OLYMPIA – Members of the Washington and Oregon transportation commissions will hold a joint meeting regarding tolling on the Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River on Friday, June 5. The two commissions will review the results of traffic and revenue analysis, which will inform future toll rate and policy setting for the bridge.
The two state commissions are charged with jointly setting bridge tolls and policies, the revenues of which will contribute vital funding toward the construction of a new I-5 bridge.
The public is invited to attend the meeting, which will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on Zoom. Those wishing to attend can register on the Washington State Transportation Commission’s website. The meeting will also be streamed live on TVW and YouTube.
Virtual public comment is scheduled for 9 a.m. Written comments may also be submitted by email to [email protected] or through a comment form on the Oregon Transportation Commission’s website.
Meeting topics include:
- Reviewing results of an analysis of toll rate options that would be assessed on the current bridge when construction commences, and tolls that would be applied on the new bridge once it opens.
- Briefing on the financial capacity of toll rate options to meet funding requirements for the new bridge.
- Discussing results of an analysis on potential toll discounts and exemptions.
Tolling is expected to begin on the existing bridge when construction starts on the new bridge, currently planned for 2028. Tolling will provide traffic management and funding for bridge construction, as well as cover ongoing operations and maintenance costs for the bridge and for tolling operations.
For more information about both commissions’ roles in tolling the Interstate 5 bridge and to view a meeting agenda, visit the Washington State Transportation Commission and Oregon Transportation Commission websites.
