A year after 520 tolling began, state eyeing expansion to I-90
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SEATTLE -- Despite complaints about incorrect charges and toll confusion, state officials say the first year of 520 Bridge tolling went even better than expected.
Now those officials are eyeing bigger moves, such as adding tolling to I-90. On Thursday, the Department of Transportation laid out what's been fixed, and when tolls will go beyond the bridge.
"This was actually very unique across the country," tolling director Craig Stone said of the bridge. "We're very pleased with it -- it's been a great program -- but it's early, we're only one year into it."
In fact, WSDOT says 96 percent of all drivers are now paying their tolls within 80 days, and a full 84 percent are using the state's Good to Go passes. The passes automatically deduct toll costs from a user's prepaid account.
The state says it collected $50 million during the first year of tolling. Ultimately, tolls on the 520 are expected to bring in $1 billion of the $4.1 billion cost of the new bridge.
"We're on track, but we're only one year into a 30-plus year program here for paying for this bridge," Stone said.
The first year has had its share of problems, with drivers complaining of unearned violations and incorrect bills, but the state says most of those problems have been fixed.
At the same time, drivers have changed their habits. Traffic on 520 is down 30 percent from its pre-tolling volume, and some of those drivers -- about 11 percent -- have switched over to I-90. Overall cross-lake volume is down by five percent, but the state isn't done with traffic tinkering.
"We will be studying tolling of I-90," Stone said.
Over the next year, the state will examine tolls on I-90 for the legislature's consideration in 2014. The earliest I-90 tolling could be possible is in 2015.
Stone said I-90 tolling could pay for the still unfunded part of the new 520 Bridge project.
"We have a $1.4 billion gap on the 520 corridor," he said. "We have Portage Bay Bridge that has hollow columns in it and needs to be replaced. The question before the legislature is how do you finance that?"
Another big milestone arrived in December. It's the first month that the worst tolling scofflaws will not be able to renew their vehicle tabs. WSDOT says they've put registration holds on about 10,000 vehicles this month, and those drivers can't get new car tabs unless they pay their Good to Go bill.
Now those officials are eyeing bigger moves, such as adding tolling to I-90. On Thursday, the Department of Transportation laid out what's been fixed, and when tolls will go beyond the bridge.
"This was actually very unique across the country," tolling director Craig Stone said of the bridge. "We're very pleased with it -- it's been a great program -- but it's early, we're only one year into it."
In fact, WSDOT says 96 percent of all drivers are now paying their tolls within 80 days, and a full 84 percent are using the state's Good to Go passes. The passes automatically deduct toll costs from a user's prepaid account.
The state says it collected $50 million during the first year of tolling. Ultimately, tolls on the 520 are expected to bring in $1 billion of the $4.1 billion cost of the new bridge.
"We're on track, but we're only one year into a 30-plus year program here for paying for this bridge," Stone said.
The first year has had its share of problems, with drivers complaining of unearned violations and incorrect bills, but the state says most of those problems have been fixed.
At the same time, drivers have changed their habits. Traffic on 520 is down 30 percent from its pre-tolling volume, and some of those drivers -- about 11 percent -- have switched over to I-90. Overall cross-lake volume is down by five percent, but the state isn't done with traffic tinkering.
"We will be studying tolling of I-90," Stone said.
Over the next year, the state will examine tolls on I-90 for the legislature's consideration in 2014. The earliest I-90 tolling could be possible is in 2015.
Stone said I-90 tolling could pay for the still unfunded part of the new 520 Bridge project.
"We have a $1.4 billion gap on the 520 corridor," he said. "We have Portage Bay Bridge that has hollow columns in it and needs to be replaced. The question before the legislature is how do you finance that?"
Another big milestone arrived in December. It's the first month that the worst tolling scofflaws will not be able to renew their vehicle tabs. WSDOT says they've put registration holds on about 10,000 vehicles this month, and those drivers can't get new car tabs unless they pay their Good to Go bill.
The greedy state "camels"  got their nose under the tent with tolls on 520, and they are now ready to take over the tent by tolling other "roads"...Once they start, it is difficult to stop this nonsense. I will avoid these bridges and the cesspool called Seattle like a plague.
 @josetoyou Great! Convince some of your friends to leave too! It will help alleviate the traffic congestion and obviate the need for more construction projects.
 @josetoyou Don't worry, you won't be missed.
 @strangel00p  @josetoyou The only reason I go near SEATTLE is to go to the Veterans Hospital,Otherwise I don't miss any of you either.....
State officials are seeing $$, planning on how to waste it. Hereâs an idea how to generate revenue, stop wasting it and use as though itâs your own money.
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People that decided not to fund the 520 via toll ran over to I-90, but the state will not let you escape that easily.
