Drivers should expect more tolling on state roadways
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SEATTLE -- It's been a year since tolling began on the 520 Bridge, and the state likes what it sees.
The Department of Transportation says traffic is moving and toll revenue is meeting state projections. In fact, it's all working so well that tolling will soon be extended to even more roadways.
"We're happy to hear revenues are coming in as expected," said Reema Griffith with the Washington State Transportation Commission.
Griffith and the rest of the commission will have to decide if it's enough revenue, which is still under review and part of a two-day briefing with the Department of Transportation.
"You're number one goal is to make sure the financing is covered," WSDOT's Craig Stone told the commission.
A built-in toll increase on the 520 Bridge is scheduled for July, and the commission is waiting on more data before deciding exactly how much the increase will be. The increase could be 2 1/2 percent -- roughly 10 cents -- but Griffith said that isn't settled yet.
The commission believes tolls are the new transportation revenue trend. With less help coming from the federal government and dismal gas tax revenue, the commission says tolls in congested urban areas are necessary.
"It's trying to give people options on their travel," Griffith said. "If they can pay a little more to get a better commute, that option needs to be provided and that's where our state is heading for the urban area."
The legislature already gave its blessing for tolls on the Viaduct Tunnel Project, as well as an Express Hot Lane on 405 between Bellevue and Lynnwood and for a new Columbia River Crossing, which is a bridge that connects Oregon to Washington.
"We're looking at big, mega projects," Stone said. "How do you finance them? How do you get the benefits for that? And tolls come in to that."
How much and what kind of tolls are still being decided, and by the time that's figured out there may be tolling on I-90, which is currently being studied.
"There is a price to pay to have a better commute," Griffith said.
In addition to tolling increases, the commission and the governor announced separate proposals calling on the state legislature to pass a gas tax hike to pay for transportation costs.
The Department of Transportation says traffic is moving and toll revenue is meeting state projections. In fact, it's all working so well that tolling will soon be extended to even more roadways.
"We're happy to hear revenues are coming in as expected," said Reema Griffith with the Washington State Transportation Commission.
Griffith and the rest of the commission will have to decide if it's enough revenue, which is still under review and part of a two-day briefing with the Department of Transportation.
"You're number one goal is to make sure the financing is covered," WSDOT's Craig Stone told the commission.
A built-in toll increase on the 520 Bridge is scheduled for July, and the commission is waiting on more data before deciding exactly how much the increase will be. The increase could be 2 1/2 percent -- roughly 10 cents -- but Griffith said that isn't settled yet.
The commission believes tolls are the new transportation revenue trend. With less help coming from the federal government and dismal gas tax revenue, the commission says tolls in congested urban areas are necessary.
"It's trying to give people options on their travel," Griffith said. "If they can pay a little more to get a better commute, that option needs to be provided and that's where our state is heading for the urban area."
The legislature already gave its blessing for tolls on the Viaduct Tunnel Project, as well as an Express Hot Lane on 405 between Bellevue and Lynnwood and for a new Columbia River Crossing, which is a bridge that connects Oregon to Washington.
"We're looking at big, mega projects," Stone said. "How do you finance them? How do you get the benefits for that? And tolls come in to that."
How much and what kind of tolls are still being decided, and by the time that's figured out there may be tolling on I-90, which is currently being studied.
"There is a price to pay to have a better commute," Griffith said.
In addition to tolling increases, the commission and the governor announced separate proposals calling on the state legislature to pass a gas tax hike to pay for transportation costs.
It's not bureaucrats, it's democrats. Get it right. And they say they're going to study it more to see if more revenue is needed. That's just another way of saying they are going to raise the toll and add more in the near future. Darn, that makes me so happy.
All i'm going to say is when they tell you lies long enough they become the truth. You folks voted the same people back into office. What do you expect? The DOT wastes millions of dollars every year and you keep the same like minded people in power. So don't bitch. Dori Monson said this along time ago, Once they get their foot in the door it will not stop. Ken Schram was on the same page. I'm ready to retire and leave this blood sucking state which is sad because I was born and raised here and lived here all my life. Mark my words, They are just getting started on rapeing your wallet.
I'd ride the bus every day if it didn't take 90 minutes, two changes, and a 3/4 mile walk. My drive is 20 minutes door to door.
There's simply no way I'm gonna spend 3 hrs a day on a bus. Toll 509 and I'll leave 15 minutes early and drive the back roads.
