OLYMPIA – Proposed toll rate increases for the State Route 99 tunnel, SR 520 bridge, and Tacoma Narrows Bridge are the subject of a public hearing next week. If approved, the new toll rates would go into effect on Oct.1, 2021, except for the SR 520 bridge, which would take effect on July 1, 2023.
The Washington State Transportation Commission will hold a virtual, final public hearing at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24. Due to COVID-19 limitations still in place for Washington state agencies, the meeting will be conducted using Zoom. People interested in attending need to register on the commission’s website. The commission will take public testimony at the meeting and those wishing to testify will need to be registered to attend, and are encouraged to sign-up ahead of the hearing on the commission’s website. The hearing will be broadcast live on TVW at www.tvw.org.
The commission developed the proposed toll rate increases based upon public input gathered in June for various toll increase options, as well as financial analysis demonstrating the proposed increases will meet legal and financial requirements. The following are the proposed toll rate increases:
• SR 99 tunnel: an across-the-board15 percent increase for all times of day starting on Oct. 1, 2021
• Tacoma Narrows Bridge: a 25-cent increase to all toll rates (Good To Go! pass, toll booth and Pay By Mail) starting on Oct. 1, 2021
• SR 520 bridge: a tailored increase, averaging 15 percent by time of day starting July 1, 2023
For more information on the commission’s toll rate proposals, visit the toll rate setting section of commission’s web site.
All presentations will be available on the commission’s website. For more information about the commission and complete meeting agendas, visit: http://www.wstc.wa.gov.
Hyperlinks within this release:
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RWa6Kv9MSZGhsSWsf-0ovw
Website: https://wstc.wa.gov/toll-rates-public-hearing-sign-up/
2021 Toll Rate Setting: https://wstc.wa.gov/programs/tolling/
