New pass requirements, payment options and destination pricing are coming to the express toll lanes on State Route 167.
Starting Monday at 5 a.m., carpoolers who want to use the toll lanes on SR-167 for free must have a Good To Go Account and a Flex Pass set to HOV mode, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
There also needs to be at least two people in the car. Motorcyclists will also need an account. WSDOT wants to match the tolling rules with the express toll lanes on Interstate 405.
It will not implement the new rules in the construction zone where workers are repairing the bridge over Third Avenue. The northbound 167 HOV lane between Sumner and Pacific will stay untolled until the bridge is fixed.
Another change drivers should watch for is the start of Pay by Mail. Drivers with a Good To Go account will pay lower toll rates.
For drivers with a Good To Go pass, toll rates range from $1.00 to $15.00, depending on real-time conditions. Those without an account will get a bill in the mail at a higher rate, $2.00 more per trip.
Also, with the new destination pricing system, drivers will be charged based on where they enter and exit the lanes, similar to the I-405 express toll lanes.
The Flex Pass requirement represents a significant operational change for carpoolers who previously enjoyed free HOV lane access without specialized transponders. The requirement aims to improve enforcement and verify carpool status electronically rather than relying solely on visual verification by law enforcement.
Destination pricing, charging based on entry and exit points rather than flat rates, allows WSDOT to better manage traffic flow by pricing tolls according to distance traveled and congestion levels at specific segments. This dynamic pricing model incentivizes shorter trips and discourages long-distance express lane use during peak periods.
The $2.00 surcharge for Pay by Mail customers reflects administrative costs of processing bills and sending invoices, while encouraging drivers to establish Good To Go accounts that provide real-time toll deductions and lower rates.
The exception for the Third Avenue bridge construction zone acknowledges that requiring tolls during active construction when lane configurations change could create confusion and enforcement challenges. Keeping that segment untolled simplifies operations until permanent infrastructure is restored.
Motorcyclists’ new account requirement ends their previous exemption, bringing SR-167 policy in line with other tolled facilities where all vehicles, including motorcycles, must have transponders or face Pay by Mail billing.
The alignment with I-405 express toll lane rules creates consistency across the regional toll network, reducing confusion for drivers who use both corridors and simplifying WSDOT’s management of the interconnected system.
