TNB tolls climb in July

The cost to cross the Tacoma Narrows Bridge will go up July 1.

The toll on the bridge will cost $4 for Good to Go! (up from $2.75) pass users, $5 for cash (up from $4) and $6 for Pay By Mail (up from $5.50) customers.

The toll increase was decided in May by the Washington State Transportation Commission – a group in charge of setting tolling rates across the state.

Craig Stone, the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Toll Division Director, said an increase was necessary to maintain a reserve fund of 12.5 percent of annual debt services and expenditures for the bridge, as well as meet rising debt obligations.

Previously, the department had been dipping into reserve funds to pay for rate increases that go up annually.

“We can no longer dip into reserve funds to defer rate increases,” Stone wrote in an open letter.

The transportation commission came to the decisions after months of discussion. Amy Igloi, a Port Orchard resident and a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee meant to make recommendations to the transportation commission, said she was disappointed at the committee’s final decision on rates.

In March, the CAC recommended increases of only 90 cents for Good to Go! users, and higher for photo tolling. This would have continued better incentive for Good to Go! users, Igloi said.

“It’s unfortunate that the transportation commission decided to go with numbers that were above the CAC’s recommendations,” she said.

The increase marks the first time tolls have been raised since 2008.

 

Contact Port Orchard Independent Staff Writer Brett Cihon at bcihon@portorchardindependent.com or 360-876-4414.

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