Be glad you don't live in Seattle

Gus Philpott
Woodstock Advocate
2 January 2012

I guess we should be glad we don't live in Seattle; at least, if we had to use the Highway 520 bridge. Just look at this scheme, as reported last week in the Seattle Times. Keep in mind; it's like there is an alternate route on surface streets...

"Tolling starts at 5 a.m. today (December 29) on the Highway 520 bridge.

"Rates vary by time of day, from $1.10 late-night to $3.50 at peak times, in each direction, for drivers with a Good to Go sticker. Others will be billed by mail for the toll plus a $1.50 surcharge. Overnight, bridge crossings are free."

Sure hope the brainiacs at the Illinois Tollway don't find out about that. They'll pull a variable rate scheme out of their hats, and you'll never know how much they are sucking out of your I-Pass account.