The company that operates the Liberty Bridge and Independence Bridges in Bay City is proposing to raise tolls starting in 2027, increasing the tension between Bay City Bridge Partners (BCBP) and city officials.
Class one vehicles will still cross for free. Non-residents with an E-ZPass will see tolls increase by 50 cents. Those without a transponder will see a $2 increase. Bay City residents with a BC-PASS will not see increases. Tolls also depend on the size of the vehicle.
BCBP is a private company that controls the toll prices for the Liberty and Independence bridges. The city leases the bridges out to BCBP as part of an agreement for the company to maintain and operate the bridges for at least 75 years. In exchange, BCBP receives revenue from the toll rates that they set.
Bay City Mayor Christopher Girard said he is concerned that the toll increases are a breach of the agreement.
“They may well be in their rights to make this increase, but we have not received the documentation showing that,” Girard told WCMU. “And, there needs to be a justification for certain tolling structures. That's set forth in Michigan law.”
The bridges, along with the toll-free, publicly owned Veterans Memorial Bridge, allow vehicles to cross over the Saginaw River, which divides the east and west sides of Bay City. The Lafayette Bridge is also toll free and publicly owned, though it has been closed for renovations. Girard says a toll increase would pose risks to the community.
“Truthfully, the economic harm to our community is going to be pretty substantial to some of our smaller businesses,” Girard said. "I understand they came to the community to provide a solution. However, some of the promises made for that solution, including a toll path and options that are affordable to people coming to our community, haven't been met.”
Girard described the relationship between the city and BCBP as “strained," and blames it on a lack of communication. He says it isn't just tolling rates that have caused tension.
"There's been a history and pattern, unfortunately, by the company to charge pretty significant late charges, pretty significant fees if people don't pay within a pretty quick timeframe and they have a billing practice or collections practice that actually makes threats to folks that have used the tolls," Girard said. He added that he has asked the Michigan attorney general's office to make sure that BCBP is complying with Michigan law.
BCBP did not respond to WCMU's request for comment for this story. But, in a press release, they stated that the toll increases are "intended to support the long-term sustainability and maintenance of these critical transportation assets."
The company says public comments will be considered within the next 30 days. Public comments on the proposed rate increase can be emailed to info@baycitybridgepartners.com, or sent by mail.
