Second 520 Toll Rate Increase Slated for July

The second of four slated State Route 520 toll increases is being proposed for July 1, the Washington State Transportation Commission announced today.

The commissioners are scheduled to take action at a May 22 meeting, and people who are interested may submit public comment, according to a commission press release.

Under the proposal, toll rates would rise 2.5 percent, which would put peak Good To Go! rates would be $3.70, and the peak Pay By Mail rates would be $5.25. Currently the rate is $3.59 at peak time for Good to Go! customers and $5.13 for pay by mail.

The last time the tolls rose was July 2012. Toll on 520 started December 2011.

The scheduled toll increases are part of the funding plan approved by the legislature for the State Route 520 improvements, which includes annual rate increases of 2.5 percent through 2015. That would be followed by a planned increase of 15 percent in 2016 during the weekday, and a 2.5 percent increase on the weekend.

Despite the funding plan, the WSTC says that the rate increases are subject to the commission's review and it may make adjustments to the plan, according to a commission press release.

The tolls will raise $1 billion overall toward the $4.65 billion State Route 520 bridge replacement and HOV program, according to the state. The project includes 12.8 miles of safety and mobility improvements from Interstate 5 in Seattle to State Route 202 in Redmond, the state reported.

The complete proposed toll-rate schedule for the SR 520 bridge will be posted online at www.wstc.wa.gov, according to a transportation commission press release.

To Submit a Comment

Interested persons may comment on the proposal up until the commission’s May 22 meeting, when commissioners will take action. Comments can be submitted to the commission in writing via email or mail. Email comments can be sent totransc@wsdot.wa.gov. Written comments can be mailed to: PO Box 47308, Olympia, WA. 98504-7308.