The Washington State Transportation Commission will meet in Olympia next week to discuss possible action on toll rates for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, toll setting for the SR 520 Bridge and to work on the state's 20-year transportation plan.

The two-day meeting will be held March 16-17, at the Transportation Building, 310 Maple Park Ave. SE and will begin at 9 a.m. both days.

On Tuesday morning, the commission will discuss the 2011–30 Washington Transportation Plan, which establishes a 20-year vision for the development of the statewide transportation system, covering state highways and ferries to sidewalks and bike paths, county roads, city streets, public transit, air and rail. The commission will adopt the final WTP 2030 by December of this year.

On Wednesday morning, the commission will continue preliminary work with WSDOT toward developing the toll rate structure for the SR 520 Bridge. Discussions will cover the rate setting timeline, possible rate levels and structure, and an update about the project per recent legislative action redefining what tolls can pay for.

On Wednesday afternoon, the commission will continue its deliberations on TNB toll rates for the fiscal year beginning July 1, as well as discuss draft toll policy for the bridge. At its January meeting, the commission took a preliminary action to propose cash tolls increase to $5 and electronic tolls increase to $3.25. The TNB Citizen Advisory Committee has recommended an increase in the cash toll to $5 but recommends electronic toll rates remain at $2.75.

Click here for more information and a complete meeting agenda.