Mercer Island residents upset over I-90 tolling plan
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MERCER ISLAND, Wash. -- Driving east or west around Puget Sound may soon make your bank account go south.
After successfully implementing tolling on the 520 Bridge, state leaders are now considering adding tolls to I-90. That idea isn't sitting well with residents who would be stuck in the middle of the two tolls.
Resident Larry McWilliams was one of more than 100 people who showed up to a Tuesday evening meeting in Mercer Island to hear the state's plans to possibly start tolling on I-90.
Washington is looking at tolling the interstate as a way to make up for a $1.4 billion budget shortfall needed for the new 520 Bridge. The idea is eye opening for Mercer Islands resident Sean Perryman, who uses I-90 every day.
"If it's tolled then I don't know, I think I'm going to be stranded here for a little while," he said.
Mercer Island City Councilman Mike Cero Said this isn't only about those who live on the island anyone who uses the interstate.
"It's poor policy to have one facility pay for another facility. It's a money grab," Cero said.
For now, the state is only taking input on the proposal and officials say they'll examine all possible solutions.
"We're very sensitive to those concerns. I think our message is that this is the very beginning of a very comprehensive study," said John White of the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Adding the toll would still require the green light from state and federal governments. That could come as early as next year, with tolls coming as soon as 2015.
After successfully implementing tolling on the 520 Bridge, state leaders are now considering adding tolls to I-90. That idea isn't sitting well with residents who would be stuck in the middle of the two tolls.
Resident Larry McWilliams was one of more than 100 people who showed up to a Tuesday evening meeting in Mercer Island to hear the state's plans to possibly start tolling on I-90.
Washington is looking at tolling the interstate as a way to make up for a $1.4 billion budget shortfall needed for the new 520 Bridge. The idea is eye opening for Mercer Islands resident Sean Perryman, who uses I-90 every day.
"If it's tolled then I don't know, I think I'm going to be stranded here for a little while," he said.
Mercer Island City Councilman Mike Cero Said this isn't only about those who live on the island anyone who uses the interstate.
"It's poor policy to have one facility pay for another facility. It's a money grab," Cero said.
For now, the state is only taking input on the proposal and officials say they'll examine all possible solutions.
"We're very sensitive to those concerns. I think our message is that this is the very beginning of a very comprehensive study," said John White of the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Adding the toll would still require the green light from state and federal governments. That could come as early as next year, with tolls coming as soon as 2015.
Federal Interstate Highways were hard to toll once upon a time.
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Here's an idea, toll all roads leading to & from the State Capitol buildings
Next will be a tax for miles driven, which will include your driveway and private land.
This is not an issue that one can directly blame the state for. Until just recently,
the only way to place a toll on an interstate highway was for those tolls to be used
exclusively for the upgrades and maintenance of the section of road tolled. There
were some highways, primarily in the east coast regions that allowed tolls because
either the toll roads already existed, or were under construction.
At the federal level, because of pressures from states that wanted to toll the federal
interstate for OTHER construction and transportation cost, the original rules were
changed. Washington was one of the states that wanted the change----Is that a
surprise to anyone.
The end result of those pressures is the rule changes that might allow the placing
of a toll on portions of the Interstate Highway System, more or less at the whims
of the politicians.Â
Blame the legislatures that we sent to represent us at the federal level. They did
not represent the wishes of their constituencies.
We should vote them out of office for wanting to put a toll on everything... Oh,.. Wait!! we cant do that because Gregoire shifted that authority from legislature to unelected officials.. and then all the democrats in the state (read King County) voted Tim Eiman's initiative down.. Everyone touted this as a good thing.. except those who could see this coming.. Unfortunately, what King County wants, the state ends up with..
It is interesting to me that you do have to pay a toll on I-90 but that is in the state of MA. Same for parts of I-95. Most every bridge and tunnel has a toll. Most of those roads are in fantastic shape. so what is really the issue, this is a usage tax...........
