Toll on I-5. Guess it's time to move to Portland (Seattle: purchases, sales tax)

[jbgusa]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

Link, please.

I am under the impression that only Interstates that were tolled in 1954 or 1955, i.e. built before the interstate highway program went effect, can be tolled. I don't think new tolls are possible.

[dav51lin]

Originally Posted by Botev1912

the emission test costs like $15 every two years. It's not anything that hit anyone.

true but was a pain to find so few places that did it

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by jbgusa

I am under the impression that only Interstates that were tolled in 1954 or 1955, i.e. built before the interstate highway program went effect, can be tolled. I don't think new tolls are possible.

There are exceptions:

Under Title 23 of the United States Code (Highways), there is a general prohibition on the imposition of tolls on Federal-aid highways. However, Title 23 and other statutes have also carved out certain exceptions to this general prohibition through special programs. These programs allow tolling to generate revenue to support highway construction activities and/or enable the use of road pricing for congestion management.

Under the General Toll Program, Congress permits Federal participation in certain types of toll-financed construction activities, including new highways, new lanes added to existing highways (so long as the number of existing toll-free lanes is not reduced), reconstruction of highways (non-Interstate only), reconstruction or replacement of bridges or tunnels, and capital improvements to existing toll facilities.

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ipd/fact_sh..._programs.aspx

[jbgusa]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

There are exceptions:

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ipd/fact_sh..._programs.aspx

Thanks. I think I repped you too recently to rep again but I will try.

[pnwguy2]

As I posted early in this thread, I believe any Interstate can be tolled, but they will thereby reducing or forfeiting any federal funding for certain elements including improvements or expansion.

"A BPR press release explained: Inclusion of the 2,102 miles of toll roads in the Interstate System will not affect their status as toll roads. The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 permits this, although no Federal-aid funds may be used for their improvement."

In essence, this means if some local freeways can produce more revenue via tolls than they would receive from the feds, then it is a good idea. If not, it is a bad idea. Washington State loves to tax, so the answer is probably pretty obvious.

[AleeGee]

Originally Posted by 509

We need to get rid of tolls locally.

Just put a toll on all roads between eastern Washington and the west-side. It would help pay for the winter plowing of the cross-Cascade highways and higher maintenance costs due to weather.

The WADOT actually did a study about implementing a $20 toll. We are good to go on the tolls.

Your right...I-5 should not be tolled....but I-90, US 2, US 20, and all those roads leading to Yakima need to have tolls.

Federal tax dollars are supposed to go to Interstates. When people in this country want to secede their money from helping other states in the country they live in, well maybe they should find another country. We're all in this together. That's how we were. Jesus Christ Superstar.
United We Stood, Divided We Got Knocked On Our Ass By Selfishness And Intolerance.

[TheTimidBlueBars]

Where would this toll be? In the city limits somewhere, or maybe in South King/Pierce on the way to Tacoma? I'd think putting it near SeaTac or downtown would disrupt too much traffic unless they did it with cameras that take a picture of your moving car like on 520.

[Botev1912]

Originally Posted by TheTimidBlueBars

Where would this toll be? In the city limits somewhere, or maybe in South King/Pierce on the way to Tacoma? I'd think putting it near SeaTac or downtown would disrupt too much traffic unless they did it with cameras that take a picture of your moving car like on 520.

Modern tolls don't have toll booths. Nobody has to stop.

[Jimrob1]

I read something today on the internet that tolls in Metro Portland, are inevitable in the very near future. That ODOT has already filed to start these tolls within 2 years. Is this true? The article which I should have saved, states the tolls will be on bridges to and from Vancouver. There would also be tolls on 1 or 2 bridges crossing the Willamette, as well as tolls on 205 in the Oregon City area and also on I-5 south of downtown. Primarily the highest tolls a driver would pay would be at rush hours. I can't imagine Portland tolerating this, but I guess what can people do but pay the tolls or take Trimet.

Believe me tolls are annoying and can be a big ripoff. I deal with them here in Florida where they are all over the place. If your stuck dealing with them on a daily basis, it is a big bill each month.

[jabogitlu]

Oregon and Washington are in the process of replacing the I-5 bridge which spans Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA. Most newer projects in the PNW (at least in the populated metro areas) utilize tolls to underwrite bond sales on new, big replacement projects.

We have tolls in Seattle on SR-520, the I-405 HOV lanes, the SR-67 HOV lanes, and on the SR-99 tunnel, as well as the Tacoma Narrows bridge. They aren't that much of a big deal, just get a transponder and you don't even slow down. But I guess if the state were considering tolling I-5 directly through the city, that might be more of a political upset than just tolling new bridges or optional HOV lanes etc.

What I'd like to see is the tolling language for each project be written so that the tolls sunset when the bonds are paid. I think that would go a long way towards easing tolling anxiety.