I-90 tolls off the table with new transportation package

Published 10:41 am Tuesday, July 21, 2015

The transportation funding package passed by the state Legislature and signed by Gov. Jay Inslee includes substantial funding ($1.6 billion) for the SR 520 project, eliminating the need for new tolls on I-90, City Manager Noel Treat wrote in an email update.

“While tolling seemed to be inevitable at one point, the City’s legal, lobbying, and outreach efforts, along with our citizens’ hard work and involvement, ultimately stopped the tolling proposal,” Treat wrote.

Increased gas taxes are included in the package to fund this and other transportation improvements.  It appears this will likely end any consideration of tolling I-90 for the foreseeable future.

“Please join me in thanking our state delegation of Representative Judy Clibborn, Representative Tana Senn, and Senator Steve Litzow for their leadership in getting the funding package passed,” Treat wrote.

Clibborn is the chair of the House Transportation Committee and lives on Mercer Island.

New program to resolve customer disputes on tolls

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is changing how it resolves disputes for customers who have received a penalty for unpaid tolls. Toll violators now have the opportunity to resolve their civil penalty by paying the outstanding tolls without fees and penalties.

Starting July 20, customers who have an unpaid civil penalty can contact Good To Go! to request a waiver of fees and penalties if they agree to pay all outstanding tolls.

“First-time toll violators can call Good To Go! to review their civil penalty prior to a hearing,” said WSDOT Toll Operations Director Patty Rubstello. “Customer service will work with them to pay their toll, waive the penalties and fees, and resolve the issue that caused them to get behind on their bill.”

The toll violator will have 20 days to pay the tolls on their civil penalty or a hold will be placed on their vehicle registration.

WSDOT worked closely with the 2015 Legislature to ensure the new resolution program worked within the provisions of the new toll customer service law.

The billing structure and the $40 civil penalty remain the same. The registered owner of a vehicle receives a bill in the mail within two weeks of using a toll facility. They have 15 days to pay before a second bill is issued with a $5 reprocessing fee. If the toll remains unpaid for 80 days, a notice of civil penalty is issued with $40 penalty per toll transaction.

Unresolved civil penalties will still result in a vehicle registration hold.

Starting July 20, all Notice of Civil Penalties will be mailed with information about the new program. Contact Good To Go! to find out if you qualify for the new enforcement program.