Politics & Government
Would You Support A Tax Increase Or Freeway Toll To Fund Completion Of SR 167?
The state will need public funds help to finish SR 167 from Puyallup to the Port of Tacoma, a $1.5 billion proposal. Would you support a road toll, or pay higher gas taxes to finish the freeway?
As regional growth continues to push on, talks of finishing SR 167 from Puyallup to the Port of Tacoma have become serious. This legislative session, local representatives are taking the lead to make SR 167 completion a state priority, creating new buzz on how to pay for it all.
Funding for SR 167, which is estimated to cost about $1.5 billion, could come from raising gas taxes or starting new freeway tolls, according to the Tacoma News Tribune.
In the proposal, King and Pierce County drivers could see HOT lanes as part of the SR 167 funding project, which could allow single drivers to pay to use carpool lanes on Interstate 5 through Pierce County. Projected toll revenues aren’t enough to foot the bill of the entire construction project, plus drivers could use different routes to avoid the toll, unlike the Narrows Bridge, for example. An additional gas tax is also being discussed that would benefit the SR 167 completion and other regional projects.
Find out what's happening in Rentonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
An updated study of potential tolling options for SR 167 is scheduled to release next week.
RELATED CONTENT
Find out what's happening in Rentonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
SR 167 Completion Coalition Announces Board Members
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
