The state is getting close to expand tolling

If lawmakers toll all of 405 and Highway 167, it may mean money to unclog the interstate in Bothell.

OLYMPIA — It looks like tolling will be coming to a 40-mile stretch of highway between Bellevue and Puyallup, and Snohomish County commuters could reap the benefits.

A bill giving the state Department of Transportation authority to construct express toll lanes on the south half of I-405 and on Highway 167 has cleared the Senate and awaits action in the House on Sunday, the final day of the legislative session.

The legislation also directs the agency to issue $1.5 billion in bonds, to be repaid with future toll revenues, and use the money to carry out projects, including a big one to unclog a choke point on the north end of I-405 in Bothell.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

It earmarks $600 million to design and construct improvements including a second toll lane on I-405 between highways 522 and 527, a direct access ramp from Highway 522 onto the express toll lanes, and direct-access ramps at a rebuilt Highway 527 interchange. Those ramps are counted on being in place by 2024 when new bus rapid transit service comes online.

Originally, Senate Bill 5825 only authorized connecting express toll lanes on I-405 with existing High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes on Highway 167. But some lawmakers in Snohomish, Pierce and King counties insisted the toll revenue be bonded to get congestion-relief projects in their communities completed.

Without bonding, the state can only do projects for which it has money in hand. That’s the situation for the existing I-405 toll lanes between Lynnwood and Bellevue.

“South Snohomish County was in a very bad spot last week,” said Sen. Guy Palumbo, D-Maltby. Absent bonding, Snohomish County residents “would continue to pay tolls in perpetuity, but the revenue would be sent to Renton and Bellevue for their new lanes while giving the north end nothing.

“Nobody likes tolls, including me. I tried and failed to repeal them twice,” he said. “We now are going to get $600 million of new investment in our community to reduce traffic congestion and allow people to spend more time with their families.”

The bill passed the Senate on a 30-18 vote late Thursday. Saturday morning, the House Transportation Committee made a few changes and advanced it.

Rep. Shelley Kloba, D-Kirkland, who serves on the committee and represents the same legislative district as Palumbo, supported the bill. She said prior to the vote that she has been pushing for bonding in order to finance the Bothell-area improvements.

“It’s been a concerted effort,” she said. “If we really take a look at the options on the table and the projects that we need to do, this is the best chance to get them done.”

Democratic Rep. Jared Mead, of Mill Creek, voted against it in committee. He said it was not an easy decision but he did so on behalf of constituents who dislike the tolls and find themselves facing the maximum $10 rate if they want to use the lanes in commute hours.

“We’re hit the hardest,” he said.

Republican Rep. Carolyn Eslick, of Sultan, also opposed the bill in committee.

She indicated Friday her focus this session is speeding up a planned widening of Highway 522 near Monroe where the four-lane highway is reduced to two lanes for a three-mile stretch.

There is $10 million pledged for preliminary design but the money does not become available until 2025 and does not cover final project design, environmental work, right-of-way acquisition and construction.

“I’m holding out for the widening,” she said. “The hourglass needs to be fixed.”

Palumbo said he’s working to advance funding as well. It was in a proposal for a transportation package along the lines of what the Legislature passed in 2015. But the measure didn’t survive.

“We’re doing the best we can without a new transportation package,” he said.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@herald net.com. Twitter: @dospueblos.

Final day

Today is the state Legislature’s last day of regular session. Lawmakers have until midnight to act on a new state budget and assorted policy and tax bills. If they don’t finish, the governor could call them back for a special session lasting up to 30 days.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Students from Explorer Middle School gather Wednesday around a makeshift memorial for Emiliano “Emi” Munoz, who died Monday, May 5, after an electric bicycle accident in south Everett. (Aspen Anderson / The Herald)
Community and classmates mourn death of 13-year-old in bicycle accident

Emiliano “Emi” Munoz died from his injuries three days after colliding with a braided cable.

Danny Burgess, left, and Sandy Weakland, right, carefully pull out benthic organisms from sediment samples on Thursday, May 1, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Got Mud?’ Researchers monitor the health of the Puget Sound

For the next few weeks, the state’s marine monitoring team will collect sediment and organism samples across Puget Sound

Everett postal workers gather for a portrait to advertise the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County letter carriers prepare for food drive this Saturday

The largest single-day food drive in the country comes at an uncertain time for federal food bank funding.

Everett
Everett considers ordinance to require more apprentice labor

It would require apprentices to work 15% of the total labor hours for construction or renovation on most city projects over $1 million.

Snohomish County prosecutor Kara Van Slyck delivers closing statement during the trial of Christian Sayre at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Thursday, May 8, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Jury deliberations begin in the fourth trial of former Everett bar owner

Jury members deliberated for about 2 hours before Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Millie Judge sent them home until Monday.

Christian Sayre sits in the courtroom before the start of jury selection on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Christian Sayre timeline

FEBRUARY 2020 A woman reports a sexual assault by Sayre. Her sexual… Continue reading

Helion's 6th fusion prototype, Trenta, on display on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval

Helion CEO applauds legislation signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson expected to streamline site selection process.

Everett Historic Theater owner Curtis Shriner inside the theater on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Historic Everett Theatre sale on horizon, future uncertain

With expected new ownership, events for July and August will be canceled. The schedule for the fall and beyond is unclear.

A “SAVE WETLANDS” poster is visible under an seat during a public hearing about Critical Area Regulations Update on ordinance 24-097 on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Council passes controversial critical habitat ordinance

People testified for nearly two hours, with most speaking in opposition to the new Critical Areas Regulation.

An apartment building under construction in Olympia, Washington in January 2025. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)
Next stop for Washington housing: More construction near transit

Noticed apartment buildings cropping up next to bus and light rail stations?… Continue reading

Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero / Washington State Standard
Lt Gov. Denny Heck presiding over the Senate floor on April 27.
Washington tries to maintain B.C. ties amid Trump era tensions

Lt. Gov. Denny Heck and others traveled to Victoria to set up an interparliamentary exchange with British Columbia, and make clear they’re not aligned with the president’s policies or rhetoric.

Marysville
Marysville talks middle housing at open house

City planning staff say they want a ‘soft landing’ to limit the impacts of new state housing laws. But they don’t expect their approach to slow development.

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.