Want to talk about tolling on the 520 bridge (yes, it's coming), the impact of state budget cuts on the Eastside or what's up with education reform?

The Eastside's 48th District legislators will hold a preview of the upcoming 2010 legislative session at a town hall meeting Jan. 7. The 48th district covers north and west Bellevue, parts of Kirkland and parts of Redmond, and is represented by Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Bellevue, and Reps. Ross Hunter, D-Medina, and Deb Eddy, D-Kirkland.

"In 2010, we will have tolls on 520," Hunter predicted, and "it's equally obvious we're going to have tolls on I-90" -- although perhaps not as soon -- to pay for the 520 improvements.

The Legislature passed a bill that authorized tolling on 520 to begin in 2010. However, in September, an expert review panel said charging drivers to cross the bridge is so complicated that the system probably couldn't be ready until June 2011. (Hunter voted against that bill, by the way, because it limited the potential uses of the tolling revenue to the floating part of the bridge, leaving out the land-based approaches to the bridge. He writes about it on his blog, www.rosshunter.com.)

Hunter also said the Legislature will take up the financing of the 520 bridge, which he wants to push through now because interest rates and construction costs are both low.

Hunter said the town hall-style meetings are held throughout the year, and usually draw about 100 people. In December, Hunter tried a phone-in, and reached 6,000.

The Jan. 7 meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at Kirkland City Hall, 123 5th Avenue, Kirkland.