@sls618 However, our state likes to parade things like that, (road maint.) as an excuse for hiking taxes, when the monies collected dissappear into the general fund only to be pi$$ed away on other things having little or nothing to do with the roads. If it were mandated that all money collected HAD TO BE SPENT ON SAID PROJECTS, I'd be right behind you. But as long as they continue to shove all that money into a general fund and spend it on anything they wish, that money is as good as gone the minute they collect it.
I-90 is the second most important thoroughfare in the state as far as shipping and commerce and jobs go. If you toll this and drive up the cost of business even more, businesses will keep leaving the state and the unemployment rate will get even higher than it is now. Do you want to keep losing jobs WA?
The big picture isn't who has to pay what or who has paid their fair share; it's "the government can't balance a check book and maintain any kind of balance."
"We're very sensitive to those concerns. I think our message is that this is the very beginning of a very comprehensive study," said John White of the Washington State Department of Transportation.
How many millions of dollars are they going to waste to decide what the best option could be? We not only have to pay for the study, but the tolls as well.Â
What about the HUGE cost over runs and the millions over spent to figure out how to make the tunnel work? And why are we having to foot the bill for the HUGE cost over runs already incurred on the new 520 bridge? Who wrote that contract? Why isn't the contractor not having to foot the bill for their incompetence?Â
I don't mind paying for my fair share; I use the roads/bridges and they have to be maintained, but enough is enough. Stop wasting our money!
And don't even get me started on that new "stadium" we have to have. Ugh. The the Sonics pay for the damn bridge and then I might be happy to see them.
I had heard in the past that a state had only one opportunity to toll an Interstate highway. Is this true?
Ive been looking through U.S.C title 23 regarding tolls and can't find anything regarding this. I believe the state has already tolled parts of I-90 in the state in the past. If this is the case, wouldnt federal law prohibit the tolling of I-90?
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 @TheBaldoneÂ
Typically the law reads that a state cannot toll a road built with federal dollars. However if the state expands on road with state dollars than they can toll the expansion.
@TheBaldone I'm not sure if they can re-toll, but last I looked if they were alloweed to re-toll, the money would have to be used for 90, not any other hwy or freeway
Bill Gates can pay for this with one check and never miss it. Bill Gates is advocating that the "Wealthy" pay their fair share! Well, his wealth came at  the benefit and at great expense of our community. If he is really sincere about his mindset of wealth and taxation that WE hear about, then his contribution would help and be in line with his thinking.Â
 @The TruthÂ
"Great expense of our community" ????
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Hmmm last time I checked the Gates family started the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation who gives billions of dollars to worthy causes across the world. Bill gates also help found a company that fundamentally changed the way the world works. Do you think that taking care of this problem would be the best use of his money? What about the next time the state needs a bailout for something? Your argument is flawed.Â
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The real problem here is the mismanagement of resources by the state. Spending is outpacing revenue. Until we get spending under control there is no way to fix the underlying issues.Â
How has the Foundation helped you? but the infrastructure that took a hit at our expense due to the massive influx of people and business benefited him! -there- that was a Liberal response; the real response is that it is great he is here and ALL of the new tax revenue created by this economic force should be more than enough to pay for these types of improvements, it's just that the State keeps spending money on things that have a much smaller consumption group (ie; the State keeps on buying land, which is good, but not in this economy). We have the 9th highest gas tax in the nation and the 13th highest local tax per capita in the nation.... we have enough, especially if you look hard enough at the "General Fund Shell Game" that our elected officials abuse.
@The Truth The gates foundation donates millions to the health care industry. That benefits all of us. They also donate millions towards various education programs, both here in the state and across the world. That also benefits all of us.
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Sure I get it, you don't like Billy G. Good for you, but so what? He isn't to blame for the condition of the roads around here. Try tossing stones at the nit wits in Oly for allowing companies like UPS, FedEX, and Comcast/xfinity (just to name a few) to be exempt from buying vehicle license tabs like the rest of us are forced to. Those companies spend more time on the roads than almost anyone else yet they get exempt plates??? That's something to get upset about.
