Tolling on SR 520 bridge starts on Thursday

With State Route 520 tolling less than 48 hours away, drivers are getting prepared. While Good To Go! customer service centers were closed Sunday for the holiday, drivers went online and activated more than 650 accounts. By Tuesday, the total number of accounts activated since February rose to more than 135,000.

December 27, 2011 1:59 pm

With State Route 520 tolling less than 48 hours away, drivers are getting prepared.

While Good To Go! customer service centers were closed Sunday for the holiday, drivers went online and activated more than 650 accounts. By Tuesday, the total number of accounts activated since February rose to more than 135,000.

Despite the big numbers, the Washington State Department of Transportation would still like to see more accounts activated by Dec. 29, the day tolling begins on the SR 520 bridge, which .

“We appreciate those drivers who used part of the holiday weekend to set up and activate their Good To Go! accounts,” said WSDOT Toll Division Director Craig Stone.

Drivers who may be reluctant to get a pass will find there are several ways to set up and activate accounts. Good To Go!passes are available at multiple retail outlets including Safeway, Fred Meyer, QFC and Costco. It takes about 15 minutes to activate an online. Drivers can also call the Customer Service Center, which has extended its hours in preparation for the start of SR 520 tolling.

“So far, we’ve been able to keep up with the demand on customer service online, over the phone and at the Customer Service Centers in Bellevue and the University District,” said Stone. “Data still shows many customers have Good To Go! passes that aren’t active.”

Drivers can still cross the bridge on Thursday without a pass, but it will cost an extra $1.50 each way. The Pay By Mail bill with the higher toll will arrive in the mail about a week later.

“Maybe you purchased a Good To Go! pass in April and forgot about it or perhaps you received it as a gift,” Stone said. “If so, you still have another step: activate and install. Once your pass is active and in your vehicle, you can breathe easy.”

WSDOT expects a surge in new accounts immediately following the start of tolling on SR 520. To prepare for high volumes, Good To Go! has extended call-center hours and hired extra customer-service staff. The customer service center is open weekdays 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be closed New Year’s Day. Customers also can set up and access accounts online anytime.

How to get ready:

  • Get your Good To Go! pass, install and activate it before tolling starts
  • Make sure all account information is up to date, including credit card or bank information
  • Make sure license plate(s) are correctly listed on your account

Where to get a pass and open an account: