Date:
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Contact:
Janet Matkin, WSDOT Communications, (253) 534-4660
Cell phone - (253) 350-9516
GIG HARBOR – A new era in driving was unveiled Monday, as 41,241 drivers paid the tolls on opening day for the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Four lanes of traffic opened eastbound across the new span at 4:00 a.m. and the first toll was collected electronically at 4:01 a.m. Smooth flowing traffic heralded both the morning and afternoon commutes as drivers zipped along the Good To Go! electronic toll lanes with no congestion. Even those using the manual toll booths experienced little delay as toll operators moved drivers quickly through the lanes.
“This was one of the best commuting days we’ve seen on SR16 in years,” noted Greg Selstead, WSDOT’s Director of Tolling Operations. “Traffic was free-flowing all day, even during the morning commute. We were worried there would be a sharp learning curve as drivers adjusted to a new bridge, revised lane configurations, additional HOV lanes, and toll collection. But, instead everything came together without a hitch and drivers were overjoyed with the results.”
During Monday’s morning commute, over 73 percent of traffic used the Good To Go! lanes -- significantly more than the 50-60 percent goal set by WSDOT traffic engineers. No other tolling facility in the nation has achieved such high electronic tolling participation on the first day of operation.
Violators also were scarce, with less than five percent of traffic evading the toll. Many of those were expected to be drivers who forgot to install their transponders or didn’t realize they needed to set up an electronic account.
While traffic seemed light, in fact the total volume was just slightly less than a typical Monday during the summer. “We’ve added three additional lanes and moved traffic to a single direction on each bridge. As a result, traffic moves faster and much more safely through the whole corridor. The years of planning and construction have finally paid off,” explained WSDOT’s Tacoma Narrows Bridge Project Director Jeff Carpenter.
Lines at the Good To Go! customer service centers were still long on Monday, as last-minute drivers scrambled to set up their electronic accounts and thus bypass the toll booths. Over 60,000 customers have already established their Good To Go! accounts and more than 130,000 transponders have been distributed.
Drivers still wanting to sign up for Good To Go! can do so 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. Those who don’t want to wait in line and who can wait for up to 10 days for their transponders to be mailed, may apply online at www.wsdot.wa.gov/goodtogo; by calling toll free (866) 936-8246; by faxing an application to (253) 853-4235; or by mailing an application to P.O. Box 5050, Gig Harbor, WA 98335-5050.
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