Bill Downing of Everett writes: I keep hearing radio public service announcements about how the tolling for the Highway 520 bridge will be based on “Good To Go!” transponders. How is that going to work for those of us who only very occasionally use the bridge or people from out of the area who wind up on the bridge? Is the state going to use cameras or “toll cops” to nail miscreants?
Bronlea Mishler, a spokeswoman for the state Transportation Department, responds: Tolls will be collected on the Highway 520 bridge beginning spring 2011. All drivers will be able to pay their tolls electronically, without stopping at toll booths or even slowing down. Vehicles without Good To Go! accounts will have their license plate photographed and a toll bill will be sent in the mail to the registered vehicle owner. They will have up to 80 days to pay the bill. Those who do not pay will be issued a civil infraction. Those who fail to pay the infraction will jeopardize their ability to renew their license plate tabs.
The state is setting up reciprocal agreements with all of the other states to be able to obtain vehicle owner information for out-of-state vehicles. Rental cars also will be part of the Good To Go! system, with each rental car agency determining how they want to assign the tolls, either as a fleet account or by individual vehicle.
We encourage those who are interested in learning more to see our website at www.goodtogo520.org for additional details and to sign up for our e-mail update list so they can be among the first to know as new information becomes available on toll rates, incentives and other important issues.
Ernie Denney of Everett writes: There is on average probably a collision per week at the intersection of 37th and Hoyt avenues in Everett. One day a person out walking is not going to able to avoid a careening vehicle. There are signs on both sides of Hoyt warning that cross traffic does not stop. The traffic is coming west on 37th from Colby Avenue where there is a traffic signal and east from Rucker Avenue, also with a traffic signal.
The intersection at 37th needs to become a four-way stop. The delay in traffic would be far less than when an accident occurs and traffic has to be rerouted. My guess is the police have a record of the number of accidents that have occurred at the corner and the numbers warrant a change to save insurance costs, trauma and possibly serious injury or death.
Dongho Chang, traffic engineer for the city of Everett, responds: We noticed six collisions at this location in 2008 and installed the “cross traffic does not stop” signs in September 2008. Collisions dropped to one collision in 2009. Although one collision is one too many, this intersection does not meet the federal standards that specify when stop signs can be used. We’ll review this intersection at the end of this year to see if conditions have changed.
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