SEATTLE (AP) — Transportation officers in Washington state have thought of growing toll route costs and different funds because the coronavirus pandemic resulted in decrease revenues beforehand anticipated to assist repay bigger street tasks.
Visitors is down by about half on the State Route 520 bridge and the State Route 99 tunnel, and neither is anticipated to achieve pre-pandemic price range projections, The Seattle Occasions reported Monday.
Deputy Treasurer Jason Richter informed state lawmakers Nov. 30 that site visitors plummeted as folks remained dwelling to restrict the unfold of COVID-19.
Officers say the state expects to gather $72 million much less in toll income from March via October, a forty five% lower, making it tough to repay expensive tasks just like the bridge and tunnel. As an alternative, the state is contemplating toll will increase, freeway venture reserve funds and different shuffling of state transportation {dollars} to cowl the deficit.
“I don’t see any state of affairs the place the overall fund could be concerned in these toll amenities,” Richter mentioned, including that the state additionally proposed utilizing cash from fines paid by drivers for late toll funds. That proposal would want approval from the state Legislature.