OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire on Thursday proposed that motorists pay about half of the $4 billion cost of replacing the aging Evergreen Point Floating Bridge across Lake Washington with tolls beginning next year.
Gregoire said the 44-year-old Highway 520 bridge is aging and is at risk of sinking if an earthquake or major windstorm hits.
In November, voters in the region rejected a plan that would have paid more than $1 billion to replace the bridge. The state and federal government already are on the hook for about half the replacement cost.
The governor’s simple plan, quickly endorsed by political and community leaders, would fill the rest of the financing gap with tolls; crossings would be cheaper during off-peak hours.
Gregoire’s plan doesn’t spell out the amount of the tolls, although a recent study suggested between $5 and $10 round-trip during rush hour, in 2007 dollars, once the bridge opens in about 2018.
One of Gregoire’s more controversial proposals is to charge tolls on the old bridge, beginning sometime next year, until the span is torn down. A study recommended about $6 or $7 round-trip during peak-hour commutes in that case.
Gregoire’s plan doesn’t say whether tolls would be charged on nearby I-90. Transportation engineers say many motorists would shift to the I-90 crossing if it were free and the 520 bridge had a toll.
The 520 plan now goes to the Legislature. Earlier this week, transportation leaders spoke favorably of toll legislation, both for this project and others around the state, including a new I-5 bridge across the Columbia River at Vancouver.
The Evergreen Point Bridge carries about 160,000 vehicles a day. It was built in the 1960s without today’s design standards and is deemed at risk of collapse in a strong earthquake or severe windstorm.
The governor’s preferred design is for two general-purpose lanes and one high-occupancy-vehicle lane in each direction. The span could be widened in the future.
Gregoire said cheaper tolls during off-peak hours should relieve some of the rush-hour congestion. King County Executive Ron Sims said variable tolling, improved transit and more telecommuting should prompt motorists to change their driving habits and reduce pollution.
“Half the climate pollution in this region comes from cars and trucks,” Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels said. “It is the biggest challenge we face in turning the tides on global warming.
“We must find ways to encourage people to think about the trips they take — and to not drive alone. Tolling will better reflect the true costs of driving.”
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