@The Truth --- That was Bill Gates, Jr. (Bill's father). I'm pretty sure I remember Gate, III was against the tax on the "wealthy."Â
I'd rather pay that money to the oil companys by driving around then pay the state a dime more to cross a bridge to Seattle. Oh wait they get me anyway with the gas tax. Wait isnt the gas tax supposed to cover the roads? What a completly mismanaged state we have.
I'm morally opposed to all tolling. I understand we need to pay for projects, but the fact is every single one of us benefits from an integrated transportation network, even if you never use certain legs of that network. For example, if either of the bridges were to sink to the bottom of the Lake Washington, then I-5 and I-405 drivers would quickly realize how much they rely on those bridges to alleviate congestion on the legs of the network they use.Â
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The expense of ALL highway projects should be spread out over all users of our highway system through whatever tax system is necessary to achieve that objective. I've help pay for highway projects all over eastern Washington that I will never use, so why are we tolling some projects but not others. It's simply unfair, and it's government picking winners and lossers.
I donât see how tolling I90 make sense. When the people decided to build 520 it was understood the tolling on it would pay for itself, now because poor management/planning and out right lying to the public about the cost of the 520, they want others to pick up the tab. Even if the tolling does start Do you really think the tolling will go away after it has paid for what it was intended for? Itâs really easy to start tolling but really hard to get rid of it, you can see examples of this throughout the country.
This issue is not about if the people can afford the new toll but itâs about the government taking advantage of the public to squeeze more money out of us. More money for them waste.
First of all, there were far more than 100 people at the meeting (more like 1,500 at least) united in their anger at an attempt to implement a toll on Mercer Island residents for a bridge between Bellevue and Seattle. I have not used the 520 bridge in years. Mercer Island will not see the benefits of this improvement. No quieter pavement, or new parks, or new bridge for us, just massive tolls.
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We would be trapped on the island, that offers only limited services, and charged $10 round trip to see a movie or go to visit someone in the hospital, go to a store, obtain medical care, or go to a sports game.
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Many residents on Mercer Island are on fixed incomes. This would be devastating to them.
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We will be a united voting block, watching which representatives are voting for what and will vote accordingly at the next election.
I'm just gonna say this. BOO-BLEEPING-HOO. The state should have done this a long time ago! Guess what this will do?! It will rebalance the traffic across both bridges, rather than people dodging the 520 toll for the free ride across I-90. I-90 will actually be driveable again!
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This doesn't mean I don't feel for the people actually living on Mercer Island, they should probably get some kind of waiver or discount. But then again, an overwhelming majority of those who live there anyway are upper middle class to wealthy, so...yeah.
@BluefireJaguar You can argue the rich inherit their money but most earned it, are you suggesting people that worked hard their entire life, gain some sort of success should pay for others.
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Not all on Mercer Island and Bellevue residents are rich, what about those people? I dont know about you but I dont have an extra or two hundred $Â to give to my neighbor each month.
 @Nathan Boi  @BluefireJaguar Oh no! Having to support your own region's economy? What a terrible burden. The reality is we all should support each other and the two bridges are part of a transportation SYSTEM. Anyone who lives on M. I. knew that there was one road off and on. Or, if you prefer, live is cave and worry about yourself.
 @Mr. H  @strangel00p I prefer "communitarian" over "socialist" but you can choose either if you want. Do you use roads that everyone has paid for? You're a socialist too!Â
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Gas tax revenues have dropped below forecast because, overall, fuel efficiency has gone up. That's a good thing, but it also means that road maintenance and construction money must come from somewhere else. If you notice, the state and local govt. have been doing a good job on lots of seismic retrofit projects. Think those are free? A waste?Â
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If you don't like communitarianism, go to the developing world and see what the roads are like there. I have, and they stink.
