Tolling and Pricing Program
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VPP Projects Involving Tolls
Category: Priced Roadways
Sub-Category: High-Performance Highways

Project - WASHINGTON: Variable Priced Tolls on SR 520 in Seattle

SR 520, a major access freeway into downtown Seattle from the East and from Seattle to eastside employment locations, experiences serious congestion between I-5 and I-405. The floating bridge carries twice as much traffic as it was originally designed to carry. While originally there was a toll to cross the bridge, it was lifted many years ago. To address current congestion, and also the 40 percent of throughput capacity that the region claims is sometimes lost on SR 520 due to it, King County, Puget Sound Regional Council, and Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) decided to introduce tolling on SR 520, setting toll rates on the facility based upon demand so as to avoid the buildup of congestion and the loss of roadway capacity when it is most needed. Toll rates are now on a fixed schedule, and revenues from tolling will be used to help finance corridor improvements. The project has deployed an all electronic toll collection system, allowing tolls to be collected at freeway speeds. Tolls are being collected using transponders, with supplemental automatic cameras reading license plates for vehicles without transponders.

Anticipated Completion Date

December 2011

September - December 2011 Update

The Urban Partnership Agreement (UPA) completed the deployment of all components of the new systems. The Active Traffic Management (ATM) systems on SR 520 and portions of I-90 are operating, have been well-received by the public and are successful at communicating speed limit changes and lane restrictions. The travel time signs on SR520, SR522 and I-405 have been installed and activated and are displaying travel times to drivers. Tolling began on the SR520 Bridge on December 29th, 2011. The SR 520 Toll Collection System and statewide Customer Service Center are operating successfully. The SR520 corridor is experiencing free flow operations, although volumes continue to increase as divers return to the corridor. Data collection for the evaluation of the UPA program continues as well.

For More Information Contact

Patty Rubstello, P.E.
Project Director
Washington State DOT
Phone: (206) 464-1299
E-mail: rubstep@wsdot.wa.gov

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