Low-income drivers on two new toll roads south of Seattle could pay half-price tolls starting in December 2026 under a proposal from the Washington State Transportation Commission.

The discount would apply to the SR 167 Expressway, the new Puyallup-to-Tacoma segment scheduled to open in summer 2026, and the SR 509 Expressway. Households earning no more than 200% of the federal poverty level would qualify. For a family of four, that's $66,000 a year or less. A single-person household would need to earn $31,920 or less.

The 50% reduction applies to Good To Go! pass rates for two-axle vehicles. On the SR 167 Expressway, that means qualifying drivers would pay between $0.50 and $1.50 per toll point instead of the standard $1.00 to $3.00.

The discount does not yet cover the existing SR 167 Express Toll Lanes between Renton and Sumner, the corridor used by Bellevue-area commuters. However, the Legislature during the 2025 session directed the commission to build a system-wide low-income toll program. The SR 167 and SR 509 Expressways are the starting point.

Carl See, the commission's deputy director, presented the proposal at a June meeting, saying the federal poverty level is a standard eligibility threshold already used for programs like Medicaid.

Deputy State Treasurer Jason Richter raised a caution: if the discount reduces toll revenue below projections, the commission may need to raise rates to compensate. "There is an elevated risk that if tolls don't come in as projected, there might be somewhat more of a risk of a requirement for the commission to make a rate-setting action to increase toll revenues," Richter said at the same meeting.

How to weigh in

Public comment is open through Friday, July 10, via the commission's Online Open House at wstc.wa.gov. Comments can also be emailed to [email protected] or submitted by phone at 360-705-7070.

The commission will hold a virtual public input meeting on Tuesday, July 7, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Registration is required.

The commission is scheduled to consider a final decision at its Tuesday, July 21, meeting. If approved, WSDOT would begin enrollment in fall 2026, with the discount taking effect in December 2026.