TOLL INCREASE IS COMING
Join the conversation on February 8th
Ready or not, there will be a toll increase on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. How much is the question. Thanks to our State legislative leadership and to the good citizens of the greater Gig Harbor area who voiced their opinion two years ago, we dodged the bullet in 2010. But a planned toll increase has been in the cards since the bridge opened (and long before) despite the difficulties we are all facing with the current economy.
It’s time to mark your calendars for a very important upcoming meeting on February 8th when the Tacoma Narrows Bridge Citizen Advisory Committee will hear public comment regarding a proposal to likely raise the toll on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to as high as $5, regardless if you have a Good to Go pass or not.
This meeting and open house on the 8th is not a time to harass or belittle state employees, our elected officials or the Citizens Advisory Committee. Rather it is a time for us to come together once again as a community to learn, dialogue and be problem solvers with our leaders.
Remember two years ago, almost to the day, when Gig Harbor rose up as a community and just said NO? It was that meeting, in 2010 at the Gig Harbor Civic Center and the amazing turn out of citizens, business owners, property owners, leaders, families and neighbors that helped change the course of potentially rising tolls – at least until now.
The Transportation Commission lists the need to pay the deferred State sales tax on the bridge, lower-than-forecasted traffic volumes, and escalating debt service payments as reasons to increase the toll. All valid reasons.
As Gig Harborites, we are arguing the more they raise the toll, the lower the traffic volumes will be and the greater the impact to our local economy. Free flow of traffic between Gig Harbor and Tacoma is good for everyone on both sides of the bridges. The more we spend on tolls the less discretionary money we have to spend at local businesses. Also good arguments.
I don’t mind paying tolls. I don’t mind the current toll prices. I love the easy access and continual flow of traffic that the new bridge has created. I don’t miss the old days – and I was one of those who voted no when asked if the bridge should be built at all. Tolls are and will continue to be a way of life throughout our state. So what is the answer? What can we do to keep the tolls palpable while the economy recovers?
Senator Kilmer, and Representative Seaquist and Angel have been our champions on the bridge issue. They have worked with the Citizens Advisory Committee to adjust the bridge-operating budget and to keep the bridge tolls down. We salute them for that and for continuing to work on it. Senator Derek Kilmer continues to advocate removing the unnecessary burden required by the state treasurer to maintain a reserve fund balance of 12.5 % of the annual debt service. In addition Senator Kilmer and Rep. Seaquist have each introduced bills to exempt the bridge from the scheduled sales tax repayment which is to begin in 2012. These bills, if passed, will save approximately $58 million from the cost to toll payers over the next ten years.
The Citizens Advisory Committee’s February 8th meeting will offer a time for you to learn more about this issue; the history, present status and the future plans. Grassroots Gig Harbor in action should be there to be informed, dialogue and share your own ideas and thoughts on this issue that is so very important to who we are as a community. Let’s work together in a positive and thoughtful way to continue to be Gig Harbor- Good to Go.
Wednesday February 8th at 6:30 PM meeting of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge Citizens Advisory Committee Public Hearing. An open house before the meeting will begin at 5:30 with the Department of Transportation. Both events will be held at the Gig Harbor Civic Center, 3510 Grandview Street, Gig Harbor.
Comments
Debora Gordon-Wolf | Feb. 1, 2012 at 3:00pm
If these changes are employed I will no longer afford to continue working in Tacoma. I am self employed and already am facing financial disaster from the poor economy. Adding this additional expense will kill my business.
BRIAN | Feb. 2, 2012 at 11:01am
I agree with "The more we spend on tolls the less discretionary money we have to spend at local businesses" from above, and in turn financially tolling ourselves away from the table, and along with the rising cost of fuel, people will not be able to afford to work outside of the Harbor area and in affect putting more folks on the government assist programs. I happen to work in Tacoma and my wife works in Puyallup during different hours, so carpooling does not work. We are already paying a considerable amount and do not look forward to paying more, non-tax deductible money in the future.
