Tolling changes to be a focus of State Transportation Commission meeting next week
Published 9:51 am Friday, March 11, 2016
The State Transportation Commission will revise hours of operation for Interstate 405 express toll lanes and propose 2016 toll rate changes for the State Route 520 bridge and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge when it meets next week in Olympia. The commission also will name the next Olympic Class ferry.
The meeting starts at 9 a.m. on March 15, and 8:30 a.m. on March 16, at the Transportation Building, 310 Maple Park Ave. SE, on the Capitol Campus in Olympia. This meeting is open to the public and persons wishing to speak to the commission may do so during the tolling discussions on Tuesday afternoon and during the public comment period at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the commission will consider the latest performance data on the I-405 express toll and general purpose lanes, and take action requested by the Legislature to change the hours of operation of the toll lanes. The commission also will discuss and determine needed changes to toll rates for the SR 520 bridge and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to ensure the state meets financial and debt requirements.
Following a briefing from financial consultants on several options that are designed to increase toll revenue by 10 percent over several years, the commission will move forward with one SR 520 toll rate proposal, on which it will seek public comment in April. The commission in 2015 adopted a 50 cent toll increase for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, scheduled take effect July 1, 2016. But, thanks to higher than forecasted bridge traffic and a $2.5 million appropriation from the Legislature, current toll levels will be able to remain in place for one more year, through June 30, 2017.
On Wednesday, the commission will name the fourth Olympic Class ferry scheduled to begin construction this spring, selecting from among the names: Cowlitz, Sammamish and Suquamish.
The commission also will hear a briefing on federal and state requirements for minority and women’s contracting, and current state efforts to improve contracting opportunities for minority and women owned businesses. The commission also will learn about the schedule for updating the operational strategies and long-range plan for Washington State Ferries. Operational strategies developed by the Washington State Department of Transportation and the commission are used to guide future investment decisions and fare policies.
For more information about the commission and a complete meeting agenda, visit www.wstc.wa.gov/
