Gig Harbor residents will have one more opportunity to voice their opinions as the Washington State Transportation Commission holds a final rate hearing for the upcoming toll increase for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge on Monday.
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The meeting will start at 6 p.m. at on May 21. The commission said it plans to take action immediately afterward to adopt new toll rates for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge (TNB).
Here are the proposed toll rates to take effect July 1, 2012:
- $4 Good to Go!
- $5 cash
- $7 pay by mail
The commission is required by law to set toll rates for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in an amount that is sufficient to pay debt payments, maintenance, preservation and operations of the bridge.
Because the TNB was financed with an escalating debt structure to minimize the initial impact on bridge users, debt payments rise over time and require additional toll revenue. In the 2007-09 biennium the state paid $41 million in debt payments, but in the current 2011-2013 biennium debt payments for the bridge reach nearly $90 million.
The commission evaluates several factors during the toll-setting process, including bridge expenses that are paid for by toll revenue, trends in traffic volumes, the schedule for bond payments, ending balances in the toll revenue account, the rate recommendations from the Citizen Advisory Committee and public input.
The commission held two public input meetings on its proposal last month in Port Orchard and Gig Harbor.
For more information about the commission, visit the Transportation Commission’s website at: http://www.wstc.wa.gov/
Our family lives in Gig Harbor and we cross the bridge 2-3 times a day, but don't want to move to Tacoma. Our kids are in activities that we have to cross the bridge for and my husband works in Tacoma. There are several families that do this in Gig Harbor and some who who are thinking of moving to the other side of the Bridge. They should offer some type of a heavy user discount.
I understand that the construction of the new bridge needs to be paid for but when the people of Gig Harbor were asked to vote on having the bridge built and pay a toll, we said "No". So what did the state do? Had another vote, but this time opened the vote to King County as well. So how about having those same Kind County folks pay for our bridge since they so willingly voted "yes" to the new bridge and tolls? I love the new bridge and the freedom of time and the safety it brings, but I don't know how much longer my family of 4 drivers can affortd to continue crossing and paying the tolls.
"Increased tolls bad but increase sales tax, school levy, fire levy and electric rates OK? Or what about the increase in gas prices?"
cross over less frequently. Give the GH residents a "frequent user break"... More money to bridge tolls =less money to GH restaurants, & merchants.