June 2013
- On June 14, 2013 - WSDOT published the I-90 Tolling Scoping Summary Report.
- WSDOT will complete an Environmental Impact Statement to analyze potential effects of tolling I-90 across Lake Washington.
- During the scoping process public comment period from January 22 and February 22, 2013 - WSDOT hosted three public meetings and received roughly 3,400 comments.
Overview
The Cross Lake Washington Corridor relies on the I-90 and SR 520 bridges, two parallel highways that operate as one system to connect the region’s major employment and population centers over a 22 mile long body of water.
WSDOT needs roughly $1.4 billion to complete the I-5 to Medina: Bridge Replacement and HOV Project that would replace the Portage Bay and southwest bridge approach structures, both vulnerable to earthquakes and severe storms.
Why is WSDOT
pursuing this project?
If the necessary improvements on SR 520 are not completed, there is a 20 percent risk over roughly the next 50 years that a catastrophic event would shut down SR 520 between I-5 and Montlake. Additionally, congestion on I-90 has increased by 15,000 vehicles a day since SR 520 tolling began in December 2012. Tolling I-90 would encourage some of those trips to return to SR 520.
In the 2012 Transportation Budget Bill ESHB 2109, the Washington State Legislature asked WSDOT to “undertake a comprehensive environmental review of tolling Interstate 90 between I-5 and I-405 for the purposes of both managing traffic and providing funding for construction of the unfunded SR 520 from I-5 to Medina project…”
The End Result
Revenue from I-90 tolls could fund the necessary improvements on SR 520 between Medina and I-5, allowing for a safer, more reliable Cross Lake Washington Corridor.
Washington is one of 15 states participating in the federal Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP), a platform that encourages states to test and implement tolling to manage highway congestion and generate revenue to construct needed improvements.
Project Benefits
Completion of the Cross-Lake Corridor will:
- Improve operations by using variable tolling to balance traffic, reduce delay and increase reliability for cars and transit.
- Provide a safer SR 520 crossing of Lake Washington with completed SR 520 improvements from Medina to I-5.
- Reduce the risk of I-90 bridge dependence if SR 520 shuts down from Montlake to I-5 in the wake of a catastrophic event.
What is the project timeline?
- Jan. - Feb. 2013 - Initial Scoping period
- June 2013 – Publish Scoping Summary Report
- July 2013 - Dec. 2013 – Second Scoping period; environmental analysis
- Jan. 2014 - Dec. 2014 - Draft Environmental Impact Statement published, followed by public comment and comment response period.
- Jan. 2015 – Final EIS document to the Legislature
Financial Information
Project signage will reflect the cost of construction engineering, project bid award and sales tax.
The I-90 Tolling Project’s environmental study is funded with $3.32 million of federal and state dollars.
For additional information on the SR 520 Program financing, visit SR 520 Costs, Funding and Tolling.
How can I get more information?
Contact:
E-mail: I90Study@wsdot.wa.gov
phone: 206-716-1116
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