A work plan to address the proposed I-90 tolling has been released by the City of Mercer Island after its unanimous adoption at the City Council meeting on March 4. The final draft of the plan shows that litigation may be necessary and calls for the city to initiate coalition building, lobbying, public engagement, review of federal authority to toll, and other action items that will aid the city in responding to the state’s proposal.
The plan introduction states, “The Mercer Island City Council opposes the imposition of the proposed tolls on Interstate 90 in the Central Puget Sound Region. Tolls will have a significant financial impact on all those who live, work, visit, attend schools, or own businesses not only on Mercer Island, but throughout the region.”
The city has hired Washington D.C. legal counsel to review federal approval to toll, and a lobbyist to advocate in Olympia. The city is meeting with other cities to start forming coalitions. The City Council will provide regular updates at Council meetings.
The work plan is available here.