REPORTER NEWSPAPERS STAFF
The 520 Tolling Implementation Committee released the results of its second round of evaluation of tolls across Lake Washington at a Nov. 10 meeting at Redmond City Hall.
Established by the Legislature in May, the committee includes Bob Drewel, executive director of Puget Sound Regional Council; Paula Hammond, secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation; and Dick Ford, commissioner of the Washington State Transportation Committee.
The committee is consulting with local jurisdictions in the Lake Washington area and seeking public input about how tolls can help pay for a new SR 520 bridge between Seattle and Bellevue.
A final report on comments from the public and local jurisdictions is due to the governor and Legislature in January 2009.
At a media briefing Monday, Drewel explained that the committee is shooting for $1.5-2 billion to fund the 520 bridge.
“Getting tolling right is critical to getting the bridge built,” he said.
A presentation described various tolling scenarios that could be implemented, but officials emphasized that no decisions have been made yet.
“We are not the decision-makers, we are simply doing homework for the legislators,” said Drewel.
Citizens are being engaged on options such as funding a portion of the 520 replacement project with tolls on the existing bridge, funding the 520 replacement project and improvements on both the I-90 bridge with a toll paid by drivers on both bridges, providing incentives and choices for transit or carpooling and/or implementing variable tolling as a way to reduce congestion.
The committee has been asked to consider criteria such as whether the tolls are “reasonable,” how much bridge funding can be generated for each tolling scenario, the diversion effects that tolling will have on other routes, the performance of the bridge (potential congestion relief) if tolls are enacted and the impacts tolls may have on low-income bridge users.
Hammond remarked, “The most important thing is to generate enough money. We need to display to the public what it will take to improve the corridor.” She also stated that the governor is interested in keeping solutions affordable and acceptable to the community and the neighborhoods impacted along the corridor.
“Early tolling gives you a bigger down payment on your mortgage,” said Hammond.
NINE SCENARIOS
Of the nine possible tolling scenarios, four have been previously discussed and five (denoted with asterisks) are new.
1) Toll 520 in 2016, when the project is complete.
2) Toll 520 in 2010, when construction begins.
3) Toll both bridges in 2016.
4) Toll 520 in 2010 and I-90 in 2016.
* 5) Use a flat-rate toll on 520 (in 2016).
* 6) Maximize funding by tolling only 520.
* 7) Toll 520 in 2010 and increase the rate in 2016.
* 8) Toll 520 at a higher rate than I-90 in 2016.
* 9) Toll both bridges in 2010.
TOLL RANGES
Drivers would pay the highest variable toll rates during the times that bridge usage is typically highest. The following ranges are based on 2007 dollars, and it is assumed that tolls would increase with the rate of inflation:
• Morning commute (5 a.m.-9 a.m.): $2.15-$4.25
• Mid-day (9 a.m.-3 p.m.): $1.05-$2.75
• Afternoon commute (3-7 p.m.): $2.80-$5.35
• Evening (7-10 p.m.): $1.00-$2.60
• Overnight (10 p.m.-5 a.m.): $0.00-0.90
• Weekend $0.80-$1.60
• There is also a possibility that one flat rate toll of $1.70, regardless of time of day or traffic conditions, could be implemented.
TRAFFIC SPEED AND DIVERSION
It is estimated that on 520, traffic speeds could increase up to 40 percent with tolling. With two-bridge scenarios, speeds would increase on 520 and I-90 in both peak and off-peak times.
Why? When a road is tolled, fewer people will drive on it. But then where do other people and their cars go?
Drivers who choose not to use the tolled bridge(s) could ride public transit, drive another route, change the time of day that they travel to reduce their bill or choose a different destination.
At the media briefing, David Hopkins, director of government relations and communications, urban corridors office of the Washington State Department of Transportation, noted that generally, congestion on local roadways leading to tollways — such as in the Bellevue and Montlake areas — goes down as tolled roads flow better and people across the region adjust their driving behaviors.
Some folks in the Kingsgate or Totem Lake areas may choose to use I-90 instead. Some drivers in neighborhoods to the far north or south ends of Lake Washington may drive around the lake rather than crossing the lake to get to their destination.
Also, some of the initial toll scenarios included segments of the 520 highway to be improved as part of the project, but public feedback from both sides of the lake did not support segmented tolls. The Legislature will make the decision as to where tolls will be collected.
COLLECTION METHODS
Tolls would be collected electronically. Drivers with “Good to Go!” transponders would be able to use them on 520, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and SR 167 HOT lanes. Drivers without transponders would have their license plates read and and pay by phone or online. If tolls weren’t paid promptly, bills would be mailed to the vehicle owner, including administrative fees for collecting the tolls.
The legislation will determine whether tolls are removed when the bonds for the facility are paid off or whether some level of tolls will remain to pay for operations, maintenance and repair of the bridge.
PUBLIC INPUT
Open houses will take place at Bellevue City Hall on Nov. 12, at the University of Washington, Urban Planning and Architecture Building on Nov. 13 and at the Stroum Jewish Community Center on Mercer Island, Nov. 17. The open houses are from 3-7 p.m. with a presentation taking place at 5 p.m.
Interested citizens may also participate in a Web survey at www.build520.org.
All comments are due by Monday, Nov. 30 and may also be submitted by e-mail at info@build520.org or by mail to the following address:
520 Tolling Implementation Committee c/o Puget Sound Regional Council, 1011 Western Ave., Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98104-1035.
