WSDOT and Gateway program outline SR 167 completion timeline, tolling plan and low-income discount pilot

State transportation and Gateway program officials told the Puyallup City Council on July 1 that construction on the Puget Sound Gateway program is advancing, and outlined the schedule, funding and tolling approach for completing SR 167.

Why it matters: the Gateway program will complete missing expressway links used by freight and commuters and will introduce tolling to newly built expressway segments to fund and maintain the corridor. Officials said completing the missing links will improve freight reliability and regional connections to the Port of Tacoma.

Funding and schedule: program staff said the Gateway corridors’ budget is about $2,830,000,000 after recent legislative adjustments and toll revenue updates. Officials said one mile of SR 509 opened recently and major segments of SR 167 and SR 509 will open in phases: a western 2-mile expressway segment is slated to open in fall 2026, and full corridor completion timelines cited at the meeting placed SR 509 and SR 167 completions in 2028 and 2029, respectively.

Tolling framework and rates: officials said tolls will apply only to newly constructed expressway segments, not to existing free sections. The Washington State Transportation Commission will set toll rates and policy; staff described a preliminary structure of toll points and example rates: an approximate $1 flat toll on a short western segment and a variable east-of-I-5 rate from $1.20 off peak to a $3 peak maximum. The program described plans for public outreach, free or discounted transponders, and a low-income toll discount program that program staff said is expected to be available when the first gateway segment opens.

Construction details and local impacts: construction managers described ongoing bridge work, a major diverging-diamond interchange at Meridian, wetland and stream restoration totaling about 150 acres and trail connections that will link existing local trails to a regional network. Officials said the old Puyallup River truss bridge will be largely demolished but that portions will be preserved as historical markers along the trail.

Questions from councilmembers focused on public education for the new interchange type, project staging near the Puyallup Rec Center, proposed turnback of River Road to local jurisdictions after the expressway opens, and toll revenue and escalation policy. Officials said revenue projections and traffic-and-revenue reports are being finalized and will be posted publicly; they described the toll rate-setting process and said escalation is intended to keep tolls aligned with inflation and bond-sufficiency needs.

What’s next: staff said they expect to execute the final stage 2b construction contract in July, begin phase 1 work through January 2026, and continue multi-year outreach on trail management and interchange education ahead of staged openings through 2029.