By Lauren McLaughlin
We’re all excited about our newest roadway, the State Route 509 Expressway in SeaTac, but did you know that the toll road will be free to use through the summer? That will give you a chance to check it out and learn if it’ll work for your travels.
A new tolled route in south King County
The SR 509 Completion Project builds 3 miles of new tolled highway between Interstate 5 and South 188th Street near the south end of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Though only the first mile of the road, between I-5 and 24th Avenue South is open now, the rest of the project is on track to be completed in 2028.
But the newly built expressway will be tolled this fall, so make sure you take a chance to check it out before then to see if it works for you.
If you do plan to use the road, then you should also take the next couple months to prepare for when tolling begins.
How tolling will work on the SR 509 Expressway
Tolls will be charged on both directions of the new road, near the I-5 on- and off-ramps. The tolls will vary by time of day and range between $1.20 and $2.40 for drivers of two-axle vehicles, like a sedan or SUV, with a Good To Go! pass. Drivers of vehicles such as semi-trucks, vehicles towing a trailer and large buses will pay more based on the vehicle’s number of axles.
There won’t be any toll booths, you just drive through without stopping and we’ll charge a toll to your account or mail a bill to the vehicle’s registered owner after the trip.
Only the new portion of SR 509 will be tolled, all the roads you’re already familiar with will continue to be open and free to use.
There are also no HOV lanes on the expressway, so there will be no options for toll-free carpooling.
Make sure you’re prepared before tolling begins this fall
Using a Good To Go! account is the best way to pay tolls in Washington. Good To Go! accounts are free to open, save you money on every toll and give you the convenience of automatic payments.
Good To Go! works on every toll road in Washington, and you won’t have to worry about getting a bill in the mail.
Save time and money with a Good To Go! account
Though you don’t need to have a Good To Go! account and pass to use the new road there are definitely some benefits of getting Good To Go!.
- Save money. Drivers with a Good To Go! pass save $2 on every trip compared to paying by mail.
- It’s free. There are no monthly fees, and you are not required to pay tolls in advance. Buying a Good To Go! pass is recommended, but not required, to save money.
- Convenience. Choose an automatic payment option that works best for you, so you don’t have to worry about bills in the mail.
Chance to get a free Good To Go! sticker pass
While there are plenty of people in the area already very familiar with tolling, we know there are some who haven’t used a toll road before. To make it an easier transition, we will be giving out some free Good To Go!sticker passes to people who will be using the roadway.
To get a free sticker pass check GoodToGo509.com for a promo code that you can use when creating an account or ordering a pass through your account on MyGoodToGo.com.
There are four different kinds of Good To Go! passes, and all will work to pay tolls on every toll road in Washington, you just need to pick the pass that works best for how you travel and which roads you use.
If all you’re doing is using the SR 509 Expressway or traveling alone then the sticker pass is all you’ll need.
But if you do use I-405 or SR 167 and plan to carpool, then you will want to have a Flex Pass instead. The Flex Pass is the only pass that will allow you to mark your trip as a toll-free carpool.
So, make sure you’re getting the right pass for your situation!
While you don’t need to use a Good To Go! pass, drivers with a Good To Go! account but no pass in their vehicle will pay an additional 25 cents on each trip. There’s definitely savings to be had, so be sure to grab a free pass while supplies last.