Happy first birthday

The New Narrows Bridge: One year later

Paige Richmond

of the Gateway

Nine years after it was approved by Washington State voters — and five years after construction began — the eastbound span of the new Narrows bridge opened to public use one year ago today.

More than 60,000 people walked across the 5,979-foot structure to celebrate its ribbon cutting.

To pay off the cost of the $849 million project, commuters initially paid $3 in cash or $1.75 with a Good To Go! pass, an electronic toll collection system created by the Washington Department of Transportation and counted by Transcore.

Even then, local residents were concerned about the price of their commute.

“I shouldn’t have to worry about traffic backing up in the morning,” commuter Walter Coleman said the day the bridge opened. “But I’m not looking forward to the tolls.”

Since then, there have been a number of developments, including increased safety, cuts in “oversight” and a jump in tolls.

Congestion, accidents decrease

Although more cars were driving across the Narrows bridge almost immediately after it opened — about 1.2 million cars cross each span every month — traffic congestion dropped significantly.

Before the eastbound span was built, an average commuter traveled 25 mph while passing the Wollochet Drive exit. After the new span opened, the average speed was 60 mph.

Even though speeds increased, car accidents and collisions decreased. From January to July last year, there were 17 accidents on the Narrows bridge; from July to December, there were only six.

So far in 2008, only six collisions have occurred.

Higher-than-expected Good To Go! enrollment

It didn’t take long for the bridge to surpass expectations, at least when it came to Good To Go! signups.

The Washington State Department of Transportation announced months before the bridge opened that drivers could receive a toll discount by signing up for Good To Go! transponders, paying $1.75 instead of $3 for cash. That savings — plus the fact that the small, rectangular windshield devices allowed drivers to cross the bridge without stopping at a toll booth — led more than 61,000 people to sign up for a Good To Go! account before the bridge even opened.

WSDOT had hoped for 25,000.

Since then, numbers have continued to rise. More than 98,000 Good To Go! accounts and 254,000 transponders have been set up, reaching more than four times WSDOT’s goal. Nearly 70 percent of total drivers and more than 85 percent of morning commuters use electronic toll lanes.

The transponders have been especially popular with city residents: 96 percent of Gig Harbor households have Good To Go! accounts.

WSP adds detachment on the bridge, July 2007

Four years after the Washington State Patrol removed its presence from Gig Harbor, the troopers were back on state Route 16.

As part of an agreement with WSDOT, a detachment of patrol officers opened on 24th Street, above the highway and the Narrows bridge toll collection plaza.

The WSP guaranteed rush-hour bridge patrols and that $49 tickets — now $59, after the toll increase this month — would find their way to toll violators.

Violations have continued to decrease in the past year, although it’s unclear what role the WSP has played. Initially hovering about 5 percent in August and September 2007, the average of toll violators is now about 2.9 percent of total bridge traffic.

Businesses boom, August 2007

The City of Gig Harbor lists 205 new businesses since the new Narrows bridge opened, not counting home-based businesses.

Some of the biggest newsmakers include the YMCA, which opened in August, Coscto Wholesale, which opened in October, and the Galaxy Theatre, which celebrated its grand opening in March.

All three entities have been successful. The YMCA, for example, is already experiencing overcrowded parking. Costco pulled in a herd of bridge-weary shoppers thankful to have a local bulk food center, and Galaxy Theatre’s state-of-the-art facility had teenagers camping out on the sidewalk before opening night to nab free passes good for 90 days.

The harbor also saw the opening of several new fitness centers and the expansion of popular stores such as Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, Fondi, Subway, Starbucks and Cutters Point.

The harbor is now anticipating the opening of St. Anthony Hospital next February.

Tow program dropped, October 2007

Last October, WSDOT announced the elimination of the stand-by tow program.

Originally, it was put in place to quickly clear collisions in order to keep traffic moving across the bridge. But after it was used 67 times in the first six weeks, demand decreased — it was called upon just 14 times.

The program, which was paid for by a small portion of each toll, was for $2,360 per week. It was officially terminated later that month.

Greg Selstead, director of tolling operations, said it would save commuters about two cents per $3 toll.

