Politics & Government

Rep. Reichert Questions I-90 Toll Proposal

US Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Auburn) warned the US Department of Transportation to not overstep their authority as they reviewed a WSDOT application to toll I-90.

Opponents of tolling Interstate 90 between Bellevue and Seattle β€” and possibly as far east as Issaquah β€” look to have gained another ally in local US Congressman Dave Reichert (WA-8).

Reichert sent a July 3 letter to Anthony Foxx, the incoming Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation, regarding several concerns with plans to place a toll on a section of I-90 from Seattle to Bellevue.

In his letter, he raised concerns about the potential impacts of tolling on commerce and the legality of tolling I-90. WSDOT is currently seeking to use a pilot program, managed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), to allow tolling, if authorized by the State Legislature.

Called the Value Pricing Pilot Program, (VPPP), the FHWA could allow the state to impose a toll on I-90 if it could be demonstrated that a plan was needed to "mitigate congestion."

"There is a concern that WSDOT's primary purpose for tolling I-90 is to pay for SR-520, a separate state highway bridge," Reichert stated in the letter. "As you review WSDOT's application, I request that you ensure the project meets VPPP requirements for congestion mitigation and that tolling I-90 would not be a misuse of VPPP authority."

The congressman, whose offices recently relocated to Issaquah, also warned that allowing the application to move forward would set an important precedent for other states "looking to toll Interstate highways to fund their transportation needs."

Unmentioned in the letter is another WSDOT tolling concept to extend tolling all the way east to Issaquah by charging customers in single-occupant vehicles pay each time they use the I-90 HOV lanes.

Click here to view the letter to US DOT.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Sammamish-Issaquah