The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is letting commuters know that they have goofed again – once the Highway 99 viaduct project is finally completed, it will be more expensive to use than WSDOT originally promised.
In 2014, WSDOT said tolls would reach $1.25 for peak times. Now that figure has bee doubled.
According to WSDOT bureaucrat Patty Rubstello, new estimates indicate tolls could reach $2.50 during peak hours. MyNorthwest.com:
The 2014 recommendation was based on outdated traffic data from 2006, Rubstello said…
While the rates will likely be higher than previously thought, Rubstello pointed out they’ll be much lower than what drivers pay along State Route 520 and I-405.
Ultimately, the state Transportation Commission will decide the toll rates for the tunnel — the objective of the tolls would be to pay for the project (over-budget expenses and all).
It’s interesting to note that WSDOT is, once again, making excuses for its failures — something the agency all too often does to explain its incompetence.
Audit ALL State agencies, Every last one. All are cooking the books, stacking up managers and laying off the front line workers. Start by firing DES “Virtual Director” Chris Liu and all his cronie underlings.
This problem was supposed to be taken care of years ago. With “performance audits” . The audits get done but get thrown in the trash.
The WADOT ‘Secretary” should be an elected official so the people have a say.
Yeah, like the people have a say with the elected officials now. What a greenhorn statement you made
No, in WA one party has appointed all the appointed agency heads, including WADOT, for well over thirty years. I would support all the State Agency heads being elected.
Wow you trust corrupted wealthy politicians. I bet you trust them and Hillary with your money and life
What about trusting pne party WSDOT with the bridge in i5 exit 122 which they just widen it and made all the improvements and spent millions. Now there is a proposal to take it down and build another bridge spending more millions. I guess you trust they waste your tax dollars. Do you have anything to say about that?
This state has NEVER been able to manage a capital project correctly! Every single one is over budget and behind schedule, because there’s an overall attitude of “who cares? it’s only taxpayer money!”. That needs to change, but it never will until the voters of this state – and King County in particular – pull their heads out of their collective asses and stop electing incompetent Dumbocrats!