A four year pilot project to charge solo drivers a variable toll to use carpool lanes begins April 26.
"This month will see a first in the Puget Sound area's transportation system: Solo drivers will be able to use the car pool lanes on state Route 167 without getting a ticket -- if they pay for the privilege.
"High-occupancy toll" or HOT lanes open at 5 a.m. April 26, kicking off a four-year test to see whether drivers will pay to move out of crowded general-traffic lanes into the car pool lanes for a price that will vary almost by the minute and be assessed electronically. It could be the latest step in a return to state highway tolls that began last summer on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.
"This will be a new situation that drivers will need to get used to," said Craig Stone, urban corridors administrator for the state Department of Transportation. Similar lanes are already in use in places such as California, Minnesota and Texas.
Preparations for Washington's HOT lanes already are visible. New signs and electronic gear have been put in place. On April 12, two weeks before the new lane arrangement starts, crews will begin painting a new white double line that will more sharply delineate the HOT lanes from the others on the highway between Auburn and Renton.
Drivers will pay to use the 9-mile stretch of HOV lane between the cities, with the amount based on how congested the lanes are. With no congestion the toll will be 50 cents -- the low end of the scale -- to lure drivers to the HOV lanes and relieve congestion in the others.
If the lanes are heavily congested, the toll could cost several dollars. But it could save drivers time they'd otherwise spend in more crowded general lanes. State officials think tolls in badly congested periods could rise to $4, though an electronic tracking system is set up to assess a maximum of $9."
FULL STORY: 'HOT' lanes wide open to solo drivers -- for a price

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie