Another $125K approved for I-90 Tolling fight

Published 12:19 pm Monday, November 25, 2013

City Council on Monday, Nov. 18 approved an additional $125,000 for Mercer Island’s I-90 Work Plan. The extra money will come from the city’s Contingency Fund, like the $275,000 approved in the first stage.

The added funds were supported by a number of Islanders who spoke in favor of it before council.

Noel Treat, incoming city manager estimated that the money should carry the city through the first quarter of 2014. About $30,000 would potentially go toward a transportation expert, which Treat explained would be important as the state’s EIS progresses. WSDOT has argued that tolling will reduce overall congestion and an expert, said Treat, could help critique those studies.