New toll rates closer to reality after approval

THE state Transportation Commission continued accepting recommendations made by the Citizen Advisory Committee on Monday, agreeing that toll rates should indeed increase by $1 beginning July 1 — and concluding that a discount for Good to Go! customers should continue.

While an extra dollar per trip may seem like a burden, it’s a relief to know a precedent is being set. The CAC and the Transportation Commission have both acknowledged a continued need for electronic tolling discounts for numerous reasons, and discussions will likely continue to include statewide discounts when additional tolling projects come online.

Marketing efforts were so great last spring that more than 90,000 accounts were generated for Good to Go! based on the $1.25 discount. And why not? Why would a regular bridge commuter want to pay $3 per trip instead of $1.75 when that option is available? It was so enticing that the number of accounts WSDOT had projected — and many people laughed at — was tripled, leading to this first big toll adjustment of $1 per trip in order to make up the difference for bond payments.

One of the options the Transportation Committee rejected this week was to make the toll $3 across the board, which was in the original plan. But that would mean regular bridge users — the ones who bought into the electronic discount program to make the collection process easier in the first place — would be making up the difference. In essence, the commission would be getting even for giving us a break for 12 months.

Thankfully, they didn’t do that.

Both the CAC and the Transportation Commission realize the importance of this project. They want to accomplish two things: Pay off the debt on schedule and maintain a positive relationship with the commuting community.

This winter, when the CAC looks at adjusting tolls that will go into effect on July 1, 2009, the job should be easier. Committee members will have a full year of actual traffic numbers, not projections. Setting a new toll figure won’t be as much of a guessing game.

And now that another year-long electronic discount has been factored into the equation, we should be able to expect it to continue.

Have your say

Do you think the proposed toll increase is fair? Are you satisfied with a continued discount for electronic transponders? Do you have other opinions on how tolling should work for the new Narrows bridge?

Let your voice be heard! Write a letter to the editor no longer than about 250 words and send via e-mail to gatewayeditor@gateline.com or regular mail at 3555 Erickson St., Gig Harbor, WA, 98335. Be sure to include your first and last name and your hometown for print and a verifiable phone number.