GOP state Rep. Mark Harmsworth gave KTTH’s Todd Herman an interesting update on what the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) has been up to to take more money from drivers. According to Harmsworth, WSDOT has completed studies looking into placing tolls on I-5 between Tacoma and Everett. And, currently, WSDOT is conducting studies looking at tolling on sections of I-90.
“The new connector that we just authorized this year will be tolled and they’re also going to ask for money to do the GPS studies,” Harmsworth said. “So they’re trying to put all the pieces together very slowly, but I think, ultimately, that’s where they’re going to go. And I agree with you, I don’t believe that’s the right way to pay for our roads.”
Why should the public be concerned with WSDOT’s studies? Well, to a certain degree, it reveals WSDOT is serious about implementing more tolls that will impact the pocketbooks of working families across the state—probably in hopes of pushing more drivers on to public transportation.
As for the GPS studies, they lend credibility to WSDOT’s considering another way to get money out of drivers via a road usage tax.
