How to Read the Signs on I-405 Express Toll Lanes

Instructional video on how to read toll rate signs on I-405 Express Toll Lanes from Bellevue To Lynnwood.

[@phillibuster87]

The mere fact this video exists indicates that your rules are unnecessarily complex.

[@foggydayflips6314]

Which college should I attend to get a degree in understanding these toll rules?

[@wowthisislame3]

How are visitors to our area supposed to successfully navigate our roads if even the locals don't understand the rules? Its a good/helpful video, but take a minute to absorb just how much complexity there is to simply drive on a road.

[@BradTheProducer]

I have to figure out how to explain how these rules work to my mom, and I don't think I'm ever even going to figure them out for myself.

[@darylrussinovich6632]

Why does this have to be so complicated? This video is almost as annoying and stressful as driving on 405.

[@desviz]

Those hard working WSDOT visual communicators ROCK! Way 2 GO!

[@david.foster]

Can't wait until collisions go up 20% on 520 while people are trying to solve complex math equations in their head while driving. Nice job DOT.

[@JackCarlock56]

Regarding the I-405 portion of the video: "...[lanes are] separated by white lines, which are illegal to cross at all times. The rules depend on time of the day, but the signs will always be your guide." Which rules are time- dependent? Which signs is WSDOT talking about?

[@geofffitch]

A question about 'when the lanes are Open' - you say, the express on ramps at 128th will say "HOV Only" but you leave the meaning of this ambiguous. Does that mean that these are open to all, or that you must enter/exit by the normal ramps but are free to get into the toll lanes that way?

[@DennisCarr]

Use of the ramps, specifically, is reserved for HOVs when the tolls are not enforced. So if you're a solo driver, you cannot use the ramps at NE 6th or NE 128th. When tolls are enforced, a solo driver would be required to pay a toll for entry. This said, I wonder if it's at all feasible to designate these ramps to be HOV only 24/7 just to eliminate confusion. I can't make the call, since I'm not an engineer....

[@wsdot]

Dennis' explanation is correct. We're not charging tolls, but you still need two or more people in the car to use these ramps. The actual signs at that point say "HOV2+ NO PASS NEEDED". It's not an engineering decision, it's a legal one. Those ramps were built by Sound Transit funded by the Federal Transit Administration. So federal rules prevent those ramps from being opened to all traffic. During weekdays, drivers still have the option to pay a toll to use these ramps. Many drivers really appreciate that option and we're not planning on taking it away.

[@SeanWeeksSLC]

Regarding the 'lock in your rate when you enter': Say I'm going northbound and enter just north of the SR520 interchange with the intent to exit at the SR522 interchange. When I enter, the rate board says $0.75 until 124th st and $4 to SR522. But, when I pass the rate sign at 124th, it says $1.25 to SR522. If I stay in the toll lane from SR520 to SR522, would I pay the $4 that it said when I entered or the sum of the $0.75 and $1.25 or simply just $1.25?

[@noamaster]

How does payment work when heading southbound and exiting on the 6th Ave express exit during nights and weekends (when the signs say open to all)? I know it shouldn't be used when you aren't an HOV, but what does that mean?1. If you're by yourself and accidentally take the exit, what happens? Are you charged?2. Does HOV in this case means 2 or 3 people?3. When you do exit with an HOV qualified number of people, do you have to set your Good to Go pass to be "HOV" or is leaving it on "Toll" ok? I noticed there is a camera that scans you as you get off on 6th, which is why I'm asking.

[@wsdot]

We're not charging tolls on nights and weekends, so you don't need a Good To Go pass. Only two-person carpools and transit can use the direct access ramps at NE 6th Street in downtown Bellevue and NE 128th Street in Totem Lake at these times. These signs say "HOV2+ NO PASS NEEDED". If a single-occupancy vehicle used these ramp at this time, they'd be risking getting pulled over and given a ticket by Washington State Patrol, but they wouldn't be sent a toll bill. In other words, it's like an HOV lane on a non-toll road on nights and weekends. In case you're wondering, that's because these ramps were built by Sound Transit funded by the Federal Transit Administration. So federal rules prevent those ramps from being opened to all traffic. During weekdays, drivers still have the option to pay a toll to use these ramps.

[@rachel2027]

What if the toll rate goes down after you have entered the toll lane? Do you lock in your rate for, say, $5.00 even if the toll then goes down to $4.00?

