Washington State Department of Transportation

In the first quarter of 2007, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) selected ETC to provide the High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lane, dynamic-pricing solution for the SR-167 HOT Lane Pilot Project. This technically advanced and industry-leading project will convert the existing two lanes of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes to HOT lanes and is designed to improve travel efficiency in the corridor and provide more options to individual travelers. SR-167 is an important transportation route in the Pugent Sound area. The HOT Lanes Project will extend approximately nine miles between Renton and Auburn, Washington. ETC is designing and implementing the lane and plaza solutions as well as providing remote maintenance service.WSDOT toll road

Of particular note, ETC is also deploying a dynamic pricing model based on the level of service in the adjacent general-purpose lanes, as well as the amount of traffic present in the HOT lanes.

Significant Goals of the SR-167 HOT Lanes Pilot Project. WSDOT identified several important objectives to be achieved by the four-year SR-167 HOT Lanes Pilot Project. These include:

  • Increase efficiency of the existing roadway
  • Improve the traffic flow and travel times along the SR-167 corridor
  • Achieve and maintain an acceptable level of service for HOV traffic in the HOT lanes
  • Implement proven toll systems technology with the power and flexibility to incorporate dynamic pricing methodology
  • Leverage WSDOT's existing intelligent transportation systems

Scheduled to open in 2008, the SR-167 HOT lanes will provide toll-free, express trips for transit vehicles and carpools and will also allow single-occupant vehicles that pay a toll to use the lanes when there is capacity for additional vehicles. The HOT lane solution is based on ETC’s proven Open Road Tolling (ORT) architecture that provides electronic toll collection at highway speeds.

Using ETC’s RITE® dynamic pricing model, tolls will be used to keep traffic in the HOT lanes flowing at 45 mph or faster, even when the general-purpose lanes are congested. The toll rate will increase or decrease depending on the space available in the HOT lane.