@strangel00p "The reality is we all should support each other and the two bridges are part of a transportation SYSTEM"
What, are you some kind of socialist? We should be supporting ourselves, not each other.. we should be helping each other, but not supporting.. nor should the state support us..Â
The bridges,. Lets see, a few years back, it was put to a vote to increase our gas tax, for the benefit of our transportation system... Where did that money go? Everyone complains about the gas guzzlers, yet, I see lots of SUV's running around, and they aren't the cheapest vehicles to feed.. but they pay quite a bit in gas taxes.. more than the prius owner does..Â
So, now they want even more money... Sounds to me, like they need to review their contracts and how they work... ( Look at 520, if it is delayed, the state has to pay the company more money... even if it is their fault due to poor workmanship on the pontoons)
 @Nathan Boi FYI: I-5 is not parallel to 90 or 520, but I would be OK with tolls on 405, 5, and 99 though the metro area. And since you live in a community, your actions, your decisions, do affect those around you. Simple civics.
Whatâs wrong with supporting your own region? So should they toll I-5 to pay for the tunnel or 520? I-5 too is part of the âtransportation SYSTEMâ. Â How are you helping the community, are you willing to donate an extra $2400 a year to the government? It is my choice in I want to worry about myself, my actions and decisions does not affect the people around me.
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Side note the construction company that is building and running the 520 bill up, is not from the area.
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 @Nathan Boi Very well stated sir!  The average full time person works 20 days a month and that is exactly a $200.00 tax just to go to work, so they can tax you on what you make, so they can tax you on what you spend.  The problem is with so much LESS money to spend, the local economy will suffer and more part-time poor people will be out of work.Â
One more thing. I'll guarantee you I won't uses I-90 for any reason if they toll it. I haven't used 520 since they tolled it, I'ed rather drive around, even if it takes an extra hour. I know it doesn't really mean anything in the long run, but it's just my way of saying "up yours" to the powers that be.
@lmdk2 I agree, us too.
@lmdk2 Same here. I avoid 520 when in the area. If they start tolling I-90, I will avoid it too. When they finally get to tolling I-5 and I-405 to stop that, we are all screwed.
The other day I stopped by my local Chev dealer to look at a new 4x4 1/2 ton P/U. It's a really nice one with lots of extras ( really like ginger bread), anyway it was priced at 37K. Out of budget range. I'ed really like to have it but I just can't afford it. Now maybe it's time for our DOT and the rest of the bureaucrats in Olympia to start thinking this way. "Ied really like to have it but we can't afford it". On the other hand seem like the state can just go you and create a new tax or toll to make more money. I can't do that, I have to live off what I have, it's called living within your means.
@lmdk2 They are taking after the Federal Government but since they can't just "print money" in Washington State (Unlike Washington DC), they have to keep getting creative on how to take more of our money instead of building debt.
I think it's a B-A-D idea! I've had enough of paying for a d@mn ferry system I'll never use, a bridge I'll never drive across, or a tunnel that again, I'll never use!
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 If the politicians in this state really want to make this area more of a burden to do business in and chase off businesses while putting a bigger burden on side streets and back roads then by all means, it's a great idea!
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Toll all the HOV lanes state wide if you want, raise the gas tax a few cents in need be, but quit nickel diming everyone of us to death! You are going to drive this state into a recession of its own and we'll end up bankrupt like California before it's all over because the idiots that make these stupid choices keep getting re-elected.
 I guess that the "majority" of voters are having a hard time putting their stinking hash pipes down long enough to see what the heck is going on!
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 Personally, I will drive around any and all tolls just out of principle! This state has wasted enough of MY money due to poor management, wasteful spending practices, and WORTHLESS survey after survey. Anyone that thinks this is a great idea really needs to sober up!
 @Handsup70 You said, "I've had enough of paying for a d@mn ferry system I'll never use, a bridge I'll never drive across, or a tunnel that again, I'll never use!"
