Toll rate changes on I-405, SR 167 now in effect
SEATTLE — Drivers who use Interstate 405 and State Route 167 have to decide if their commute will cost them more time or more money after the Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC) voted to approve toll rate changes in January.
After months of public comment, the commission voted 5-1 to approve a proposal to increase the maximum toll to $15 on both the SR 167 high-occupancy toll lanes and the I-405 express toll lanes. The toll changes went into at 5 a.m. on Friday, March 1.
The approved rate change also increases the minimum toll rates on I-405 and SR 167 to $1, and extends evening tolling by one hour, until 8 p.m.
Toll lanes will still be free on weeknights between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. and will continue to be free on I-405 on weekends. Officials said carpool requirements on both roads did not change.
The WSTC said the toll adjustments come in response to a request from the state Legislature to help close funding gaps for planned construction and improvements to the I-405 and SR 167 corridors. The increased tolls also aim to ease congestion along I-405 and SR 167.
The commission said toll rates have not been adjusted on either road since they were originally set, which was more than 15 years ago on SR 167 and more than eight years ago on I-405.
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The commission believes the rate increase could be part of the solution to a major funding gap for corridor projects.
Officials with the WSTC and Washington State Department of Transportation said the toll lanes are also not operating as well as they could, adding that congestion is affecting the reliability of Sound Transit — especially between popular spots like Canyon Park and Totem Lake.
According to Washington state law, tolled lanes need to maintain speeds of 45 mph at least 90% of the time. The commission said speeds during peak times have decreased along I-405 and SR 167 as the population in the corridor has increased.
"During the peak where we have that express toll lane congestion, they need to allocate almost twice as much travel time to get between the two points," Karl Westby, WSDOT I-405/SR 167 program traffic operations lead, previously said.