The future of tolling is electronic.

Electronic tolling was recently introduced in Washington state at the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. This new method of collecting tolls allows drivers to continue at normal highway speeds without stopping at a toll booth. The broad and positive potential of electronic tolling has generated a groundswell of interest in transportation departments across the United States, including many proposals by WSDOT.

Electronic Tolling in Washington

Good To Go! is the electronic tolling option currently used on the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge, SR 167 HOT lanes, and is planned for use on all future tolling projects in Washington. An antenna mounted over the roadway detects the vehicle's transponder and the system automatically debits the correct toll from the customer’s account, allowing the driver to maintain highway speeds without ever stopping at a toll booth.

Smart Electronic Tolling Technologies

Similar smart electronic tolling technologies can manage specific highway lanes and improve the overall performance of our freeways. Tolls rates on express lanes, sometimes called HOT (High Occupancy Toll) lanes, will vary automatically based on the number of vehicles. Under this system, single-occupant vehicles can choose to pay the toll to drive in the HOV lanes. As more vehicles enter an express toll lane, the toll goes up. When fewer vehicles drive in the express toll lane, the toll drops.

Smart tolling ensures the right number of vehicles use a lane so that it operates at maximum capacity, while still maintaining highway speeds. HOT lanes offer drivers a choice to pay for a congestion-free trip when they can’t afford to wait in traffic.