[@wsdot]

You would pay the rate it shows when you enter the lane.

[@datombar]

Why is it the tolls are never correct. I've had several instances where I enter in Bellvue and the sign says $4.00 however, i'm charged $6.00. I have a pre paid good to go pass on my car. I track the payments. The tolls seem to be off quite frequently.

[@wsdot]

If you are consistently seeing a different toll rate charged to your account than you see on the sign there are a couple of things that may be happening. It could be that your pass is failing and not being read by the system, you can check this by seeing if the charges on your account are listed as “Good To Go!” or “Pay By Plate.” If they are Pay By Plate that means the system is not seeing your pass and you’ll want to replace it. If this is just a problem on I-405 it could be that you are actually exiting the toll lanes too late and entering the next toll zone, which will have a different price. For example, if you’re heading southbound you need to exit the lanes before Northeast 128th Street to pay the toll charge listed there. If you exit the lanes after 128th Street you would be paying the toll charge for zone that ends at Northeast 85th Street. As you reminder you also pay the toll rate you see when you enter the lanes, so even if the rate has changed by the time you exit the lanes, you should still pay what you saw when you entered the toll lanes. If none of those options seem to be what’s going on I would encourage you to call customer service (1-866-936-8246) they can look at your account and help you understand what is happening.

[@policani]

There is an extra circle of hell reserved for the WS DOT employees that imposed this on Washington residents.

[@wsdot]

The state legislature determines if a highway should be tolled.

[@GANTZ100pts]

So how much longer till that money earned on the toll Lanes is used to improve the southern side of 405? To be more specific, Renton to I-90. That side is a real slog till you get to I-90.

[@wsdot]

Construction on that is scheduled to begin in 2019: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I405/RentontoBellevue/Default.htm

[@SamirDaftary]

very helpful, thank you

[@bestebahn]

I've lived here for three years and this is the first time that I understand how to drive on the tollway. Why is the information only in this video and not everywhere else?

[@wsdot]

What type of information? We have an entire section of our website about I-405 express toll lanes: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Tolling/405/default.htm

[@robinkestin3560]

I drive this route a couple times a year and took help for a vet visit and got charge a toll in a danger zone in Bellevue. So is two not enough at 1:45PM?

[@wsdot]

To carpool toll free in the express toll lanes in Bellevue you need to have the appropriate number of people for the time of day AND a Good To Go! Flex pass set to HOV mode. If you do not have the pass in the appropriate setting a toll will be charged regardless of the number of the people in your car. As for your question about how many people: You need 3+ during the peak hours (5-9 a.m. and 3-7 p.m.) but only 2+ for any other time, so 2 people would be fine at 1:45 p.m. if you also have your Flex Pass set to HOV mode. You can read more about carpooling on our I-405 express toll lanes webpage: wsdot.wa.gov/travel/roads-bridges/toll-roads-bridges-tunnels/i-405-express-toll-lanes

[@robinkestin3560]

@@wsdot Why should you have to have a Pass at all if you have the right amount of passengers? I don't give bank account numbers out freely. This is not right!!!

[@wsdot]

@@robinkestin3560 Because it's a toll lane, it's not just a HOV lane.

[@AlbatrossCafe86]

moonface @1:30 is 10/10

[@wolfwuttke3601]

The simple logic in the video, that what you see, when you enter the express lanes, is what you are locked into and have to pay is actually not the case. When you enter the express lanes just before 5 AM and see FREE FREE FREE for all destinations you rightfully based on the video and the website expect not to get charged anything, but if you exit after 5 AM Good To Go is going to charge you at the exit point which is completely against their own rules and any common sense! www.wsdot.wa.gov/Tolling/405/rates.htm Lock in your toll rate when you enter The toll rate you see on the sign when you enter is always what you pay, even if you see a higher rate down the road.

[@rinocerhous]

So what happens if the rates DROP when you're in the lane? Do you still pay the higher price?

[@wsdot]

You pay what the rate was when you entered the lane.

[@nicoleb4185]

Still doesn't make sense. so if I get in at the beginning do I pay 0.75 the whole time I stay in the lane or would it cost me 5.75?

