520 bridge tolls

[Mike Carey]

Almost $7 round trip. So who is paying and who is driving around? Full year estimated at $1,700 for a daily commute. Ouch!

[natetreat]

Yea, I'm never taking it again. Not worth it to me. I don't have to drive it very often, but now I don't ever have to drive it again. That's ridiculous!

[G-Man]

"520 bridge trolls" is what my eyes wanted me to see when I glanced at the forum topics. I don't troll the bridge nearly as much as I used to... wait a minute that was 520 bridge tolls! I used to live in the Central District of Seattle and commute to Redmond for work. Depending upon traffic I would take either bridge. If I was still making the same commute, I'd use I-90 unless the tolls thin out the 520 bridge traffic and make it worth while. However, I'm pretty thrifty and I'd probably end up buying some "bus pants" and utilize the public transportation system.

[tnj8222]

Will never take 520 again.

[Bodofish]

I live and work on the eastside, that said, no worries on the commute. I do have a "good to go" just in case a bridge switch is in my best interest. During my time off, I wouldn't care if it were to cost $10.00, it's all about the time spent behind the wheel.

Hey G Man, where in the heck do you get them "Bus Pants" at? When I commuted on the bus I never wore my finest because I normally had my bike and rode the last part of the trip.

[G-Man]

Hey G Man, where in the heck do you get them "Bus Pants" at? When I commuted on the bus I never wore my finest because I normally had my bike and rode the last part of the trip.

Same place I usually get my hunting clothes, at Goodwill or Value Villiage. Get them a little oversized and they work as good as coveralls at a fraction of the price.

[The Quadfather]

end up buying some "bus pants" and utilize the public transportation system.

I laughed when I read that statement. Ya, you really do need to dawn some haz. Mat. clothing when taking public Trans.
I am thinking that one of them pull down safety shields that welders wear might come in handy as well.
http://lolais40.com/wp-content/uploads/ ... t-blue.jpg

[SculpinKing]

I'm glad now that I no longer have to commute over any bridge, but I'm not looking forward to extra traffic on my already bad 405 commute from Lynnwood to Redmond from folks trying to avoid the toll.

[spindog]

Almost $7 round trip. So who is paying and who is driving around? Full year estimated at $1,700 for a daily commute. Ouch!

Stay off the bridge deck any time before Midnight and after 5 am, If you leave for work early and travel before 5am- No charge
Early crossing= no trafffic and no charge

[Mike Carey]

Almost $7 round trip. So who is paying and who is driving around? Full year estimated at $1,700 for a daily commute. Ouch!

Stay off the bridge deck any time before Midnight and after 5 am, If you leave for work early and travel before 5am- No charge
Early crossing= no trafffic and no charge

You are correct, here's the toll rate link:

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Tolling/TollRates.htm

Personally, I don't use the bridge often so can avoid the issue. I too am curious how much worse my 405 south commute will become. I drive it at 7am each day going south from 520 to 405 to Tukwila. I suspect the section in Bellevue and merging from 520 to 405 southbound will become a pain. If it's bad enough it may be worthwhile running though to Bellevue College and getting on I90 west then go 405 south. We'll see.

I just think a lot of people will avoid 520 now. It will become a bridge only those with extra money will use. (at least, for those that have to do a daily commute)

[Bodofish]

Dons Flame retardant suit and steps to soap box......
Here is another example of 695, $30 car tabs and the me, me, me, why should I pay for that mentality. We all live together and we all use the infrastructure, not just the bridge but roads on the west side of the mountains, roads on the east side and all the services that go along with them. In addition to the me, me, me, It's also the mismanagement of State funds with a top heavy bureaucracy and p!$$ poor planning. This is a project that should have been paid for with taxes a little at a time by everyone in the state, starting about 30 years ago, at the time the bridge became too small. Yes the bridge has been a problem that long, the bridge has been too small from the day it was opened. In addition if we step back and look at almost every road project we drive through, it's too little too late. The only way to get rid of the traffic congestion is to get ahead of the curve with proper forecasting and planning instead of band aiding. Mass transit we can discuss another day.

Steps off box..... Suit on....

[zen leecher]

I used to pay 10 cents to cross 520 back in 1977.

[edge540]

Every couple weeks I take the Tacoma narrows up to Sequim to see my folks. I GLADLY pay the 4 bucks a trip to get across without traffic. I used to wait for 30 min to an hour to get through 16 and cross the old bridge.

That toll sounds pretty steep but if it reduces the commute time by 15 min a day its definitely worth it. While I think the state should be able to fix our roads simply with the taxes we pay on fuel the fact is that they p!ss it all away on everything else. I honestly don't think that a farmer in eastern Washington should have to pay for it.


I just wish they would start adding 2 or 3 lanes at a time instead of 1. 405 should be 5 lanes both ways but no we add one at a time every 20 years...

Another thing, quit adding these #$%%@#@ hov lanes. For the expense of adding one hov lane with all the signage, sensors, million dollar reader boards, camers and good to go BS they could just add a couple lanes for everybody to use! Who the heck though this up anyways

How about a couple through lanes or truck lanes


Must go fishing must go fishing must go fishing

[Mike Carey]

for sure it's a question of time vrs. money. If I'm down at Tacoma I'll use the bridge and pay, not a big deal. BUT if I had to pay everyday that would be a different matter. $1,600 a year in new taxes is not chump change. Maybe they could have offered discounted rates for frequent crossers, I don't know.

I'm not opposed to Use Taxes - the fishing license is the perfect example of one. But this is state infrastructure. I'm not quite as sold on the concept of a use tax for something that impacts so many people in so many ways.

In any case, it is what it is. It will be interesting to see how it plays out in the next year.

[tnj8222]

I used to use 520 a few times a week if not daily. Its absurd I will never pay that to use a road my taxes already pay for.

[Bodofish]

I used to use 520 a few times a week if not daily. Its absurd I will never pay that to use a road my taxes should have already pay for.

It's that P.... Poor Planning again!!!!!!

[kenimes]

Live and work on the West side, but play softball in Kirkland. This year, will be taking Lake City Way through Kenmore and Juanita to get to Kirkland. Screw 520 and its new toll!!

[sickbayer]

I think the solution is to toll more bridges, make the tolls like 50cents. At the last check was there like 750 bridges that needed repair or replacing in our state. I remember that number after that big bridge colasped killing a bunch of people. Cant remeber the name sorry. Still more and more people drive on them, i just think spreading the cost equals lower costs.

[natetreat]

it's ridiculous. I say we toll i-90 as well, and use the toll fees to build a superhighway bridge between them both. Call it the 590 and make it have 10 lanes a side.

[Bodofish]

Yep that's the only way it's going to work is tolling all the big bridges. The most important piece would be making the good to go passes work everywhere there is a toll. The Narrows, Hood Canal, the tolled carpools and I 90 for a start, then start on the larger bridges on the east side too. Make the toll small enough for a little grumble but not enough to figure out a new route.