Despite complaints about incorrect charges and toll confusion, state officials say the first year of 520 Bridge tolling went even better than expected.
Now those officials are eyeing bigger moves, such as adding tolling to I-90. On Thursday, the Department of Transportation laid out what's been fixed, and when tolls will go beyond the bridge.
"This was actually very unique across the country," tolling director Craig Stone said of the bridge. "We're very pleased with it -- it's been a great program -- but it's early, we're only one year into it."
In fact, WSDOT says 96 percent of all drivers are now paying their tolls within 80 days, and a full 84 percent are using the state's Good to Go passes. The passes automatically deduct toll costs from a user's prepaid account.
The state says it collected $50 million during the first year of tolling. Ultimately, tolls on the 520 are expected to bring in $1 billion of the $4.1 billion cost of the new bridge.
"We're on track, but we're only one year into a 30-plus year program here for paying for this bridge," Stone said.
Friday, 2012, December 28 - 08:21
