While SR 520 does not link to Ballard, if you plan on using the bridge, you might want a “Good To Go!” pass.
Starting this spring, 520 tolls will be collected using the Good To Go! electronic tolling system, which allows tolls to be collected without stopping or slowing. There will be no traditional toll booths. If you don’t have a pass, you can log on and pay within 72 hours of crossing the bridge or your license plate will be photographed and the toll will be billed to the registered owner of the car. The vehicle owner will have up to 80 days to pay the toll before a Notice of Civil Penalty is issued.
“Tolling is a critical funding source for replacing the vulnerable 520 bridge,” Washington Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond said. “Starting tolling this spring helps keep project costs down while improving the safety and reliability of this vital corridor. The funds help us begin pontoon construction in Grays Harbor for a replacement bridge and improvements on the Eastside starting next month.”
WSDOT officials announced that drivers will receive a $10 credit towards SR 520 tolls if they purchase a Good To Go! Pass and activate an account by April 15. Starting this Friday, February 18, the Standard Sticker pass, costing $5, will be available at 84 participating Safeway stores throughout Puget Sound.
Get more information and purchase your Good To Go! pass here.
So I went to set up an account to find that the set up process is a disaster and extremely unprofessional. For instance, passwords have to be at least 10 characters. OK. No big deal. But then you are forced to enter answers to 3 separate security questions (with limited question choices). Some options: make of first car, mother’s maiden name, name of first pet, etc. The problem arises when you answer these questions. My first car was a Volvo, but, wait for it, that’s not an acceptable answer because all security answers have to be “6-16 characters.” That’s right, no Fords, Volvos, etc. Stupid. And what about names of people and pets? Surely there are no names shorted than 6 characters.
To top it off, I called the support line, only to be on hold for 20 minutes before hanging up. I doubt there is a current deluge of calls.
This is really a pathetic start to the program.
Please raise awareness about this process. If we don’t, it will discourage people from participating (like me!).
WSDOT is jumping the gun on all this promotion. Note that the toll decision is STILL in the state legislature – due to the passage of prop 1053 in Nov. WSDOT and all of the major news outlets are ignoring this part of the story. However if you don’t like the toll price structure – or any other aspect of this rush-job, please write you state representative as they are reviewing the bill righ now! -Paul
charge now, ask later.
Nobody seems to be mentioning that you need to put $30 in to get your $10.
Thankfully I will not be doing $30, let alone $10 of 520 crossing in the foreseeable future.
Better start getting used to this – it’s the tip of the iceberg. It won’t be long before local streets are tolled, too. Al part of the war on anyone who dares to own a car.
Agree with Elbowspeak about the frustrating sign up process. A password 10 characters long but no “special” characters ? WhoTF comes up with this crap ? Then my mother’s maiden name is 4 characters long and my town of birth is 17, first car was a Mini… amazing.
Can you cite any examples of public surface roads (i.e. not expressways) anywhere else in the country that would work in support of your case, or could it be that are you merely flatulently conjecturalising from thin air then expelled from your posterior orifice?
More like making car owners pay for the roads they use. If you think licensing fees and gas taxes pay entirely for the roads you’re fooling yourself. Why should people smart enough to live close to where they work have to pay for those who commute longer distances across the bridge?