WSDOT warns drivers to 'pack patience' for Tuesday commute | Transportation

Just one day before the first big test of the new tolling system on the 520 Bridge - a glitch had many drivers confused. But the Department of Transportation says it's still ready for the biggest traffic pattern change in Seattle in decades.

Drivers heading across the 520 Bridge this morning saw either the wrong toll price, or no price at all.

"Those signs were showing the weekday amount, not the lower holiday or weekend amount," said Stan Suchan with WSDOT.

WSDOT says no drivers were charged the higher toll, but the latest glitch has taken confidence in the new system out of some commuters.     

"I'm not surprised,"said driver Brigitte Ashley. "It's a very complicated system, so I understand that there is going to be problems, but you think by now they'd have it figured out."

Other drivers agree the system is just too complicated.

"Why isn't it a flat rate, $1 for example, all the time for everybody going each way," said Paul Deprez.

Electronic tolling is finally up and running after months of costly delays. And tomorrow is the first real morning commute with tolls on 520.
     
WSDOT warns drivers they can expect to see 20 percent more traffic on I-90 and more cars on 522 around the north end of the lake.
     
But transportation leaders say despite the problems so far with high tech tolling, they are ready.

"We're confident the system will work well. What we're not confident is that everything will be perfect," said Suchan. "We expect there will be bumps in the road, however, we are ready to address those as quickly as possible as we did today."

Yet, many drivers don't have that same confidence.

"No, I just dealt with operators over the phone to add money and that was a hassle," said Mary Warren.
 
WSDOT says it will have special crews in early tomorrow morning to quickly handle any problems should they come up.