The SunBreak » tolling

How 520’s Toll Revenue Differs from WSDOT’s 2011 Projections

Michael van Baker — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 18:54:04 +0000

Back of the envelope calculations would seem to show that toll revenue has exceeded expectations by more than that $3 million, certainly, but WSDOT says "right on target." If you take them at their word, this would indicate that the tolls in themselves, despite the increase in price and late-payment windfall, are lagging.

New 520 Floating Bridge’s Pontoons are “Disaster,” Inspector Tells KOMO

Michael van Baker — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 20:14:33 +0000

WSDOT says, for instance: "WSDOT’s SR 520 construction contracts include multiple requirements for Quality Assurance (QA) managers and other Quality Assurance staff." That sounds reassuring, but when you read their documentation, you discover that construction firm Kiewit, the "Design-Builder," is responsible for all "QA and QC for design."

With Tolls, New Larger 520 Bridge Could Serve Half as Many

Michael van Baker — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 19:38:42 +0000

Why would so much traffic divert? Tolls. As Mike Lindblom reports for the Seattle Times, WSDOT's financial projections call for some 48 percent of existing traffic to seek other routes, thanks to $3.50 Good to Go tolls on the bridge during peak hours (that's $5.00 if you haven't signed up with Good to Go). The tolls are supposed to increase 2.5 percent annually until 2017, at which time they will increase 15 percent.