The in basket: Bob Allen of Grapeview and Nelson Lanchester of South Kitsap both wonder how people like themselves with toll-paying transponders on their windshields can use the new HOT lanes about to debut on Highway 167 between Renton and Auburn.
The in basket: Bob Allen of Grapeview and Nelson Lanchester of
South Kitsap both wonder how people like themselves with
toll-paying transponders on their windshields can use the new HOT
lanes about to debut on Highway 167 between Renton and Auburn.
Single occupancy vehicles will be allowed to use the carpool lanes
there by paying a toll that will vary and could go up to $9 during
times of heavy congestion in the other lanes. Transponders that pay
your toll on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge will pay your toll in the
HOT lanes, too.
Bob asked, “If you have a Good to Go! sticker, and you choose to
travel on any of the future toll sections of HOV lanes, carrying
the required number of persons in your vehicle to use those lanes
normally, are you automatically charged anyway through your
transponder?”
“How will they know that I am an HOV vehicle and not
charge me for using the HOV lane?” echoed Nelson
The out basket: You’ll be able to buy a shield that will cover your
transponder and keep the toll from being charged when you qualify
to be in the HOT lane.
A lot of answers are on the HOT lanes Web site at
www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR167/HOTLanes/. I had some questions not
answered there, and Jessica Yasenchak of the Good to Go! toll
office provided the answers.
The shield works even though it won’t be between the transponder
and the overhead reader because “this shield is
metallic and is designed to touch the conductive material on the
transponder, therefore obstructing the transponder signal,” she
said.
Like the toll amounts to use the HOT lanes, the cost of the shield
hasn’t been set, but is expected to be $3.50, she said. They will
be available through the Good to Go! office, but not until the
opening date of the HOT lanes is announced. That won’t be before
Feb. 19.
