January 13, 2012 · Exit133 · archive: txp/article

Narrows Toll Increase May Be Big

Round one in the Narrows Bridge toll increase conversation took place on Wednesday, and the initial DOT numbers presented to the citizen advisory committee suggest that we’re looking at a significant increase. According to a Kitsap Sun article yesterday, we could see the most expensive rates going up by anywhere from $1.50 to $2.00.

Department of Transportation experts kicked off the toll-raising process by updating the bridge’s citizen advisory committee with the latest traffic and revenue numbers. They also provided four toll scenarios. In them, the electronic rate would jump from $2.75 to $4.25 or $4.50, the manual rate from $4 to $5.50 or $6, and the photo tolling rate from $5.50 to $7 or $7.50.

After putting off toll increases in the past, it looks like we’re finally going to have to bite the bullet and take the increase, but the question now is how much? A couple of attempts to decrease or defer some of the cost increase are in the works, including an attempt to exempt the bridge from sales tax.

The DOT presentation was the beginning of a public process expected to wrap up on March 20th with a presentation by the citizen advisory committee to the Transportation Commission. Next up is a meeting and open house on February 8th in Gig Harbor, which, according to the WSDOT page, will include an opportunity for public comment. Toll increases, whatever the final numbers, are expected to kick in by July 1, 2012