State commission changes tolling times on I-405

Tolling on I-405 will now only be from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. Nights, weekends, and holidays are free to everyone.

The Washington State Transportation Commission set the new tolling times on Tuesday afternoon. They take effect on Friday.

Related: The one thing that won’t happen with the new SR 520 bridge

New signs have already begun populating I-405 reflecting the change but are currently covered, according to KIRO Radio’s Chris Sullivan.

“We worked closely with the Washington State Transportation Commission to determine hours of operation that would maintain reliability for the I-405 commuters making millions of trips in the express toll lanes since they opened last September,” said WSDOT Assistant Secretary of Tolling Patty Rubstello. “We believe the new hours will still allow us to provide a faster, more predictable trip to transit, carpools and toll-paying customers when they need it most, while balancing traffic across all lanes during off-peak times, like nights and weekends.”

The changes will remain in effect for 120 days or until a more permanent change is approved, according to KING 5.

The commission is reviewing, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the latest performance data in the I-405 express toll lanes and general purpose lanes.

In addition to the I-405 changes, the commission will propose the 2016 toll rate changes for the State Route 520 bridge and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

The meeting follows months of public scrutiny of the toll lanes. Drivers have complained that they have worsened traffic. And the state admitted the tolls have become somewhat of a gold mine; drivers spent $3.7 million between September and the end of 2015, which is about triple the number the state expected to take in.

Governor Inslee and the state Legislature directed WSDOT to make the toll changes on I-405.

Related: Gov. Inslee requests changes to I-405 express toll lanes

“To date, commuters’ experience with the 405 express toll lanes has been a mixed bag – the lanes have resulted in shorter commute times for some drivers and transit users, but for others, the opposite has happened,” Inslee said. “That’s why I announced over a dozen improvements in February that will provide traffic relief including lifting tolls on nights, weekends and holidays, a step that I appreciate the Transportation Commission taking quick action on today. More positive change is on the way.”

The time change is one of many of more than a dozen to the I-405 express toll lanes since they launched.

See the additional changes