Staff outlines state law limits on I‑5 bridge tolling and revenue use

Carl, a staff member working with the Washington State Transportation Commission, reviewed state statutory direction governing tolling of the I‑5 replacement. He told commissioners that Washington law authorizes tolling both existing and replacement I‑5 bridges but requires that toll revenues be spent on construction, maintenance and operation of the IVR facility or its authorized corridor and prohibits using those revenues to subsidize other toll facilities.

Carl also noted a statutory prohibition on tolling the Washington portion of Interstate 205 and a statutory ceiling that toll rates for the I‑5 bridge may not exceed the highest toll rate in other Washington toll facilities (he cited a $15 observed high point on express toll lanes). Staff emphasized these constraints as they build rate proposals and urged commissioners to consider them in the subcommittee’s guidance to the full commissions.

Commissioners asked follow-up questions about how those rules interact with Oregon law and with the bi‑state operating procedures; staff reiterated that the subcommittee’s role is advisory and that final adoption requires separate majority votes by each state’s commission.