bridge is.) As its purely described, its the main artery connecting the lower eastern shore with upper Maryland... if the bridge's were to fall, many people would either have to take Rt. 13 highway up through Delaware or US-301 up to Newark, DE... then take I-95 south... which is a major pain in the a**! And that's just to get to places like Annapolis, Glen Burnie, Germantown, Silver Springs, D.C., Baltimore, etc.

They are in talks of building either a ferry or a third-span... I am all for the third span, but atleast have the decensy to make the third span more safe... or they could even counstruct onto the current bridge span (the 2-way eastbound bridge.) This'll cut back from the 2 way traffic on the westbound bridge. I highly doubt myself they'll build the ferry because of the fact that it'll somewhat be interfering with boats trying to enter into the Port of Baltimore which is around the area. So yeah, its kind of hard to actually construct a ferry that'll be forced to only cross when no large vessels are coming through.

**Paint and Air Sportz** · 05-16-2007 03:08 PM

the only problem is, is that ther are currently only driving 10.9 people a day (4000 divided by 365)

**postman da rich kid** · 05-16-2007 03:47 PM

4,000 people a year isnt very many. And I still don't get why people can't drive or take a taxi. But we don't have no bridges down here in Los Angeles so if it is how you say it is, sounds like a good hustle to me.

**Young Spark** · 05-16-2007 09:27 PM

Paint: Not really, with the accident, its sure to be more (their estimating 8000-10000) -- so you may wanna adjust your numbers a bit.

Postman: There really isn't many taxi's around here and some want to drive themselves, but want somebody to take them across the bridge because of the height paranoids some of them. So yeah... that's why.

**SAMG** · 05-17-2007 10:16 AM

I did read the article, I just can't believe people would pay that much just to cross one time? But even if the numbers double of people willing to pay. You will surely have to buy a specialized insurance. Normal car insurance will not cover a business of this type. And they are going to want to know what kind of business you conduct, and if this bridge is known as dangerous, and they know of this rep that it has. Then they might be inclined to charge you alot more, knowing that you will just be traveling back and forth on it, with pob's.

As to a solution for a new bridge. I think they should build in the middle of the two bridges, connect them and make one service lane in the center of the bridge. Same amount of lanes on each side of bridge. And on westbound, they need to repair the road, they have grates that make up parts of the road, and when your driving on it, your tires hit them and move the car back and forth. Build in the middle, make it 3-4 lanes on each side, and a service lane, seperate by concrete barriers. I do disagree with the decision to have east bound traveling on west bound lane once and a while, that is very dangerous. As for the fairy, terrible idea. There are many ships coming in the harbor, its just not going to work. But if you can make it work Spark, then get out there and get that money before someone else does.

**Young Spark** · 05-17-2007 12:45 PM

^^ I would, but I don't think its a business for me. Sure, its probably profitable and everything but I'll leave it to the "professionals." I like your idea's for the keeping the bridge safe... if your a politician (I'm not... sorry

) why not propose it (your idea)

**SAMG** · 05-17-2007 08:40 PM

I hate politicians, so no plans on that happening in the future. But hey if someone wants to steal the idea, go ahead.

**Young Spark** · 05-18-2007 07:04 AM

^^ Yeah, I agree, well anyway, hopefully something good will come out of all this. Whatever they do, they need to make the change quick before another accident happens.