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National Road Pricing Conference

Case Studies
Seattle, Washington — SR 167 HOT Lanes Pilot Project

"SR 167 HOT Lanes Pilot Project" – SR 167, Seattle, WA HOT Lanes Project

Logo. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.

Project Description

The project is located approximately 12 miles southeast of downtown Seattle. An existing nine-mile HOV lane was converted to a HOT lane between Renton and Auburn. The project began operating in May 2008.

Pricing Parameters

  • Dynamic pricing based on real time conditions
  • Operates: 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., 7 days per week
  • Toll free for:
    • HOV 2+ carpools
    • vanpools
    • Transit buses
    • Motorcycles
  • Toll Rate - $0.50 to $9.00
  • No trucks over 10,000 gross weight pounds

Unique Features

  • Lane is open to general purpose traffic at other times
  • Shield used to cover transponder when carpooling

Project Support

During the first 12 months, customers opened about 1,500 new Good To Go! accounts per month. The transponders are good for travel on the SR 167 HOT lanes and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. In the 2009 SR 167 user survey, nearly two-thirds of respondents stated they were either very likely or somewhat likely to use the HOT lanes in the future.

Project Website

www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr167/hotlanes [Link no longer active]

Photo. Image captured from a video camera along a HOT lane in Seattle, Washington. Photo. Seattle's 'Good to Go' transponder on a windshield. Photo. Overhead sign identifying the current toll for a HOT lane in Seattle.

Project Goals

SR 167 is a pilot project with the following goals (established by the legislature):

At a minimum, the department shall provide facility use data and review the impacts on:

  • Freeway efficiency and safety;
  • Effectiveness for transit;
  • Person and vehicle movements by mode;
  • Ability to finance improvements and transportation services through tolls; and
  • The impacts on all highway users.

The Washington Department of Transportation shall analyze aggregate use data and conduct, as needed, separate surveys to assess usage of the facility in relation to geographic, socioeconomic, and demographic information within the corridor in order to ascertain actual and perceived questions of equitable use of the facility.

Project Length

9 miles southbound
11 miles northbound

Number of HOT lanes

1 in each direction

Midpoint Access

Northbound: 6 access locations
Southbound: 4 access locations

Lane Separation

Double white line

Daily Traffic

Approximately 2,000 tolled trips per weekday

Capital Costs

Approximately $18 million

Operating Costs

Approximately $2.4 million, annually

Revenue

Approximately $316,000, May 2008 – April 2009

Project Contacts

Patty Rubstello
WSDOT – Toll Division
rubstep@wsdot.wa.gov
(206) 464-1299

Tyler Patterson
WSDOT – Toll Division
patter@wsdot.wa.gov
(206) 716-1134

Version 1 8/23/10
HOT0901.0410.20

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