Community Corner

Parkville Commuters Can Pay Tunnel, Bridge Tolls and Play Santa at Same Time

Donations of new, unwrapped toys will benefit the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program in the Baltimore area.

Commuters who use Maryland Transportation Authority toll facilities, including Dundalk's Francis Scott Key Bridge and Baltimore's two tunnels, can once again play Santa Claus on the way to or from work.

Transportation authority police and other staff members will join U.S. Marine Corps Reserves personnel and Santa Claus in collecting new, unwrapped toys at most Maryland toll facilities from 6 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 11, 12 and 13, according to a statement from MDTA.

All donations will be given to the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots campaign.

Participating facilities, in addition to the Key Bridge, include the Fort McHenry and Baltimore Harbor tunnels, the Bay Bridge, the Gov. Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge (U.S. 301), the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge (U.S. 40) and the Intercounty Connector/MD 200. Toys will also be collected at the Dundalk Marine Terminal.

"We are excited about this opportunity for all of the citizens we serve to donate toys for those less fortunate," MDTA Acting Executive Secretary Bruce W. Gartner said in the statement. "Each year, the men and women of the MDTA look forward to this holiday tradition."

Customers (including E-ZPass commuters) who wish to donate toys should use the far-right toll lane at each facility and follow directions from Santa Claus or MDTA uniformed police officers or other agency staff members.

Toys will be accepted only during the designated times, and toll collectors are unable to accept donations in the toll lanes, according to the statement.

Since the authority started the program in 1990, more than 133,000 toys have been donated by toll facility customers, according to the statement.


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