[@wsdot]

Try looking at this picture, it might help: 1.usa.gov/1UAMz2k You don't add up the rates on the sign. The rates displayed on the roadway signs are for any point up to and including the listed destination. Once you pass a listed destination you pay the rate for the next destination you saw on the sign when you entered. If you're referring to the example in the video (about 2 minutes in), you'd pay between $0.75 and $4.00 depending on how far you go. If you got out at any point up to NE 124th St you'd pay $0.75. If you exit past NE 124th and up to SR 520 you'd pay $1. If you got out past SR 520 and any point up to I-5, you'd pay $4. You would never pay $5.75 in that example. PS - That image I posted came from www.goodtogo405.com/map . If that was helpful, you can find similar images for other access points there too.

[@PaulYoungberg]

What if I travel past the 3rd zone? For example, I get into the toll lanes down where they start in Bellevue and exit where they end near I-5. What rate do I pay then?

[@colteastwood]

In the example at 2:24, you would pay $4.00 to travel from Bellevue to I-5.

[@PaulYoungberg]

OH! I get it now, there's only three zones. I had thought every exit was a different zone.

[@wsdot]

Right, you pay whatever the rate was when you entered the lanes for the entire distance of your trip.

[@YetAnotherTechGuy]

Need more toll rate signs at every entrance.

[@rock4ever720]

Why does it say you lock in the rate when you enter, yet that's not really true, since there are three different tolls for one highway? If I enter and it's .75, it should be .75 all the way up or down, using the express lanes, if what you say is true that a car locks in that first rate.

[@wsdot]

That's how it works. Whatever the sign reads when you enter the lanes is what you pay for the entirety of that trip. So if you enter where it says $1 but further ahead it shows $2.50, you pay $1 as that's the price it was when you entered the toll lane.

[@virtualawrence]

What's confusing is when the farther zone is cheaper than the closer zone

[@wowthisislame3]

I've never seen that since tolling begin. Are you sure you're reading the sign right? The rates should only increase the further you are traveling.

[@virtualawrence]

+wowthisislame3 I definitely saw it, hence the question. I think it was more common on evenings or weekends but that would be moot now that those are free

[@wsdot]

That shouldn't have been possible. Could it have been at the NE 128th St direct access on-ramp? That sign lists northbound and southbound toll rates on the same sign. So the bottom number could have been a higher price since it was in a different direction.

[@virtualawrence]

No, I remember seeing the cheapest price at the very northern end (bottom number). I assumed it was because of complex market-demand pricing.

[@AlanDraper7169]

I'll take "Things that are unnecessarily complex" for $15

[@sunny000999]

good video. very helpful. thanks

[@WA4OSH]

How much is the fee for an #i405toll jumper? They cross the double white lines and needlessly endanger people traveling in the toll lanes.

[@wsdot]

Crossing the double white lines is a $136 ticket.

[@bngordon73]

Would be great to see this enforced.

[@WA4OSH]

No kidding. Only as much as it costs not to fasten your seatbelt??? It's FAR, FAR more dangerous, especially to others during traffic standstills. For me, it's almost a daily occurrence that someone from a complete standstill dives over the double line into the toll lanes as I drive southbound on I-405 during rush hour in the afternoon. (Between the 520 interchange and the NE 8th St exit). It would seem that WSDOT could detect vehicles that have entered the toll lanes without going through an entry gate. How many vehicles do you see exiting that don't have a matching toll lane entry per day?

[@kelseyjackson4908]

@@WA4OSH !!!! Curious!! WSDOT PLEASE CONCUR

[@WA4OSH]

@@kelseyjackson4908 The fine for not wearing a seatbelt or appropriate child restraint costs $124. Washington's Seat Belt Law (RCW 46.61. 688)

[@devensmith8495]

Wow this is a bad system. Just moved to the area and now have to deal with this. Just open the lanes built by our taxes and stop congesting traffic.

[@patwoodell9473]

Oh wow! Brain overload. Get rid of that busy hand so I can focus on what you're saying. Next time: get someone with experience in cognitive training to review your video.

[@wsdot]

I'm sorry that this wasn't helpful to you. We've created a few different types of videos for different learning styles. You may find this video easier to follow: bit.ly/21Psr0w

[@raywflam]

Advice don't use it

[@gearsbetweenears]

Biggest Scam in Wa!

[@Thelius42]

How much of my toll money was wasted on the artist for this video?

[@wsdot]

None. The video was produced entirely by WSDOT staff. The artist is actually a transportation planning specialist in our south central region.