Good to Go? Tolling could be a headache for SR 522 drivers

Published 12:29 pm Wednesday, December 14, 2011

The time is near.

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) officials announced earlier this month that State Route 520 bridge tolling will begin Dec. 29. And that means drivers who choose to dodge payments could be headed Bothell and Kenmore’s way via SR 522 around Lake Washington.

Perusing several polls that have been conducted, Kenmore Mayor David Baker said about 115,000 drivers travel 520 each day, and 522 could see up to 10,000 more cars per day through the two cities. And he’s figuring on the light side, he said.

Baker added that WSDOT officials said they could adjust traffic signals to add “green” time on 522, but that could heighten “red” time for drivers entering the highway from other roads. For now, traffic is flowing smoothly  in areas of 522 in Kenmore where major improvements were made, but the mayor is dismayed that things could bottle up again.

“What I’m concerned about is Kenmore residents being able to get where they want to go: shopping or to work,” said Baker, noting that Juanita Drive, Simonds Road and other streets could also get hammered with additional traffic. Baker added that city of Kirkland officials are worried they might see a traffic surge, as well, and he’s met with them to discuss the issue.

Like Baker, Bothell leaders for years have been asking for state officials to set aside road-improvement funding to mitigate the impacts of tolling.

“It’s a top priority for the city in discussions with the Legislature and we will definitely be watching to see what happens when tolling begins,” said Bothell City Manager Bob Stowe.

Added Mayor Mark Lamb: “We have been told repeatedly by the state that the tolling of the 520 bridge will not result in significant additional traffic diversion onto SR 522 — we will see very shortly if this is correct.

“We will continue the fight (for funding) in Olympia if the traffic I expect to materialize comes our way.”

Baker said that although tolling will begin Dec. 29, Kenmore and Bothell might not see any traffic changes until a few days later because drivers will be away on holiday.

In Bothell, where roadwork is currently taking place on 522 with the Wayne Curve project and will ramp up with the upcoming Crossroads project, Transportation Engineering Manager Seyed Safavian suggests that citizens should be prepared for delays, take transit and alternate routes whenever possible and adjust the times they travel if they can. For those who travel across the 520 bridge, getting the Good to Go! pass will save them money.

“Tolling is helping Washington move forward with critical transportation investments and will finance ongoing and future work to replace the vulnerable SR 520 floating bridge and corridor,” said WSDOT Secretary Paula Hammond at a recent press conference.

“SR 520 toll revenue will provide $1 billion to fund pontoon construction in Grays Harbor, and floating-bridge construction and improvements on the Eastside, which already are under way. Starting tolling before the new bridge is built is keeping financing costs down.”

The toll system’s components have been tested and retested since summer to ensure they can collect data at highway speeds and create transactions for the many vehicles that cross the bridge daily. WSDOT also brought in national tolling experts to review the system, and expanded its customer-service support.

However, even though the Good To Go! call center has activated more than 120,000 new accounts since February, WSDOT Toll Division Director Craig Stone expects there will flood of requests into customer service as many drivers have yet to set up their accounts.

For information, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/goodtogo.