Date:
Monday, July 09, 2007
Contact:
Contact: Janet Matkin, WSDOT Communications, (253) 534-4660
Cell phone - (253) 350-9516
GIG HARBOR – More than 41,000 customers have signed up for Good To Go!, the state’s first electronic toll collection system for the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Over the last month, Good To Go! has conducted a public test to allow drivers to ensure their transponders are working properly prior to bridge opening. That trial period will come to an end at midnight on July 12 and tolling will start on the new bridge on July 16.
“We wanted to give customers the opportunity to test the system and also allow us to run our final tests and monitor how many people have installed their transponders,” said Greg Selstead, WSDOT’s Director of Tolling Operations. No tolls have been charged during the test period; instead, a zero charge for each trip appears on customer statements. “Unfortunately, over half our customers haven’t installed their transponders yet,” noted Selstead. “With over 86,000 transponders distributed, we know thousands of drivers have not yet installed them. There are still a few more days left during the test period and we encourage everyone to take advantage of it.”
In order to test the system, customers must properly install their transponders in their vehicles. Each time they pass by the toll plaza, an antenna mounted over the roadway detects the Good To Go! transponder and notes the trip on their account. Customers can check their account on-line to determine trips were recorded or call the customer service center and ask a representative to check their account for them. Anyone who thinks their transponder(s) may not be working properly should visit one the Good To Go! customer service centers for assistance.
Good To Go! is easy to get and use – and signing up only requires a minimum of $30 on the account that is valid for future toll use. The Good To Go! system automatically debits the correct toll from the Good To Go! customer’s prepaid account, allowing the driver to maintain highway speeds.
Those customers who sign up before July 14 will be entered into the next monthly drawing for a Year of Free Tolls and 20 gasoline cards. The sweepstakes drawing will be held on July 15 during the New Narrows Bridge Opening Ceremonies. Entries include all electronic toll customers who establish personal accounts by July 14. They also are automatically entered into the next two monthly drawings. The drawings are being conducted under the oversight of the Washington State Lottery.
You can sign up for Good To Go! online at www.wsdot.wa.gov/goodtogo, by calling toll free (866) 936-8246, faxing an application to (253) 853-4235 or by visiting one of the customer service centers located at 3212 50th Street Court, Suite 200, Gig Harbor and 2115 S. 56th St, Suite 306, Tacoma. Applications also can be mailed to P.O. Box 5050, Gig Harbor, WA 98335-5050.
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