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Well, that's not very communist, uh socialist, no I mean progressive of you!
 @K. Coleman  @Handsup70  @mn You do realize that you rely on the kindness of strangers every day, right? You didn't build it.
 @strangel00p Exactly problem, it's *NEVER* enough, always more, more, more.....
 @K. Coleman If you want the luxe ride, then drive your personal vehicle and pay the toll. It's pretty straightforward capitalism.
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It's my understanding that the gas tax is only used for transportation needs, not general fund. I wouldn't care much either way since the largest component of state funds are spent on education and it's still not enough.
 @strangel00p So let the social engineering types force me out of my car by making it too expensive to drive?  You know, riding a bike is not exactly a viable year-round thing in Washington.  Riding a bus has issues that some people do not want to deal with like; smells, safety, time constraints and routes.
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I have a question for you; do they still divert the gas tax to the general fund and use it for other stuff?
 @K. Coleman Gas taxes aren't enough. It's simple math. Just because you pay some, doesn't mean that's enough. I live in Seattle, in part because I prefer to drive less. If/when I-5 and 99 are tolled through Seattle, I will take my lumps as part of the bargain that is driving a car. If you don't like paying the toll, ride the bus or bike.
 @strangel00p You 100% correct sir, I did NOT build it.  As part of the statewide transportation system I DO help help fund it, every single time I put gas in my tank.  I do not use the ferry system, and I do not complain that I help pay for it either.
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I do not know where you live sir, but wherever it is I hope they do not decide to put a toll on the road you use to go to work.
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If the toll stays on the Narrows bridge then 520 and I-90 should have tolls too.
@Murigen Did you even read the story? The toll on the Narrows bridge is to pay for the NARROWS BRIDGE. The toll on the 520 bridge is to pay for the 520 BRIDGE. This proposal is to toll I-90 to pay for the 520 bridge. They should be totally separate or soon we will be tolled on all roads to pay for the Governors salary increase.
 @scared_citizen  @Murigen The reason the 520 project doesn't have enough money is because NO ONE DRIVES ON IT. Get a life
@scared_citizen    You have a good point, but both bridges serve the same general area.  I can understand tolling both bridges for repair and maintenance of both bridges.   Sure 520 doesn't cross Mercer, but what are Mercer residents going to say when I-90 bridge has to have major repair work and what the toll would have to be then?  I would hope that the toll on the 520 would then be able to help pay for those repairs.  But if Mercer Island residents don't want this toll, then fine take it off.  And the next time I-90 needs repair Mercer residents can foot the entire bill.  Â
@Kathy @Murigen Can we vote to close all on ramps and off ramps to Mercer Island? All they do is complain about the cost, yet the tax payers provided them access to their Island. I vote to allow the 22,000 people that live on the Island to fend for themselves. They can collect up their own funds, and build their own damn bridge to get on and off the Island.....What a bunch of CRY BABIES.,..........Pay Up for that increased property value you got when the bridge was paid for by the TAX payers of Washington, and you paid no extra for what they provided you.....
 @MurigenÂ
As a Mercer Island resident, this will devastate us. Same general area, I don't buy that. We don't get the new bridge with quiet pavement and new parks. We just get the bill.
It's not just Mercer Island residents who use that bridge. People on one side who commute to the other side. Sure, they can ride the bus, but you know transit fares will go up. And there are people who work ON Mercer Island who live in Seattle or Bellevue.
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Sure, there is a lot of coin that lives on Mercer Island, but not everyone who lives here is part of the 1%
Toll every road, cried the left
We need more money now.
Raise the fees on the dairy farms,
Pay a toll for your cows
Revenue gone, wasted away
Where did the money go?
The RTA, the tunnel you say?
Or a dog and pony show?
So here we are, weâre out of bread,
The Stateâs hat in hand is outâ¦â¦
The song remains the same dear friends,
Weâre screwed without a doubt.