Narrows Bridge Tolls Increases Set - For Now
It looks like it’s official: the new tolls that will go into effect July 1, 2012 have been set for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. And it won’t be the last time tolls go up.
New Tolls
Good to Go: $4 from $2.75,
Cash tolls: $5 from $4 and
Pay-by-mail tolls: $6 from $5.50
Tolls are scheduled to go up again by 2015, but it could be sooner. Traffic hasn’t increased as expected, due in large part to the economy, but the debt on construction still has to be paid off.
So, who needs a carpool?
Read more from The News Tribune
Previously from Exit133: Narrows Bridge Toll Increase: Last Chance for Public Comment.
Filed under: Transportation, Legislation, Tacoma Landmarks, Tacoma Narrows Bridge
6 comments
J Jesse May 22, 2012
Almost a 50% increase for Good to Go people?
Astronomical.
G GoodToGouge May 22, 2012
They say less people are using the bridge because of the economy so they decide to raise the price.
Makes sense, if one is an idiot.
I IdeaGuy May 22, 2012
If they really want people to get behind paying the toll, then put up a “Pay Off The Bridge Meter”! Everytime I drive by, I should see that meter go down four clicks. At least we might have a shot at really knowing when it actually gets paid off. Unfortunately, these bums will keep raising the tolls. If they aren’t already, I’m sure they’ll be using the money for everything BUT the bridge.
L L smith May 23, 2012
Everyone knows that the economy is bad. Do the people making the rules know that the economy is also bad for the people that need to use the bridge everyday to get to their jobs. Maybe if they dropped the price a bit ,more people would use the bridge.
J jd May 23, 2012
I kind of doubt that too many people are basing their decision whether or not to cross the Bridge on the difference in a couple of dollars. The real (and almost criminal) issue here is that the State and the operators of the Bridge are taking advantage of a captive audience.
If you have to drive across the Bridge to come to work in either direction, you’re screwed. Sure, those folks who chose Gig Harbor and points west knew the Bridge would always be an issue when they decided to live over there. I seriously doubt though, that they would have thought that it would get this ridiculous. No, four dollars isn’t a whole lot of money, but how many more times is the toll going to be raised? I suppose there are other options, such as taking the Ferry, or driving down through Shelton, but you’d probably end up spending more in gas money than the price of the toll.
This time they’re blaming the economy for decreased traffic. What other excuses will they come up with in the future? Cost of living adjustments? Devaluation of the dollar? I’m guessing they have their excuse list all ready to go for the next round of hikes.
J JJ May 24, 2012
Building the 2nd bridge was a folly.A folly based upon a failed transportation system based upon motor vehicles highly vulnerable to post peak oil.
Yes of course the national economy will absolutely collapse within this decade or the next (the US dollar will be hyperinflated absolutely worthless except for burning notes as heating fuel for the fireplace) and the 2nd bridge will never be paid off ever.However it will be excellent to use the bridges to cross both of them by bicycle as gasoline will be too costly in 20 years to fuel motor vehicles.We are a fossil fuel based economy and this shortly will become unviable and is proven unsustainable too.Trust in Gold and Silver as these are the only true valuable currencies other than barter trade.People will have to live,shop and work much closer to home so long distant commutes are out of the question in the future.Those whom can’t will suffer greatly.I recommend growing a food garden in your backyard if you have one as food will become very costly too.Humans survived long before the creation of the automobile and they will survive after that wasteful folly of that invention too due to resource depletion/scarcity.