Transcore contract renegotiated, Feb. 2008

WSDOT negotiated with Transcore, its toll operator and manager, to reduce costs to toll payers in late February.

The agreement will save $5.6 million in toll operations fees over the next four years and more than $1 million this biennium.

The renegotiation came after both WSDOT and the Citizen Advisory Committee expressed concern that Transcore profits for managing toll operations had well exceeded projected numbers.

The amended contract included a single monthly fixed fee of $565,666 that replaced the fixed and variable fee structure that was in place — a savings of nearly $150,000 a month.

A second contract provided for a monthly fixed fee of $48,733 for all back-office and in-lane operations for the state Route 167 HOT lanes pilot project, which opened this spring.

To coincide with that project, the length of the Narrows bridge contract was extended from Jan. 31, 2011, to June 30, 2012.

Legislators find extra money in budget, March 2008

When the legislative session ended earlier this year, local representatives took two steps to save taxpayers money on the new Narrows bridge.

State Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, reintroduced Senate Bill 5681, which would reduce toll project costs by transferring sales and use tax collections to the project’s tolling account.

State Reps. Larry Seaquist, D-Gig Harbor, and Pat Lantz, D-Gig Harbor, were proponents House Bill 3051, which would take state sales tax from construction of transportation projects and use that money to pay down those projects instead of sending them to the state treasury.

Although neither bill was signed into law at the end of the session, they could eventually redirect $43.5 million in sales taxes through the state budget to help pay for the bridge. And any increase in bridge efficiency means less overhead costs passed on to taxpayers.

“This is important not only because it saves us money this year, but it also sets an expectation that’s actually written into the budget bill that we’re going to work for efficiency with toll operations,” Kilmer explained earlier this year, referring to a legislative requirement that the Narrows bridge operate more efficiently with each passing year.

Fight for lights on the bridge, May 2008

A grassroots committee named Narrowsbridgelights.org formed in December 2006 and began working with government leaders and officials for public organizations to allow permanent installation and maintenance for lights on both bridges.

The committee, which estimated the cost at $4 million, still hopes to use solar power with Light Emitting Diodes (LED) to conserve energy.

Last May, the committee made its biggest financial step when it received $1.5 million for lighting on the new Narrows bridge from the state budget.

Most recently, the committee became a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, which means it has broadened the possibilities for collecting money to pay for the project.

Proponents of the bridge believe having lights on the bridge would help create a stronger identity for the Gig Harbor area. Furthermore, bridge advocates say it would be an aesthetically pleasing sight for those who cross the bridge at night.

CAC discusses toll increase, December 2007 through July 2008

There was no doubt about it: At some point, tolls on the Narrows bridge would have to increase, per WSDOT’s plan to pay off the project’s bond debt by 2030.

But just how much those tolls would jump was partially in the hands of the Citizen Advisory Committee, a group of residents from Gig Harbor, University Place and Tacoma appointed by the governor to advise the state’s Transportation Commission on toll rates.

One policy the CAC has clung to is a continued discount for Good To Go! account holders. When WSDOT began calculating revenues this March, staff assumed that Good To Go! customers and cash customers — who were paying $1.75 and $3, respectively — would both pay $3 on July 1, when tolls were scheduled to increase.

But CAC Chairman Bob Ryan, a Tacoma resident who works in Gig Harbor, advocated for a $2.75 toll for electronic payment and $4 for cash, preserving a discount. Five of his fellow committee members agreed; the sixth, Gig Harbor resident Jim Pasin, dissented because he wanted the electronic toll even lower.

“Our desire is, beyond anything, to keep tolls at the lowest possible level for the longest period of time,” Ryan said in March.

As for when the tolls will increase again, neither the CAC nor WSDOT can be sure. Trips on the bridge have dipped in the past few months — meaning that toll revenues are lower than they need to be to pay off the bridge on time.

Tolls may increase before the end of 2008 to make up for the difference.

Reach Reporter and Columnist Paige Richmond at 253-853-9243 or by e-mail at paige.richmond@gateline.com. Reporters Marques Hunter and Susan Schell contributed to this report.