SR 99 Tunnel Tolls Start In November, WSDOT Says

SEATTLE, WA — Drivers will begin paying tolls to use the SR 99 tunnel on Nov. 9, WSDOT announced on Monday — and that will likely change how many drivers are on streets in the downtown Seattle area.

Drivers have been using the tunnel for free since it opened on Feb. 4. Tolling was supposed to begin over the summer, but WSDOT pushed the date back due to delays with the contractor in charge of the tolling technology.

Because of the tolls, WSDOT expects some drivers will stop using the tunnel. Those drivers may eventually start using the tunnel again over time, which is what happened when tolls were introduced along SR 520, WSDOT said.

"While the SR 99 tunnel has been a great success, we expect traffic patterns in Seattle will shift when tolling starts," WSDOT assistant secretary Patty Rubstello said. "We are giving as much advanced notice as possible to allow drivers plenty of time to get ready, which includes opening up a Good To Go! account."

The tolling will begin about two months before a major shift in how light rail trails run in downtown Seattle. Beginning in January, all passengers traveling north or south of Pioneer Square will have to transfer trains. The change is necessary to connect the Eastlink light rail line into the downtown transit tunnel.

Initial toll rates for the SR 99 tunnel will vary between $1 and $2.25 for drivers with Good To Go! passes depending on the time of day. Add $2 to toll rates if you don't have a Good To Go! pass. Drivers who use the pay-by-plate option with pay an extra 25 cents on top of the base Good To Go! rates.

The tolls will be used to pay off $200 million in bonds the state used to build the $3.3 billion tunnel.