Date:
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Contact:
Janet Matkin, WSDOT Communications, (253) 534-4660 Cell phone - (253) 350-9516
GIG HARBOR – WSDOT will stop distributing free Good To Go! transponders this month after the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge electronic tolling program exceeded the establishment of more than 75,000 new electronic toll payment accounts. The program had hoped to establish a third of that many before the new bridge opened in July.
During the program’s promotional startup period, customers were able to receive up to six transponders at no charge. Current Good To Go! account holders have until Sept. 14 to request additional free transponders for vehicles not already registered on their accounts, up to the six-for-free limit. Starting Sept. 15 all windshield-mounted transponders will cost $12, while external-mounted transponders and motorcycle transponders will cost $30 each. New customers will begin paying these costs for all transponders beginning Sept. 1.
“We subsidized the transponders as part of the marketing campaign for the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge,” said Greg Selstead, WSDOT Tolling Operations director. “Now that we have depleted the inventory earmarked for the campaign we now must start charging customers. We have distributed more than 175,000 transponders, we’re confident that regular bridge users are all Good To Go!.”
The end of the campaign also heralds the fifth and final drawing for a Year of Free Tolls, to be held Sept.17 at the Tacoma customer service center at 2115 S. 56th St, Suite 306 in Tacoma.
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. Good To Go! uses a small transponder that adheres to the inside of a vehicle's windshield. An antenna mounted over the roadway detects the Good To Go! transponder and the system automatically debits the correct toll from the Good To Go! customer’s prepaid account, allowing the driver to maintain highway speeds.
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 or 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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