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This toll idea is really for the repair cost for the 520 in a few years.
 @Nathan Boi It will likely be used to replace the new SR 520 bridge in about 25 or 30 years. By then, the cracking and leaks will have rusted most of steel reinforcement bars in the pontoons and the bridge will need to be replaced.
Sounds like they want the both sides to stay on there own sides of the lake. Once again the king has proclaimed""He who has nothing shall have less and what he has left should be taken away!" The Minutemen are turning in their graves!
Yea....someone in the office will get a raise again.
Here's one that will get all you disgruntled people even more p-$$ed off ! In about 2016 or 2017, the reversible lanes of the I-90 floating bridges will be closed permanently to ALL vehicular traffic. This roadway will be converted by Sound Transit to light rail transit use. So, in addition to having to pay tolls to use the I-90 bridges, you're also going to permanently lose the reversible lanes. Better plan to start taking the train. Otherwise, you'll be paying more money for even more gridlock.
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They'll need I-90 revenue to pay for the defective pontoons they're using on 520.
OF COURSE they're going to look into tolling the I-90 bridge! Who saw this coming??? This girl did!
 @Tattooed_Angel get use to them, my section of the 90 been tolled all my lifeÂ
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 @Tattooed_Angel Me too. This should help a very little with the traffic and create more of a balance like it used to. Because currently, many people still dodge 520, now there really is no good alternative.
Looking on the bright side, maybe this will spur the innovation of flying cars.
What am I missing here? Aren't interstates federally funded?
 @2009Ultra I agree, I do not think they can do that.
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 @ROCK4GOD  @2009Ultra On January 28, 2009 the Federal Highway Administration wrote a letter and told the state Department of Transportation that both bridges could be tolled. So, not only CAN they do it, they likely WILL.
 @slappywag  @ROCK4GOD  @2009Ultra FHWA has said that they will allow WSDOT to toll I-90 if they make "improvements" to the facility. The big variable message signs that were installed a short while back constitute "improvements". That is why the FHWA has approved tolling.
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Look for more and more tolling of our highways as WSDOT looks for new ways to fund maintenance, repair, and construction activities. The public needs transportation infrastructure but doesn't want to pay more gas taxes. So they'll have to pay in other ways. There is no such thing as a free lunch, folks!
Subsidized, but not funded.
They have to change the name from FREEWAY to TOLLWAY,
and Freeway will no longer existed from now on !
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 @scychan The ThruwayÂ
Originally, freeway referred to the lack of stoplights and intersections. Now that tolls are collected on the fly, I guess it's a tollway freeway.
A year after 520 tolling began, state eyeing expansion to I-90, and smacking their lips over the tolls.
Under 23 U.S.C. 129, Federal participation is allowed in the following five types of toll activities.
Initial construction (except on the Interstate System) of toll highways, bridges, and tunnels, including the approaches to these facilities;Reconstructing, resurfacing, restoring, and rehabilitating of any existing toll facility;Reconstruction or replacement of free bridges or tunnels and conversion to toll facilities;Reconstruction of a free Federal-aid highway (except on the Interstate system) and conversion to a toll facility; andPreliminary studies to determine the feasibility of the above toll construction activities.
If Federal-aid funds are used for construction of or improvements to a toll facility or the approach to a toll facility or if a State plans to reconstruct and convert a free highway, bridge or tunnel previously constructed with Federal-aid funds to a toll facility, a toll agreement under Section 129(a)(3) must be executed. There is no limit to the number of agreements that may be executed.
The toll agreement must require that all toll revenues are first used for any of the following: debt service, reasonable return on private investment, and operation and maintenance, including reconstructing, resurfacing, restoring, and rehabilitating work.
The agreement may also include a provision regarding toll revenues in excess of those needed for the required uses outlined above. This provision would allow these excess revenues to be used for highway and transit purposes authorized under Title 23 if the State certifies annually that the toll facility is being adequately maintained.
The issue of whether a toll facility is to become free when debt is retired or at some other future point in time or whether tolls are to be continued indefinitely is a matter to be determined by the State.
Decisions regarding the amount of tolls charged are made by the toll authority subject to requirements under State and local laws and regulations. These decisions require no review or input from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
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 @Glassman This is not good.  What will be next toll in 405, 167, or highway 18? Wait there is a toll on 18 at the bridge...
 @ROCK4GOD  @Glassman Bridge on 18? I think you meant highway 16.
Just remember you get what you vote for...
 @vadersith ...the "educated" voters of this region are like a little puppy. They piddle on the floor, and the politicians they voted for, roll up the paper & swat the. Come next election, they piddle again, and once again, they get the swat.
