Increasing tolls and ferry fares before the Washington State Transportation Commission

The future of tolling, increasing ferry fares, and a new SR 2 trestle. It’s a huge day at the Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC).

Let’s start with the ferries. The fares just went up in October, and the state is already looking at the next increase, which could take effect in October of this year. While 2024 ridership was up 2.5% over 2023, it is still just 79% of 2019 levels.

As we have seen since the pandemic, passenger ridership continues to drag down the overall number. It is just 74% of 2019 levels, while vehicle ridership is running at 86% of 2019 levels.

We should get the potential fare increases in June. Today is the start of that fare conversation.

Toll increase coming to SR 99

We’re expecting WSTC to approve an increased toll in the State Route 99 (SR 99) tunnel today. The toll rate is expected to go up by 3%. The commission will be voting on that. The tolls inside the tunnel are expected to go up 3% every three years.

The future of tolling on Interstate 405 (I-405) between Bellevue and Renton and on State Route 509 (SR 509) and State Route 167 (SR 167) will also be discussed today. The two-lane express toll lane on I-405 is expected to open late this year or early in 2026.

There has been talk of increasing the rates, including the max toll rates to $18 along that corridor. The max went up to $15 a year ago. The SR 167 HOV lane between Sumner and Auburn is expected to become a toll lane when 405 is finished to complete the 50-mile tolled facility from Lynnwood to Sumner. The commission is talking about those tolls today as well.

When that happens, everyone will need a Flex Pass to declare HOV or toll on that corridor. That should eliminate a lot of the HOV and HOT lane cheating on SR 167. But when that corridor is complete, it’s expected that segmented tolling would begin as well. That means you would pay multiple times on your drive if you drive through different segments.

You would pay one toll from Lynnwood to Bellevue. You would pay a second toll from Bellevue to Renton and a third toll from Renton to Sumner. If you hit the max each time, which isn’t likely but possible, you would pay $48 for the trip.

The HOV requirements also could go up to 3+ in a lot more areas.

What’s new with the US 2 trestle?

WSDOT has been talking about a trestle replacement for a decade or more. The original bridge was built in the 1930s. It served both directions. A new westbound trestle was completed in 1969. The original bridge, which was eastbound, was replaced in 2001. Now it’s time to replace the westbound trestle.

Today, the commission will get an update on the public outreach campaign that just wrapped up. Backups and elevated travel times top the list of complaints from the daily users. The lack of detours is also another big issue. Safety and lack of shoulders on the trestle also contribute.

There were 644 crashes on the trestle between 2018 and 2022.

With the projected growth in the area, State Route 2 (SR 2) just needs more capacity.

There is an expected 241% increase in households on the west side of the trestle through 2050. There is an anticipated 112% household increase on the east side of the trestle.

But don’t get your hopes up. A final report on what to do isn’t expected for more than a year.

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