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I'm under the firm belief that DC takes all its advice from Washington State. Both are tax and spend to the extreme, but we do it 1st.
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 @bobalouie I hear you - at some point you have to figure out what your time is worth.  Public transit won't appeal to the masses until they have bus-only lanes (bus rapid transit) or some other type of grade-separated transport system that gets people to their destination just as fast (or faster) than driving.
Exactly! I'm not asking for faster as it's unrealistic. But some sort of equality should be realistic if they want to change our lifestyles.
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3Â hours of hell from my family don't cut it.
Speaking as a Pierce County resident, let me say how thrilled I am to hear that more King County drivers are going to pay tolls.
We voted down a toll bridge over the Tacoma Narrows three times and got it rammed down our throats when WSDOT finally included Seattle and Shelton in the voting area for the bond levy. I myself have in-laws and an elder in care living over in Gig Harbor and I didn't appreciate it one bit.
Let me also say that those of us living outside of Imperial Seattle/Bellevue are sick to death of paying to make your frikkin' commute better. WE won't see light rail in our lifetimes, yet our taxes are going to fund yours. Thanks for that, really.
So, enjoy Emerald Sprawl! You've earned it!
More taxes is not the answer. Better use of the funds already available is. The gov't wastes so much money it is absolutely ridiculous. One example: Prevailing wages and forcing subcontractors and suppliers (if they have any personnel actually step onto a jobsite) to pay prevailing wages.
That prevaling wage isn't always paid to the worker, been there done that. The company I worked for paid the prevailing wage on the books but in reality didn't. I am sure the company I worked for isn't the only one doing it.
@Crimsonkid That is illegal. You should report them.
Sometime revenue isn't the answer - its what you do with the revenue that you have. The WSDOT wastes a lot of money on stupid projects that don't solve traffic problems.Â
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The key to better traffic is solving the current problems and planning for the future growth. On / off ramps need to be looked at and maybe closures during peak times of some ramps to limit where traffic enters the freeway.Â
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Whoever designed I-5 had their head up their backside as it is horrible.Â
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A well planned public transportation system that is efficient and goes to where people want to go. This means coming from small towns into the city. Believe it or not people from small outlying towns do want to come into Seattle. Link light rail is pathetic (yes I know wsdot isn't responsible for that).Â
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Since WSDOT has yet to come up with real solutions its no wonder we don't want to give you our money. By the way you cannot toll I-90 it is a FEDERAL road not State road.Â
Actually they can toll I-90; drive all the way to the east coast on I-90, there is a number of tolling places before you get to the end.
Yes, let's tax the middle class more. Sure, that will help the economy bounce back. Absolutely, tax the middle class in to poverty. This with the fiscal cliff looming? Good show!!! Boener's tax plan to increase taxes on the middle class and not the top 2%...Brilliant!!!. Boenhead is willing to sacrifice the 98% as not to increase taxes in the wealthiest Americans... Will wonders ever cease?!Â
Good job & thanks for NOTHING you greedy bureaucrats!!!
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 @the unvarnished truth  @LeftisBest Hey I don't appreciate being taxed on weight when I only drive the truck at most once a month for 10-20 miles, maybe once every six months for 100- 120Â
 @the unvarnished truth  @LeftisBest This type of taxation was a natural consequence of the Democrat's imposing stricter CAFE standards.  Cars get better fuel economy and, as a consequence, fuel tax revenue goes down. Â
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However, this type of tax is a "use tax", which is the type of tax generally supported by conservatives over income and property taxes, is it not? Â The roads have to be funded somehow.
It is time to stop this "trend" right in its tracks. Tolls are a form of especially regressive tax: like sales taxes, they tend to affect those who can least afford the cost.
 @JLS1950  I wouldn't call it a regressive tax as everyone pays an equal amount for the same services.  If anything, it is the most fair form of tax that there is.  Driving automobiles is a luxury - not a right.  We should provide adequate public transportation through bus rapid transit for students, the poor and the elderly. Â
@UtterReality - well, driving is not exactly a 'luxury' unless you are driving a luxury car. The totally inadequate transit system outside of King County and the lack of jobs that pay a living wage outside of King County, but the high cost of housing inside of King County forces most of us to commute by car. So I don't consider drving a luxury but a necessity for living. I'm sure most people would agree. They aren't going to ever have a transit system between counties that don't require 4 hours one way and 4 hours back (Snohomish to King County) in my lifetime and maybe not yours. Too many people don't want to pay taxes and the way they use the money they do get, I don't blame anybody for that. So until the state government can get their head out of their arse (which probably will never happen), we will continue to be saddled with the 'commute' so we can make a living.
