Washington lawmakers consider highway tolls to fight global warming

The Trucker News Services

2/29/2008

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Two global warming bills being considered by the Washington Legislature could lead to more tolls on Puget Sound highways.

One of the bills requires the state to reduce greenhouse gases, and would set goals for cutting the number of miles traveled by vehicles.

Money from the proposed tolls, which would vary with traffic, could pay for more transit.

Environmental groups support idea and say "congestion pricing" is a key piece of the puzzle and say it also could reduce traffic jams.

The head of the state House Transportation Committee, Judy Clibborn of Mercer Island, says the state will move slowly with highway tolls. An experiment with carpool lane tolls on State Route 167 is scheduled to start this spring.