Claude | Feb. 2, 2012 at 12:47pm
Trillium Creek winery visitors originate from the Greater Puget Sound area, we are losing our competetive edge as toll increases take effect. Lets consider flex rates for different days and time of day.
Stacie | Feb. 2, 2012 at 4:11pm
I am a single mother who works in Tacoma and lives in Lakebay. I am already losing my house due to the economy, gas prices which have soared since I purchased my home and the fact that when I purchased my budged was based on less than 2.50/gallon for gas and a $1.75 good to go bridge toll...
This is HURTING commuting WORKING families!
DP | Feb. 3, 2012 at 10:27am
Stacie,
I think YOUR comment is the very important piece that so many are missing here. It's not just the issue that our local businesses and economy will suffer from potential out-of-towners coming over the bridge to spend their money, although we all know the importance of that for businesses to thrive and survive.
Let us not forget about those of us (and there are many here in Gig Harbor) who barely survive paycheck to paycheck. After being unemployed for some time I took a job for a non-profit serving low-income individuals last year in Tacoma. I live here in Gig Harbor where I grew up. I'm a single mom too. I make just over $15 an hour (took a pay cut of over $10 an hour when my position was eliminated a couple of years back).
Once my bills are paid: rent, electricity, gas, car, insurance, gasoline, phone, student loans, and Good-to-Go - I BARELY have enough to buy groceries with an occasional supplement from the food bank. I don't by clothes, get my hair/brows done, buy lattes, etc. I have NO money left after bills are paid. If the tolls go up to $5, I will be paying $700 more per year. Where am I going to get that money? We need to heat the house. I have to go over the bridge to get to work every day. There are no jobs out here.
We need to not lose site of ALL of the reasons why this hurts us. It's not just the businesses that will be affected, it's the families, the human beings - tax payers, and people who often DO the jobs that help serve and take care of all of the other people who have the disposable incomes to buy the products that the businesses sell.
Please don't lose site of this.
Frank Hawkins | Feb. 8, 2012 at 2:35pm
The Transportation Commission lists the need to pay the deferred State sales tax on the bridge, lower-than-forecasted traffic volumes, and escalating debt service payments as reasons to increase the toll. All valid reasons.
Yes I agree these could be valid reasons but: if the State deferred the sales tax, why not defer it again until we have a stronger economy.
If lower than forecast traffic volumes are to blame and we know that raising the tolls will further reduce volume therefor further reduce revenue that must be a part of any discussion. (have we considered lowering the tolls to increase traffic volume therefor increasing revenues?)
Are we dealing with escalating debt service, on the Narrows Bridge Bonds or on the State’s General Fund?
Finally will we get access to the entire picture, both the expense side including all operations expenses and all revenues?
I support the Bridge I believe we should be paying our fair share via tolls but I am very skeptical we do not get the entire picture and recent history has not made me any less skeptical.
I agree there should be variable tolls. The maximum benefit of the new bridge is derived from travelers during morning and evening rush hours. Discretionary trips could be made at different hours and pleasure trips (those spending money subject to sales tax) occur most often during non-rush hours. My guess is that most trips across the bridge from the Gig Harbor side are work trips, that the highest volumes are rush hour and that those trips would be less impacted by higher tolls.
Discretionary trips or pleasure trips would be the most impacted by higher tolls and fewer of those trips would have the greatest impact on sales tax collections and local gig Harbor Business revenues. Having a good reason to stay in Gig Harbor and spend more money here might just be a good thing. Having lower tolls at non rush hour times might encourage more Tacoma folks to visit and leave a buck or two.
Let’s make those decisions after we are certain that we cannot address the issues of the Bridges’ finances by controlling its cost of operations and that its revenue is not being used elsewhere. It is quite possible that the usage of the Bridge and the lost revenue is just a function of current economy. The economy recovers and the revenue increases, will the tolls then be lowered? My experience is they never go down. If higher tolls are justified, let’s be certain they are tied to a formula that will lower them if usage increases causing higher revenues.
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