@UtterReality - I hear what you're saying (or I guess in this case read). I don't drive an SUV of any size and I live in a 1500 sq foot manufactured home on a leased lot. That's all the house, and sometimes that's too much too afford for me at times. Rent where I would commute to is actually higher than my mortagage and space rent, plus no privacy.  Actually, gas prices are going down, so I wouldn't count small towns out quite so quickly. Many more of us have jobs where we can work from home, I already tele-commute 2 days a week (hooray) and can tele-commute fully when the snows/ice/dumb drivers come along. Because of the economy, I'll probably be working until I croak but I hope it will be on my tablet at some warm beach somewhere along the way.  :) But yes, there will be a time, I'm sure, when the large US of A gets even more filled in - hard to say when that will be but I doubt if it will be in my lifetime.
 @Elaine2  @UtterReality The trend is for people to start moving back from the country to higher density neighborhoods, and I don't see this trend stopping anytime soon with the way that energy prices are going.  The days of driving huge SUV's and living in 3,000 square foot McMansions on half acre plots of land are drawing to a close.  Â
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It costs almost as much to build road networks for those living in rural areas as it does for those living in cities, and they don't get nearly as much use. Â
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Can you imagine what will happen to the outlying suburban areas once they start taxing driving my mileage?  That will be the death knell for small town America. Â
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I'm not saying that's how I want to see it play out - that's just what I see happening. Â We're all going to have to get used to getting more out of smaller spaces like they do in the rest of the world - unless you can afford it, of course.
 @UtterReality Yeah... I agree about the PT... but how far do you think that will fly with the RINOs and DINOs in the Senate now?
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 @the unvarnished truth Tim I'm-an-idiot.
We still have zero percent income tax here. So complain all you want.Â
 @lakeview Yeah, we just have outgo taxes!
So do away with the gas tax and go to tolls if they're that stupid. The only place tolls work is where there isn't a good option for going around them. So that limits where they can put tolls.
WTF? "With less help coming from the federal government and dismal gas tax revenue". Ummm excuse me? we already pay the highest gas tax in the nation. Every time I drive by a gas station they are doing a very brisk business selling fuel. Now they want another gas tax increase? Time to cut pay to all the politicians, cut their health insurance and make them work 5 days a week 12 months out of the year with a 2 week vacation like every one else, 40 hours of sick leave and the week between Christmas and New Years off. High time to show how these greedy bastards are really paid. Here just a small fact about them:
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When does the Legislature meet? The Legislature meets annually on the second Monday in January. In odd-numbered years, such as 2011, the Legislature meets for 105 days to write a two-year state budget and pass laws. In even-numbered years, they meet for 60 days to make adjustments to the two-year budget and pass laws.
http://www.educationvoters.org/leg-for-dummies/
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Everyone should be outraged by another tax increase on gas, and tolls to drive. There are people out there working 7 days a week to feed and house their families with no extra money for even small luxuries. How do you (State Legislature) expect these people to buy even more expensive gas when they are eking out a living and on top of that putting tolls on roads. Enough is enough. Time to pay these people what they are really worth, which in my book adds up to zero.
 @Luciferian Well said!!! That should apply at the federal level too. They are all worthless! Imagine if the rest of the country worked as congress does. Here is the congress schedule for 2013... http://www.senate.gov/legislative/resources/pdf/2013_calendar.pdf
That would not work for most Americans. Where would we be with out the hard working middle class. Soon there will be no middle class. We will all be taxed in to poverty.
The Democrats of this State will not be satisfied until we are free & clear #1 in all categories.....
Gas Tax, Tolls, and a fee for every mile.
A 1.8 mile trip to my local Safeway to get a $2.83 Gallon of milk will cost me a surcharge on my transponder.
Oh Well, I guess if I want to have my good job, I need to get used to the progressive policies imposed by the Tyrants that be.
