Date:
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Contact:
Victoria Tobin, WSDOT Communications, 206-375-2412 (Seattle)
Greg Phipps, WSDOT Communications, 206-949-8078 (Seattle)
KENT – At 5 a.m. Monday, weekday commuters will get their first taste of the SR 167 HOT lanes in action.
Washington state’s first high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes opened Saturday morning and traffic conditions over the weekend provided WSDOT project managers a variety of scenarios to evaluate the HOT lanes.
“The weekend was a good trial run to see how the HOT lanes system would operate under a variety of conditions,” said WSDOT Urban Corridors Administrator Craig Stone. “However, the weekday commute will be the true test of how HOT lanes can help move more people through the SR 167 corridor.”
The system responded well to live traffic on Saturday, despite wet pavement, police activity, typical fender benders and I-405 construction closures. On Sunday, conditions were more benign, with sunny weather, light traffic, and just one collision.
With HOT lanes a variable toll increases or decreases with the level of congestion to ensure that traffic in the HOT lane always flows freely. Over the weekend WSDOT engineers observed that the toll rate system is very responsive to changes in volumes and speeds. Because of this drivers on Monday should not be surprised to see fluctuating toll rates or periods where the lane reverts to HOV-only traffic because the system may act cautiously to ensure free-flowing HOT lane traffic.
WSDOT reminds all drivers, including HOVs and transit, they must enter or exit the HOT lanes at six northbound and four southbound access zones indicated by signs and a dashed white stripe. If drivers cross the double white stripe, they risk a $124 ticket.
With HOT lanes there are no toll booths. The tolls are collected by the same Good To Go! transponders currently in use on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Carpools carrying two people or more, vanpools, buses and motorcycles can use the HOT lanes toll-free and do not need a transponder.
During the four-year pilot period, WSDOT will closely monitor and adjust the system to achieve its best performance. The department will report evaluation data to the state Legislature and the Washington State Transportation Commission.
Drivers should remember the following guidelines for HOT lanes:
- Carpoolers with transponders in their vehicles need to use the metal shield to disable the transponder when driving in the HOT lanes. The metal shields are available for $3.50 each from the Good To Go! customer service centers. Call customer service at 1-866-936-8246 (1-866-WDOT2GO) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, to purchase a shield.
- Solo drivers who want to use the HOT lanes must open a Good To Go! account and install a transponder on their windshield. Learn how to open an account on the Good To Go! Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov/goodtogo.
Drivers can also get information and open an account in person at these mobile Good To Go! customer service office events:
- 1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, May 5, and Wednesday, May 7, at the Auburn Wal-Mart near the SuperMall, 1425 SuperMall Way.
For more information, view the SR 167 HOT Lanes Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR167/HOTLanes.
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