A Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) committee failed to reach a consensus as to who should qualify as a frequent commuter and whether restrictions should be imposed on commuter debit cards when it met in Lansing Friday, October 24. The committee could meet again in November, and the full board is expected to approve a commuter policy when it meets December 12.

"They're fairly close as far as just with wrapping up a few of the details and moving forward with a recommendation to the full board," said Bob Sweeney, executive secretary of the Authority.

The three-member committee discussed several options, including lowering the minimum purchase level for commuter cards and setting expiration dates for the cards, Mr. Sweeney said. Current commuter cards require a minimum purchase of $80.

The committee is leaning toward imposing an expiration date, Mr. Sweeney said, mentioning one to three months as possible expiration terms being considered.

The committee is uncomfortable recommending a geographical restriction on who can use the commuter discount based on their proximity to the bridge, he said.

"I think they're uncomfortable setting up an elite group," he said. "It's open to everybody. If you can use these amount of trips within that amount of time" you should be eligible.

Commuters now pay $1.60 to cross the bridge. Regular fare for a car or small truck is $3.

The MBA has issued about 11,000 commuter debit cards to residents in 37 states, one in Puerto Rico, and 162 in Canada. Residents of Mackinac, Chippewa, Cheboygan, and Emmet counties hold about 35% of the cards in circulation. People living near the bridge are the ones who cross most frequently, Mr. Sweeney said.

The increase in commuter card minimum purchases from $40 to $80 this summer was to help weed out individuals who abuse the commuter card system, Mr. Sweeney said.

State Representative Gary McDowell wrote a letter to the Authority in September asking it to reverse the minimum purchase increase.

"In these difficult economic times, an $80 minimum is simply too much to ask of our working families," he wrote.

He suggested the MBA instead place an expiration date on commuter cards to discourage infrequent travelers from purchasing commuter cards.

Mr. Sweeney said committee members seem to be favoring that course of action.

"We certainly don't want to make it inconvenient for customers if they are crossing that often," he said.

Committee member and MBA Chairman William Gnodtke said the meeting was just to discuss possible options and no decision was made.

"Nobody made any motions or advanced any proposals," he told The St. Ignace News. "It's all information gathering at this point."

Restricting card access by location and setting an expiration date on the cards were the only two ideas on the table, Mr. Gnodtke said.

Whatever the Authority decides about commuter qualifications or restrictions, the commuter fare will increase 10¢ on January 1, from $1.60 to $1.70 per crossing, and will continue to increase 10¢ every year until 2014. Toll rates for noncommuter passenger cars will also increase 50¢ every two years until 2014, making the eventual bridge fare $4.50 per passenger car by 2014.

Attending the committee meeting last week were committee members Murray Wikol and Bob Struck, along with Mr. Gnodtke and Mr. Sweeney. Another meeting will be scheduled, most likely in November, when the committee is expected to make a recommendation for the full board to act on.

The seven-member Mackinac Bridge Authority will meet in St. Ignace Friday, December 12.