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closeLet’s be sensible about tolls across the Narrows bridge
Sen. Derek Kilmer and Rep. Larry Seaquist
Special to the Gateway
As massive public works projects go, the new Narrows Bridge has been an unbridled success since the day it opened.
The tolls we pay today to cross the bridge are less than what was projected when the bridge was built. Since then, we’ve repeatedly scrubbed the bridge’s operating budget to cut operating costs. We also continue to press for the forgiveness of a $5.3 million state loan used to pay for initial bridge operations before tolling commenced.
The goal: Keep tolls as low as possible.
So it is with great frustration that we find the state’s Transportation Commission voting to raise tolls to levels that are simply indefensible.
Recently, the commission, on the advice of state Treasurer Jim McIntire, voted to raise tolls. Its plan would push tolls up this year in order to meet a new reserve standard proposed by the treasurer. It would increase tolls to levels high enough so the bridge would generate enough revenue to pay 105 to 110 percent of annual operating costs and debt service while maintaining a healthy reserve.
The treasurer’s and commission’s recommendations go against the proposal worked out last fall by our Citizen Advisory Committee. The committee, which consists of local citizens, decided that a $1 increase in cash tolls was justified but an increase of the $2.75 electronic toll was not.
The commission disagrees. In a 4-3 vote, they recommended to raise the electronic toll to $3.25 — a 50-cent increase for all the “Good-to-Go!” users. That increase will cut even deeper into family budgets that are already taxed by a relentless recession, costing hard-earned money they need to clothe their children and put food on the table.
This isn’t the end of the debate. A public process with hearings and comment periods will ensue before any new rates take effect July 1. We simply cannot sit idly by and watch tolls soar on the wings of logic so dubious.
At the core, this has nothing to do with the Narrows Bridge at all. The treasurer’s office wants future toll projects to maintain even higher reserve levels. The logic is that showing investors an example of Washington’s new reserve policy for tolled transportation projects will help the state compete for better interest rates.
In McIntire’s view, the Narrows Bridge should be that example.
The premise that reserves should be raised to such a level is wrong, especially during economic times like these. That’s like asking families to maintain a savings account on top of their savings account at a time when they’re struggling just to keep the lights on.
And with interest rates at historic lows, there’s no reason to fear high borrowing costs to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct or the state Route 520 Bridge, anyway.
What makes this all the more outlandish is that the Narrows Bridge, unlike so many toll-funded projects around the country, is triple-backed. Aside from tolls, the bridge can be supported, if needed, by the state’s gas tax and the state’s impeccable credit rating.
Those are outstanding fallback measures for a facility that is in absolutely no danger of needing to use them.
We respect the Transportation Commission and McIntire, but as we have told them in public hearings and other meetings, they are simply wrong on this issue.
Every person who relies on that bridge to get to jobs where they are working harder and getting paid less knows this is not the time to raise tolls for everyday bridge users. Every member of the state Transportation Commission needs to hear that message.
We’ve got two months to change the Transportation Commission’s vote. We all need to get to work.
You can reach the commissioners by sending your thoughts to the Washington State Transportation Commission, P.O. Box 47308, Olympia, WA, 98504-7308, or by visiting www.wstc.wa.gov/feedback.htm.
And we’ll keep at it from our end.