Starting March 1, toll rates on Interstate 405’s express lanes are increasing for the first time since they began in 2015. It is increasing from $10 to $15. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has greenlighted a 50% toll increase to deal with traffic congestion and finance road repairs.
There is a new toll for driving in the busiest part of Seattle, on I-405 between Lynnwood and Bellevue and on Highway 167 connecting Renton and Auburn. Now the toll can go up or down every five minutes, depending on how much traffic there is.
WSDOT has a few reasons for the upcoming toll increase. Firstly, they want to discourage people from clogging the express lanes by increasing the toll slightly. They are using variable tolling to ensure that traffic continues to move at a maximum speed of 45 mph. Secondly, the additional funds received from tolls will be spent on covering maintenance and construction costs in case inflation increases.
During the evening rush hour, an additional hour will be added to the peak toll hours. to avoid paying tolls on the I-405 lanes from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. On weekdays, carpool groups are now required to consist of three or more people.
The complexities of tolling rules remain confusing for many drivers. To clarify some sticking points:
Do tolls help reduce traffic? Yes, but mostly for those who deposit cash. People stuck in the regular lanes without toll do not get much relief and may have to face more delays. Recent information indicates that express lane speeds are typically 20 mph faster, even when traffic is bad.
It’s really strange that pricing can actually make roads more spacious, even without adding more lanes. As such, I-405 now handles over 100,000 cars each day, more than even the jam-packed I-5, which does not charge tolls. The reason they are increasing the toll is to ensure that there is a good amount of traffic but it runs smoothly.
Some people think I-405 should have more toll-free lanes. But history has proven that when we add more lanes, more cars start using them. And eventually, we will run out of space again and have to deal with new problems.
Do tolls help pay for construction? kinda. By law, the money remains in that area to support certain reforms. But most projects rely on state and federal government funding.
Does Express Toll Really Solve Traffic Jams? No, not really. But it gives an option for those who can and want to pay for faster travel, and it also helps raise money for repairs. It is important to strike the right balance between speed and number of cars on the road to deal with congestion.
WSDOT will keep an eye on how the new tolling policy affects both traffic and revenue. They may need to make more changes as they continue to improve I-405 and make it easier.