‘Super frustrated’ drivers enough reason for lawmaker to combat I-405 tolls

It’s been just over seven weeks since a new express toll lane system opened up on I-405 with the aim to relieve congestion. Now a local lawmaker wants to go back to the drawing board – and he’s gathering support for a bill to do just that.

State Rep. Mark Harmsworth (R-Mill Creek) has been a vocal critic of the new toll lanes system, which features two express lanes drivers can pay to use for a quicker trip. The general purpose lanes, however, remain moving at their usual, congested pace.

Harmsworth has not only criticized the Washington State Department of Transportation over the new express toll lanes, he has alleged that the state agency took away a general purpose lane in order to make a second express lane &#8212 a controversial issue among drivers stuck in congested general purpose traffic on I-405.

Related: WSDOT and the I-405 express toll lane controversy

“I’m hearing from all my constituents that are super frustrated,” Harmsworth told KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson. “Primarily, I believe, one of the reasons is that we now only have three general purpose lanes, instead of four, is because one was removed. Common sense says that if you take all those cars and squeeze them into three lanes, it’s going to get worse.”

WSDOT has explained that a general purpose lane was never taken away. The lane in question was an auxiliary lane, typically used for exiting or entering freeways.

Harmsworth maintains that WSDOT used a nickel tax to raise money for the construction of an additional general purpose lane on I-405. That was before the toll lane system was designed and implemented. WSDOT holds a different perspective.

Now Harmsworth wants that lane back for the average, non-toll paying driver commuting between Lynnwood and Bellevue. He has drafted a bill and is spending his days in Olympia garnering support from fellow legislators.

“It’s a phased approach. First part is to return that fourth lane back to general purpose; to what it should be after we paid for it with the nickel tax. Second, open all lanes to all traffic after 7 p.m. And the third is to open some of the ingress and egress points so people can get out of the HOV lane,” Harmsworth said.

So far, the bill has bi-partisan support, Harmsworth said, and plenty of it.

“There are Democrats that are signing on to say that this is not the right approach to reduce congestion on the Eastside,” he said.