Transportation Commission advances streamlined toll‑rate rule; files public proposal
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Summary
The Washington State Transportation Commission voted to file a public proposal (CR102) to move toll rates and policies out of the WAC and onto a public webpage with a 30‑day notice and outreach process; the proposal was advanced by a 7–0 roll call and will open for public comment ahead of a hearing next month.
The Washington State Transportation Commission on Thursday advanced a rule change to streamline how the state sets toll rates, voting 7–0 to file a public proposal that moves detailed rate tables and policies from the Washington Administrative Code onto a Commission webpage.
Erin, the WSDOT‑led presenter on the proposal, said the changes implement a new statutory framework that requires a written public notice “at least 30 days before any proposed rates would take effect,” combined with an outreach period and an opportunity to present input to the Commission before it adopts rates. Under the proposal, the Commission would continue to be the rate‑setting authority while the operational tables would be maintained on the agency web page to allow faster updates.
Commission staff told the meeting the process retains minimum public‑notice and outreach steps but allows the Commission to post current rates and policies online and amend tables more quickly when circumstances change. The package also includes a limited emergency adoption path, used only if the legislature or law requires immediate implementation.
Commissioner Jim Racucci moved to file the CR102 public proposal and incorporate current rates and policies onto the Commission website (including a correction to SR‑167 expressway toll hours). The motion was seconded and passed on a roll call of seven ayes, 0 nays. Staff will post the proposal to the state rule registry and begin the public comment period; the Commission plans a hearing next month and a final adoption vote at a subsequent meeting.
The Commission and presenters emphasized that the move aims to make rate and policy information easier for the public to find and understand. “We want to make this kind of information more accessible to the public and to make it in plain speak so the average person can go to our website and actually understand how the rules work,” one commissioner said.
Next steps: the public proposal (CR102) will be posted to the state registry, public outreach and comment will occur during the required 30‑day notice period, and the Commission will hold a hearing next month to receive input before a final decision.
