Tolling

The Columbia River Crossing (CRC) project will be funded by the federal government and the states of Washington and Oregon. Tolling will also be necessary to build the project and to help manage congestion for a more reliable trip.

No toll rate or policy has been set. In 2009, a Tolling Study Committee was convened to seek comments from the public and evaluate traffic and funding effects of tolling. The committee concluded its work and submitted its report to the Oregon and Washington state legislatures in January 2010. Information gained from the tolling study will be used to help develop the project’s finance plan. Actual toll rates and policies will be decided by the states.

Electronic Tolling

The CRC project plans to use all electronic toll collection. There will be no need for toll booths or for drivers to slow down. Electronic toll collection is a cashless toll collection system using the latest electronic technology. This technology is secure, reliable and simple to use.

Electronic tolls are collected with a transponder, about the size of a credit card, affixed to a car’s windshield. On a tolled facility, overhead sensors link the transponder to the driver’s account information and deduct the correct toll from a prepaid account. Drivers can easily manage their account by authorizing payments from a credit card or bank account when the account balance gets low.

A vehicle that does not have a transponder will have the license plate photographed and can prepay online or by phone or be invoiced for the toll, which will include a processing fee.

Variable Tolling

The CRC project is proposing variable tolling where the toll rate would vary by time of day according to a set schedule. The lowest toll rate would occur during non-peak hours. Variable tolling helps relieve congestion and improve travel speeds and trip reliability by encouraging some drivers to change the time of day they travel. Other drivers might decide to take transit or change their trip destination. Most drivers will choose not to change their travel plans.

Cost of a Toll

Several factors will be taken into account when determining the exact cost of a toll, including the cost of the approved project, the amount of revenue provided by other sources, the type of activities funded by the toll and public opinion. Actual toll amounts will be determined by the Oregon and Washington transportation commissions and legislatures.

How CRC Toll Revenues Would Be Used

Toll Revenue and Fees
Potential Toll Revenue	91%
'Pay-by-Plate' Fee Revenue	9%
Total Potential Revenue	100%

Uses of Revenue
Credit Card Fees	3%
Toll Collection Operations and Maintenance	23%
Facility Operations and Maintenance	1%
Uncollectable Tolls	5%
Net Revenue Available for Debt Service Debt Service (Principle & Interest Payments) 54% Debt Service Coverage* 15%	69%
Total Uses of Revenue	100%

Note: Total may not add to 100 percent due to rounding

* Debt service coverage is required by investors to ensure there is sufficient cash flow to repay the debt. If revenue targets are met, the debt service coverage may be subsequently available for other uses. However, coverage funds cannot be borrowed against to increase project funding during the construction period. Debt service coverage would first be applied to fund a renovation and rehabilitation account for future work needed beyond expected operations and maintenance costs. Any remaining coverage funds could be used for other transportation uses, subject to statutory constraints.