Bill Would Cap Toll Rates for Tacoma Narrows Bridge
A bill introduced in the Washington State House last week would place a cap on the toll for crossing the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Representative Jan Angel, who represents some folks on the other side of the bridge, would extend the period over which the cost of bridge construction is paid back, but would keep toll rates where they are indefinitely.
Rates, which started at $1.75 with the Good To Go Pass, and $3 at the toll booth in 2007, went up in 2008, and again last year to $4 and $5, respectively, with a new $6 pay-by-mail option. A citizens’ advisory committee has recommended another 25 cent increase this year, with increases anticipated on a regular basis over the life of the debt payment.
Last year Angel floated another idea to keep toll rates down: selling naming rights to the bridge. That idea doesn’t seem to have gotten much traction, but Angel isn’t giving up yet on her quest to keep rates down for commuters from the Peninsula and others. The Representative says that her constituants can’t afford toll increases with no ceiling for the foreseeable future.
As with the home mortgage refinancing it is being compared to, however, capping tolls has a cost in terms of longer pay-off terms, and probable further borrowing from the State Motor Vehicle Account.
So, which would you prefer – to bite the bullet on increasing tolls with a payoff date in the slightly nearer future, or low toll rates for… how long?
Read more from the Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal.
Filed under: Transportation, Legislation, Tacoma Landmarks, Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Roads
6 comments
R RR Anderson February 26, 2013
sounds like Tim Eyman mischief to me
J JJ February 26, 2013
She is just catering to wasteful gluttonous environmentally very harmful wealthy people.
I also agree with RR Anderson here.
C Chris February 26, 2013
Sure, sweetheart deals for WSDOT projects with dubious need, that can’t pay for themselves. Republicans are all about fee for service government, until they realize that you can fund $700m bridges with anemic traffic volumes on a measly $3-$4 toll.
S Susan February 26, 2013
I’d like to have the bridge paid off in my lifetime rather than increasing the total cost of the structure. Sen. Nathan Schlicher, also of the 26th District, sponsored a bill which would reduce the contingency fund requirements, which seem to be higher than necessary. This will funnel more of the income from tolls to paying down the debt. Makes a ton more sense to me than this desperate attempt by Angel, who is running against Schlicher for the Senate seat in November.
S stu February 27, 2013
I’d like to see a huge Starbucks logo painted on the bridge. And toll takers could offer espresso out of those little toll booths, too.
It took about 15 years to pay off the first bridge, then tolls were removed. Given today’s political and budget climate, them tolls ain’t goin’ nowhere, even after the bridge gets paid for.
A $5 toll per car toll is more than plenty.
M Mofo from the Hood February 27, 2013
As if it’s worth paying 5 bucks for an admission ticket to Tacoma.