Why should we "expect" tolling? We're already paying the 8th highest gas tax in the country. I would "expect" that we shouldn't see any more tolls because we've given the state PLENTY of money for roads and rail and special taxes for this and that. I "expect" the state to recognize we're in an economic crisis and they should quit trying to whip a dead horse.
 @Scott Collier The fuel tax is going to "evaporate" once we start driving electric and hydrogen fuel cell cars.  The choices to make up for this missing revenue are to raise revenue through tolls or paying for mileage.  I'd rather them charge for tolls in select places as it will allow them to shape traffic and it won't excessively penalize the rural folks.
Lower the gas tax to the lowest in the country and I could get behind tolling the roads used by commuters. If not then no way in heck. I don't commute more than 10 minutes, because I live near where I work. Those that have to and choose to live across lakes and 45+ minutes on a good day away from their work they can pay to keep those roads up. In favor of a separate train line from Bellingham to Olympia through Seattle and Belevue and through Puyallup, tacoma, down to olympia with a train every 10 minutes to get where you want and need to go. (now that would be a good idea and a good tax)...however they will never think of anything so good.
A hike in the GAS TAX AND TOLLS/HOT Lanes on 405; Wow so you are going to screw up the bus lanes who now utilize the HOV lane with a bunch of dolts who can afford to pay more way to hit the little guy again WA State... sheesh you guys are just a bunch of smart thinkers down there... this is not going to help the commute ... oh wait and you are wanting to add a per mile fee too! I hardly drive as it is or only do so if I got to... the state doesn't need more money they need less waste first!
Highest gas tax in the nation and they can't fix potholes so charging a toll for roads is the next logical step for the clowns..
So we all sell our cars, sell our homes and move to an apartment within walking distance to our work. No wait, that won't work. Sidewalk toll, lack of hwy usage tax.Â
 @Darn it! Bingo.... tax the air you breathe etc.! My hope is Americans rally and rebuild a new government......
 @Funky-Munky My hope is that commenters get off their arses and barrage their representatives with their views. If enough of us contact them and remind them that their job depends on us, we might stand a better chance. Or run for office yourselves. There are many commenters who seem to have a good grasp on things. Don't like the system - beat it from within.
Toll more roads, especially ones that have already been paid for, and you can kiss a transportation tax package goodbye.
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There are very strict rules in place when it comes to charging tolls on interstate highways.
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As I understand those rules, any funds collected on an interstate highway can ONLY be used
to maintain that section of the interstate that is tolled and can not be used for anything else.
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Our politicians will have to look elsewhere to fund their extravagant programs as there are
indeed rules on how tolls on interstates can be spent.
Clueless in Olympia..no common sense but then that is no surprise
This would not be so distressing IF we were also improving public transportation at the same time - increasing bus routes and numbers particularly during high use times; adding rail systems; etc. - but, this is not happening. Building more roads and adding more tolls can only get us so far... we need much improved public transportation.
"Dismal gas tax revenue...." !!?? It's 37.5 cents for every freaking gallon! Washington State and the Obama Administration. The only 2 parasites known that kill their own host.
 @bagsofdirt Most of it was gifted to the tribes for "road improvement projects".
@FBrumfield @bagsofdirt --- Only the gas tax the tribes bring in. If you don't use their stations, they don't get the tax. Stop using their stations.
@FBrumfield --- I might have misunderstood something, but my point was that the tribes get a rebate on the gas tax paid. I am a non-tribal member, if I use a trial station I pay the gas tax and the tribes get a percentage rebate on the tax I pay from the state. From what I am to understand, the state signed this agreement with the tribes so they (Tribes) would not undercut non-tribal stations. But frankly, at $0.24 less than non-tribal stations, I'd say they are undercutting anyway. I did a little research on this issue a year ago, and this is all I remember.Â
 @Bianca  @FBrumfield  @bagsofdirt From what I read the indians never paid the tax in the first place but they still got the money.
 @FBrumfield  @bagsofdirt Most? Is that like 30 million out of 1.2 billion?
Idaho, here I come.
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This madness is out of control. It will never stop.
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 @greenecho Next year every state government will be looking for ways to screw the middle-class and poor. (just a thought)
@Funky-Munky @greenecho --- What, you mean democrats screw the middle-class and poor, too? Say it isn't so!!
This is really bad for poor people. Gas is expensive already and I just read they want to add a higher gas tax as well,
 @heyjoe It's apparent extortion for failed politics is coming our way in a hurry.....