LYNNWOOD, Wash. — At a news conference Monday, the Washington State Department of Transportation walked drivers through the big changes coming to Interstate 405 this fall, when drivers will be able to buy their way into a faster commute.
WSDOT is opening toll lanes on I-405 that drivers who want to bypass traffic can access for a fee, but they also announced changes concerning carpool lanes.
The State Transportation Commission approved toll lanes for 17 miles of I-405 in both directions from Bellevue to Lynnwood on Wednesday.
Drivers would pay tolls from .75 cents to $10 to drive in the lanes in heavy traffic.
Some commuters told KIRO 7 they would love to get home earlier to see their families, but they just can't afford to spend any more money.
“The state has literally spent millions of dollars of our money already and now they're going to take the two lanes that have the commuter with children, families -- they're going to take the hardest working people and they're going to sell those lanes to the rich commuters?” said commuter Brian Hatcher.
The carpool requirements are also changing. Carpools must have three or more people to be exempt from paying a toll during peak hours. Motorcycles, transit vehicles and vanpools will also be exempt.
Two-person carpools would not be exempt from tolls during the weekday peak hours of 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Outside those times, two-person carpools could use the lanes for free.
To use the lanes for free, in addition to meeting the occupancy requirements, vehicles must have a Good To Go! account and a Flex Pass.
Drivers without a Good To Go! account can use the lanes and will receive a mailed bill. They will pay $2 more than the posted Good To Go! rate in effect at the time of their trip.
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