Washington state is considering putting tolls on the I-90 bridge that connects Seattle to the Eastside. This would affect the lives of adults who travel to and from Seattle for work, but what about students who go to school outside their Seattle neighborhoods?
RadioActive's spring 2013 workshop. Clockwise from left: Program Producer Jenny Asarnow, Youth Producers Varun Dhananjaya, Riley Guttman and Nolwenn Delisle, KUOW Senior Editor Jim Gates, April show host Ann Kane, Youth Producer Yafiet Bezabih, Program Producer Lila Kitaeff.
By RadioActive Youth Media and Ann Kane and Sarah Rosenthal and Le'Jayah Washington and Varun Dhananjaya and Riley Guttman and Yafiet Bezabih and Nolwenn Delisle
RadioActive hosts Sarah Rosenthal and Ann Kane bring you stories created by the newest generation of RadioActivians. They reported these stories as part of RadioActive's 2013 spring workshop:
Washington state officials announced proposals on Tuesday to increase the toll rates on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and the State Route 520 floating bridge. The tolls are being used to pay off bonds that support the financing of the bridge projects. The bond contracts for those bridges are very different, which means the tolling plans are different.
Larry McWilliams protests I-90 tolls outside of the Mercer Island meeting
Credit KUOW/Derek Wang
WSDOT Toll Division boss Craig Stone takes audience questions
Credit KUOW/Derek Wang
Different tolling scenarios are being studied. One calls for tolls only between Mercer Island and Seattle. Another would only toll the segment between Mercer Island and Bellevue. And a third scenario would toll drivers based on how far across they go.
Credit Flickr/WSDOT
Operating personnel of the I-90 Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge and SR 16 Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940.
Imagine having to pay a toll every time you left your city. People on Mercer Island have to face that possibility, because state officials are considering putting tolls on the Interstate 90 floating bridges. I-90 is the only roadway that connects the island to the mainland. A series of public meetings about the idea is being held this week. The first was held Tuesday on Mercer Island.
