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Maryland Transportation Authority employee Patricia Keeton explains the E-Z Pass transponder to a user after his purchase during Wednesday night's open house in Havre de Grace. (Matt Button | Record Staff, Patuxent Homestead / February 15, 2012) |
Dozens of residents streamed into the Havre de Grace Activity Center on Wednesday for an open house held by the Maryland Transportation Authority about the new E-ZPass program for Hatem Bridge users.
At least 55 people had stopped by the center by about 5:30 p.m., just half an hour after the event started, to ask questions about how the switch from AVI decals to E-ZPass transponders will work and purchase the new transponders, MdTA spokeswoman Teri Moss said.
Moss said a few people arrived about a half an hour before the doors opened, which she said is typical for events in Havre de Grace.
The open house is one of two scheduled in the area. The second will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Feb. 21 at Perryville High School.
"I think most people just ask how it works," Moss said. "Since it's a new thing, they are not sure about the plans, and basically have some questions [like] where you put the transponder."
Moss said the MdTA was not sure how many people to expect, but the 23 staff members on hand clearly had their hands full answering residents' questions.
"Everyone's busy," she said.
Moss said at about 5:30 p.m. they may have to get more staff members to help process E-ZPass payments. At that time, 42 people had already bought E-ZPass transponders.
"A lot of people are paying cash," she noted.
Residents who dropped by the open house mostly had basic questions or were interested in buying a transponder, and appeared very satisfied with MdTA staff as they walked away.
They seemed resigned to the reality that the cost of crossing the bridge would go up, although they were still generally not pleased about it.
George W. Blake and Fred Racine, both of Havre de Grace, were two of those who came to buy transponders.
"We don't like the price, but we have to pay it," Racine said.
Blake said getting the E-ZPass was something residents just needed to do.
"It's just like anything else, you need it," he said.
Lee and Judy Haney, of Aberdeen, said they came because they wanted to clear up some rumors about the transponders.
They had thought the AVI decals would just be exchanged for transponders, and found out that was not the case.
"It would make sense if they would honor that," Lee Haney said about the idea of AVI decals being simply replaced, instead of residents having to buy a transponder.
He also did not see the need for the switch.
"I don't see what's wrong with the AVIs. They have been working for 20 years," he said.
