State transportation officials are considering toll increases to pay off road projects as motorists who are working from home have significantly decreased traffic in some areas.
Traffic is down by half on the Highway 520 bridge and in the downtown Seattle Highway 99 tunnel after steeper drops earlier this year. Toll increases are reportedly likely on both routes in 2021, The Seattle Times reports.
All told, the state expects to collect $72 million less in toll revenue than had been forecast from March through October. That’s a 45% decrease, with losses likely to continue into next year.
The state plans to draw on a reserve account to pay the debt on the 520 bridge. Another idea is to use fines paid by drivers for late toll payments as revenue.
