The Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) toll division is expected to confirm new tolling on the northern half of the Puget Sound area’s Interstate 405. The new tolls will come into effect by late 2015.
The new tolls on the express lanes will allow drivers to “stick with the main traffic for free, or pay to take an express lane.” Drivers who carpool will need to obtain a Flex Pass in order to use the express lanes for free. Additionally, “license plate cameras and Good To Go passes would be used for other vehicles whose drivers decide to pay the tolls.”
According to Crosscut, the cost of the tolls would correlate with the speed of traffic at any given time. Flashing road signs will alert drivers of the current toll costs.
Yesterday, Craig Stone—the assistant secretary for the toll division—presented WSDOT’s plans before the state Senate Transportation Committee. Included in his presentation (here) was information concerning a “consensus recommendation” to change the carpool policy for express lanes to 3+ people at peak hours (two plus off-peak) from Bellevue to Lynnwood. The new proposal would require three or more people must be in the vehicle in order to qualify for free express lane usage at peak hours.
Stone informed the state Senate Transportation Committee that WSDOT would schedule and hold public meetings to get feedback.
