Anyone who’s spent any time on our area roadways — by way of personal vehicle, public transportation, cab, ride-sharing or bike — knows that they’re often congested and sorely in need of repairs. And that it’s inevitable that it will cost a $10 toll on each of our state roadways to pay for improvements.
With Seattle voters approving the $930 million Move Seattle transportation levy in November, transportation officials know that voters are willing to pay a lot for roadway improvements. That’s what the Washington State Department of Transportation is counting on, as it’s considering tolls for all its roadways, in addition to a proposed mileage tax.
Drivers on Interstate 405 paid the maximum $10 toll during the morning rush hour on Dec. 10, and even that toll lane backed up. It was close to that amount in the preceding days, too, so it wasn’t an unusual backup but regular traffic volumes. And the toll lanes only started in late September.
Those traveling from Seattle to the Eastside, including carpoolers, have paid tolls on state Route 520 since late December 2011, to help pay for the new, now-under-construction bridge across Lake Washington. While tolls haven’t risen to I-405 levels, they’re still expected to last until 2056, according to the state’s project website.
Future plans, according to the I-405 project website, include extending the express toll-lane system from the Pierce/King County line on state Route 167 to Lynnwood.
And state officials previously announced that the new Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel would be tolled up to $3 before construction even began. But with work on the tunnel starting back up after a two-year hiatus, we should anticipate tolls on that roadway to be closer to those charged on I-405, to compensate for construction cost overruns.
If recent events tell us anything, it’s that it’s only a matter of time before all of our roads are tolled, including Interstates 90 and 5 through downtown.
The precedent has been set. If you thought Seattle was too expensive to live in now, it’s just going to get much, much worse — cost overruns of $71 million on the seawall replacement project and next year’s doubled housing levy, notwithstanding.
Traveling anywhere in Seattle has become more than tales of hours-long commutes because of jack-knifed trailer trucks, snow and foreign dignitaries’ visits. Now, we can also say, “Remember when the toll was only $10?”