Interstate 90 incorporates two of the longest floating bridges in the world, the Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge and the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge, which cross Lake Washington from Seattle to Mercer Island, Washington. They are the second- and fifth-longest such bridges, respectively. The Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge was originally tolled when it opened in 1940 until 1949.
The Cross-Lake Washington Corridor
I-90 between Issaquah and Seattle and SR 520 between Redmond and Seattle are parallel facilities that serve as two main routes for crossing Lake Washington. For many travelers they serve as alternative routes for one-another and are referred to as the Cross-Lake Washington corridor. The operation of I-90 across Lake Washington especially between Seattle and Bellevue, affects the operation of SR 520 and vice versa.
Tolling I-90 is not a new idea
Since 1999, as part of the Trans-Lake Washington Study, the region’s leaders have discussed the possibility of tolling both SR 520 and I-90 to generate revenue to help replace the seismically-vulnerable SR 520 bridge and balance Cross-Lake Washington traffic.
Year | Event |
|---|
1997 to 2004 |
The Trans-Lake Washington Study evaluated multiple options for a new Lake Washington crossing and decided on a new SR 520 floating bridge. |
2006 |
The Legislature directed WSDOT to form an SR 520/AWV Expert Review Panel to review the finance and implementation plans for the Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement and SR 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV projects. The panel suggested the consideration of tolling I-90 to help fund the SR520 bridge program. |
2007 |
The Lake Washington Urban Partnership Agreement includes a series of projects to help address congestion and increase safety on SR 520 in the Seattle area. These projects were designed to work together to improve traffic flow within the SR 520 corridor by implementing tolling, transit, technology, and transportation demand management programs. FHWA awarded a $154.5 million-dollar grant to support this effort via a partnership between WSDOT, King County Metro and Puget Sound Regional Council. |
2008 to 2009 |
The SR 520 Toll Implementation Committee spent much of 2008 engaging community members and local leaders in the question: How can tolls work for people who use 520, nearby communities, and taxpayers? The committee submitted its findings to the legislature and governor on January 28, 2009. Future 520 tolling decisions will be made by the legislature. As part of their analysis, multiple alternatives were considered that included tolling of I-90. |
2008 to 2012 |
The I-90 Bellevue to North Bend Corridor Planning Study. FHWA-required plan for recommended corridor improvement strategies, growth, increased delays, impacts on freight from Bellevue's Eastgate neighborhood to North Bend. |
2009 |
The SR 520 Legislative Workgroup reviewed and recommended a financing strategy to fund the recommended 520 design options. Recommendations relevant to I-90 Tolling included a financing strategy encompassing: - Use of base funding, including early tolling of SR 520.
- The creation of and early tolling of HOT lanes on I-90 as soon as practicable. (Note: this recommendation was included to help fund the I-90 Two-way Transit and HOV Project which was subsequently funded by Sound Transit.)
- The remaining funding gap to be filled by new federal or state revenue, to be identified in the next year or two.
- If that doesn't happen then general tolling of I-90 to fill the gap starting no sooner than 2014.
|
2012 |
The I-90 Tolling Study & EA follows the recommendations of the Legislative Workgroup and seeks to implement tolling on I-90. The project has been partially funded through House Bill ESHB 2109, Supplemental Transportation Budget. |