I-405 Express Toll Lanes Coming in 2015 Jennifer Charlebois Roadway Toll Systems PE, Toll Division Anne Broache Public Information, I-405/SR 167 Lynn Peterson Secretary of Transportation Market Neighborhood Association Heritage Hall, Kirkland November 19, 2014
Tolling in Washington State Today Good To Go! is the state s electronic tolling system No slowing down, no stopping Good To Go! accounts work on any toll facility in the state Tacoma Narrows Bridge SR 167 HOT lanes SR 520 Bridge 2
I-405 Traffic Is Getting Worse Bad traffic Drivers on I-405 experience some of the worst traffic in the state, up to eight hours of congestion each day Crowded HOV Lanes I-405 HOV lanes are not meeting state and federal requirements to operate at 45 mph 90 percent of the time I-405 HOV lanes are often just as congested as the regular lanes Residential and employment populations are projected to increase Transit Suffers Congested lanes significantly delay transit trips and reduce reliability 3
A 40-Mile Express Toll Lane Vision Existing SR 167 HOT lanes Completed in 2008 Bellevue to Lynnwood express toll lanes Opening in 2015 SR 167 HOT lanes, southbound extension Complete by 2017 Renton to Bellevue express toll lanes Currently unfunded 4
Express Toll Lanes from Bellevue to Lynnwood is the next step of the 40-mile system 17 miles of express toll lanes on I-405 from NE 6th Street in Bellevue to I-5 in Lynnwood: Gives drivers an option Use the express toll lanes to get out of traffic and reach your destination faster Use the regular lanes toll-free Reduces traffic congestion Manages demand to improve speed and reliability Funds future corridor improvements 5
Access to I-405 Express Toll Lanes Converting HOV lanes to express toll lanes The HOV lane between I-5 and SR 522 will be converted to a single express toll lane The HOV lane between SR 522 and NE 6th Street will be converted and paired with a new lane to create two express toll lanes Dedicated entry and exit points Northbound: five entries, six exits Southbound: six entries, five exits 6
How Express Toll Lanes Will Work Toll rates adjust based on demand Keeps lanes moving at 45mph+ Signs display toll rates based on your destination Drivers pay rate posted upon entry even if rate changes during trip Transit, vanpools, motorcycles and carpools are free Carpoolers must use new Flex Pass in HOV mode to ride free 2+ person carpools free during off-peak hours 3+ person carpools free anytime Ways to pay Use a Good To Go! pass to pay the lowest toll rate Good To Go! Pay By Plate Good To Go! short term account Pay By Mail at a higher toll rate 7
Access to I-405 Express Toll Lanes 8
Changes For Carpools Carpools must have new Flex Pass to use the lanes for free Declare your status as a carpool by switching the pass into HOV mode Red on pass indicates driver is an HOV Carpool requirement may change by time of day 2+ carpools free off-peak 3+ carpools free during peak Check the signs to confirm carpool requirements 9
New Good To Go! Flex Pass in Toll Mode 10
New Good To Go! Flex Pass in HOV Mode 11
Toll Rates Toll rates and exemptions set by Washington State Transportation Commission Sets minimum and maximum rate with input from WSDOT and the public Announcing proposed rates and exemptions later this year Hosting public input meetings 12
Construction is more than halfway complete New noise barriers in Kirkland and Bothell Seven new noise walls One new noise berm One relocated noise wall Storm water treatment and drainage improvements 13
Improvements near SR 522 interchange Braided ramps under construction Designed to separate traffic at a congested area One ramp for drivers going from Northeast 160th Street to SR 522 One ramp for drivers going from Northeast 160th Street to northbound I-405 A separate entrance for drivers going from northbound I-405 to SR 522 Temporary on-ramp to northbound I-405 from NE 160th Street during construction 14
Get Ready for I-405 Express Toll Lanes Learn more about how express toll lanes work Stay tuned for more public briefings in your area planned throughout the fall and winter Visit the project web page: www.wsdot.wa.gov/tolling/405 Sign up for regular email updates through WSDOT at www.wsdot.gov/emailupdates Select Eastside Transportation News for the latest I-405 information Quarterly news updates to Good To Go! customers Stay updated with social media Follow us on Twitter @GoodToGoWSDOT Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wsdot 1 5
For more information Jennifer Charlebois Roadway Toll Systems Project Engineer, Toll Division Anne Broache Public Information, I-405 Project goodtogotolling@wsdot.wa.gov www.wsdot.wa.gov/tolling/405 www.goodtogo.com 16
Enforcement Dedicated entry and exit points Double white lines and signage to inform drivers New Flex Pass is the way drivers claim carpool status Pass design will use red for visual confirmation if driver selects carpool exemption mode White signifies the driver is paying toll Beacon over toll lanes will flash if driver claims carpool status If beacon does not flash, driver will pay toll by mail or with Good To Go! account 17