Traffic moves along I-405 between Highway 522 and Highway 527 where WSDOT received the approval to build a second express toll lane on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 in Bothell, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Traffic moves along I-405 between Highway 522 and Highway 527 where WSDOT received the approval to build a second express toll lane on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 in Bothell, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

I-405 express lanes soon to become more expensive for commuters

The price increase, approved Monday, will increase tolls to a high of $15 during peak hours.

OLYMPIA — Starting March 1, tolls will be as high as $15 for commuters driving on I-405’s express lanes.

The Washington State Transportation Commission approved the changes Monday amid strong opposition from the public.

Leading up to the meeting, the commission received more than 5,000 emails commenting on the proposed toll increase. Of those emails, 4,200 expressed opposition.

Hours for the express toll lanes on I-405, which stretch from Lynnwood to Bellevue, will be 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, an increase of an hour each day. On weekends, the express lanes remain free.

In addition, the minimum toll rate will jump from 75 cents to $1, while the maximum rate will increase from $10 to $15.

Express toll lanes on the interstate use a dynamic price system, meaning drivers only see the maximum toll rate when the lanes are nearing capacity.

The maximum toll rates for the express lanes only apply to around 4% of the trips on I-405, said Karl Westby, the I-405 traffic operations lead for the state department of transportation.

Of the daily trips on the interstate’s toll lanes, 70% are either free or under $1.

The daily average toll cost is $2.41, Westby said.

Still, people who spoke during the meeting’s public comment segment expressed concern that the price increase would adversely affect low-income commuters.

Increased costs everywhere are leading more people to move away from the Puget Sound area, and raising the toll costs will contribute to that further, said Ricardo Garmendia, of Renton.

Heavy traffic along I-405 and an increase in travel times led to the price increase, said Carl See, the deputy director of the transportation commission.

During peak hours of congestion, the department of transportation found that travel times increased by 3 to 9 minutes in general use lanes, and 1 to 3 minutes in toll lanes, said Ed Barry, the department’s toll director.

Additionally, the state has found its transportation projects to be more expensive than anticipated.

In 2019, the Legislature allocated $605 million for an improvement project along the interstate to include an additional express toll lane. Last July, the department of transportation and Sound Transit awarded a bid to Skanska for $834 million, almost $300 million over the initial cost estimate.

The higher-than-expected costs are driven by inflation, workforce shortages and material costs, Barry said.

The project stretches 4½ miles between Snohomish and King counties. Construction began last year and is expected to conclude in 2028.

In 2023, the toll lanes on I-405 generated $25.8 million from 9 million trips, according to the state department of transportation’s annual toll report. The commission has not adjusted the rates since the express toll lanes opened in 2015.

Toll revenues are used to fund maintenance and improvement to existing facilities.

The changes to I-405 express lanes prices will also apply to the high occupancy toll lanes on State Route 167, which runs from Renton to Auburn.

The rate change on both roadways is expected to increase total revenues by between $4.8 million to $8.3 million in 15 months.

The changes were approved by the commission by a vote of 5-1, with Commissioner Roy Jennings voting in opposition.

“It’s a tough commute now,” said Commission Chair Debbie Young, “this has the potential to make it slightly better.”

Jenelle Baumbach: 360-352-8623; jenelle.baumbach@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @jenelleclar.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Ferries pass on a crossing between Mukilteo and Whidbey Island. (Andy Bronson / Herald file)
State commission approves rate hike for ferry trips

Ticket prices are set to rise about 6% over the next two years.

Marysville recruit Brian Donaldson, holds onto his helmet as he drags a 5-inch line 200 feet in Snohomish County’s first fire training academy run through an obstacle course at the South Snohomish Fire & Rescue training ground on Monday, March 26, 2018 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Voters approve fire and EMS levy lifts in Snohomish County

All measures in Marysville, North County Fire and Snohomish County Fire District No. 4 passed with at least 60% of votes.

Stock photo 
Homicides dropped by 43.7% in across Snohomish County while violent crime decreased 5.4%. In 2024, the county recorded 12 murders, just under half the previous year’s total.
Crime down overall in Snohomish County in 2024, new report says

Murder and sex crimes went down in Snohomish County. Drug-related offenses, however, were up.

Inside one of the classrooms at the new Marysville Family YMCA Early Learning Center on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
YMCA of Snohomish County opens new early learning center in Marysville

A ribbon-cutting Tuesday celebrated the $4 million remodel and expansion, opening in September.

Regional Director Nicole Smith-Mathews talks about the new mobile opioid treatment clinic on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Snohomish County mobile opioid care unit showcased

The clinic, based in Gold Bar, will provide treatment to rural areas where options are limited.

The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) graduation of Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) Class 915 on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. This is the first class to complete training at the agency’s new Northwest Regional Campus in Arlington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
First class graduates from Arlington’s police academy

The ceremony celebrated 27 new police officers, many who will work in Snohomish County.

Public comment opens for cleanup plan at Paine Field site

The state Department of Ecology asks for public feedback on a plan to clean toxic chemicals from a training site at Paine Field.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood establishes its first Youth Council

The council will give people ages 14 to 19 a chance to serve on an official city commission. Meetings are expected to begin in 2026.

Everett
WSDOT to pause I-5 repairs in Everett due to weather

Construction — and the overnight lane closures that come with it — will resume on Sunday.

A man works on a balcony at the Cedar Pointe Apartments, a 255 apartment complex for seniors 55+, on Jan. 6, 2020, in Arlington, Washington. (Andy Bronson/The Herald)
SnoCo apartment companies push back on AG lawsuit

The state says the owners and managers of the low-income senior housing buildings deceived renters. The companies say they worked within the law.

Washington state Capitol on July 25, 2025. (Photo by Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)
The message Democratic voters delivered in Washington’s primary

Results in high-profile legislative races signal distaste for President Trump and no souring on their party’s policies in Olympia.

Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz, right, speaks with other Community Transit leaders during an interview with the Herald on a new electric bus Monday, May 13, 2024, at the Community Transit Operations Base in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Community Transit plan shows expanded service, electric buses coming soon

The transit agency approved an update to its six-year plan Thursday, paving the way for new improvements to its network.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.