U.S. office wants Seattle to demonstrate congestion tolling

Are Washington drivers willing to trade lower gas taxes for highway tolls? U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters advocated in Seattle this week for a "congestion-pricing" system where tolls would rise in heavy traffic and drop in light traffic, in an effort to reduce congestion at peak times.

Peters shared her perspective Friday with the Washington Roundtable, a group of business executives. She argued that Americans lack "investor confidence" in higher gasoline taxes, in part because the money hasn't reduced congestion.

Toll income should eventually replace the federal gas tax, she said.

"I think we should step it down in time, as these new revenue sources go on line, and see it go away," Peters said.

The federal government collects 18.4 cents a gallon in gas taxes. When that is coupled with the state's gasoline tax, Washington residents will pay a total of 55.9 cents a gallon when the latest increase kicks in July 1.

Peter's department is offering $139 million to launch congestion-price tolling on the Highway 520 floating bridge by September 2009.

She said the federal government is holding a similar grant over the heads of New York City officials if they fail to approve a toll for driving into Manhattan.

The Washington Legislature passed a bill supporting tolls but didn't set specific rates or timetables, leaving those tough decisions until next winter's session. Meanwhile, the state Department of Transportation says it could take a year to design, build and test a toll system for Highway 520.

Peters wants the state to design its toll project and prepare bidding documents well before the 2009 Legislature to meet the federal deadline. Tolls might be $6 to $7 round-trip at peak times, state studies show.

She also said federal law allows tolls on the nearby Interstate 90 Floating Bridge - but local leaders must decide whether to impose those.

She praised an experiment on Highway 167 that begins April 26, when solo drivers will be able to pay to enter the uncrowded high-occupancy-vehicle lanes.

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Information from: The Seattle Times, http://www.seattletimes.com