They never learn...no matter how many times taxes are raised, and the monies are mismanaged & misspent, they still piddle.
Te sad aspect is we all have to try to wipe it up.
The state says it collected $50 Million the first year. How much exactly did the state net to pay toward the bridge out of that $50M?
 One pesky problem; state law prohibits tolls on roads for other projects.  This has been revisited several times..
nice to think that the company that collects the tolls takes a nice 30%+ cut....what a system.
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wsdot is such a group of clowns.
What about the gov also wanting to tax us on how many miles we drive? Try to avoid the tolls and you will get nailed in millage. Just wondering if they will be exempt from all of this? Money grubbing thieves.
 @Thepriest there are mills involved???
 @TruthinAdverts What are you talking about? Mills?
 @Unsalvageable  I desspize the spellink pollece.
 @Unsalvageable  @Thepriest  @TruthinAdverts Ok. Thanks. I work in maintenance, not an English major.
 @Unsalvageable  @Thepriest  Perfectly put!
@Thepriest @TruthinAdverts He has nothing intelligent to add so he is making fun of a mis-spelling. You put millage rather than mileage. Have you not heard? The spelling police are in full force here.
In Europe I toured an island that had served as an exclusive housing community for the rich, you had to pay a large sum to be allowed to move there and once you ran out of money you were banished. While we all have paid to create and maintain the roads, with expanded tolls only those with money will be allowed to drive into Seattle. This is unacceptable.
 @SoTweetie Even better yet, you have to pay an entrance fee to get in to Bellevue.
Our state government will never have enough of our money. Remember that these tolls on 52o are here for the next 40 years. Multiply 500 million times 40 years and what do you get? 20 billion frigging dollars! That isn't enough? Plus they are talking again about raising our gas tax higher? HUH? Go back a few years and the campaign to get the nickel added to the gas tax was "Give us a nickel and we will solve your transportation problems" We gave them their nickel, and what do we get in return? They asked (and got) 9 1/2 cents more a few years later. Greed knows no boundaries when it comes to our state government. Enough is enough. Control your spending for a change! You will drive out you source of revenue if you keep this up. Just ask the cigarette makers.
 @Brutalbubba What do you expect the State to do? Quit imposing any gas taxes or user taxes? Let the roads and bridges go to hell? I-5 is already bumper-to-bumper every morning and evening commute! What do you plan to do with the projected 2 million new commuters moving into Washington State during the next 20 years? People like you will be among the first to complain about highway under capacity and gridlock.
 @Brutalbubba I agree  People are leaving California for this same reason. I think it is time to think about moving to the midwest. I went to Charleston, SC a few months back. I loved it there and cost of living is cheeper there.
 @Brutalbubba Yes I know Charleston, SC is on the east coast. I am just saying.  The west coast is getting to expensive to live.
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 @Brutalbubba Better check your work. It is 50 million times 40 years which equates to 2 billion not 20 billion and given the rate of inflation it is pretty approximate that 1 billion in 40 years will actually equal 2 billion. It's people like you that spread fud.
@brokenpipe
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You are correct, my calculator doesn't have that many zero's and I knew someone would correct me. Didn't take long. How about my other facts? You ok with those? I guess so or you would have jumped all over me again.
This is what happens when you people vote "D" all the way down the line. You people in King County deserve what you get.
 @James127 If your answer weren't so totally mis-informed, it would be funny. The reality is that both here in Washington and across the nation, Red (R) areas underperform Blue (D) areas and the tax revenues flow to the Red areas. (http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jan/26/blog-posting/red-state-socialism-graphic-says-gop-leaning-state/ and http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_reckoning/2012/10/25/blue_state_red_face_guess_who_benefits_more_from_your_taxes.html)
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And it's Republicans who block tax reform that would move us away from regressive taxes like tolls and sales tax and toward a progressive income tax.
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And it's Republican tax policy, dogma, and misinformation that says you can have minimal taxes but still keep all those "entitlements" that you want: roads, bridges, police, fire, Medic One, schools, etc.
Hey, if you like paying taxes so much, then write the IRS a check and sleep better at night. Me, I'd prefer not to pay over 50% of my wages in various taxes and fees.
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The real truth is that Dems never met a tax hike they didn't like. Barry wants to tax and tax some more, and not cut spending one bit. Something is morally wrong there.
I pay plenty, trust me. The last time I looked at my W2 form, I almost gasped. Â
 @James127 Apparently you feel entitled to use the public infrastructure and have "someone else" pay for it.
 @James127 Continue to ignore the facts about tax, spending, AND THE BENEFITS OF EACH at your own peril.
 @James127 Well hopefully this will be a wake up call to voters. Oh, right..We are in Washington.