Just how different is yet to be determined. I'm not talking about the dollar amounts. Those probably will be pretty close to what it cost to cross the Narrows Bridge, on average.

But there probably won't be any toll booths. It will be all transponders. I bring this to your attention because Gig Harbor-Tacoma commuters are dying to have someone else in the state start paying tolls, too. And the 520 bridge probably will be the next tolled project, perhaps as early as 2009, maybe sometime in 2015.

Five open houses have been scheduled to talk about those tolls. The July 31 meeting in Renton is the closest to South Puget Sound commuters. This committee won't deliver its report until January.

Under discussion are:

--when tolling would begin. Toll the existing bridge beginning when construction starts on the bridge facilities, or wait to toll the new bridge once it’s completed.

--whether to toll only the bridge or the entire corridor. A "single point toll" (like that used on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge) would only charge those who actually cross the bridge. Alternatively, tolling could occur on both ends of the 520 corridor, or at key on-ramps and off-ramps for 520 travel.

--when to adjust toll rates. Tolls could vary by time of day, weekdays or weekend days, or as needed to keep traffic flowing smoothly.

--whether to toll Interstate 90 bridge too. How traffic diverts to other routes, modes, and times of day. If 520 is tolled, drivers may choose other routes or divert to other transportation modes or times of day to avoid the toll. This could mean more drivers go around the north or south ends of Lake Washington, or take I-90.

Information from the analysis this summer will help you provide input to the 520 Tolling Implementation Committee on questions such as these:

Should there be tolls on the existing bridge to start building a new 520?
Should both the 520 and I-90 bridges be tolled to pay for a new 520 and improvements on I-90?
Should funding from tolls be used to expand transit service in this corridor?
What incentives would encourage you to take transit or carpool rather than drive alone?
Would you change your commute time to take advantage of a lower toll?

Here's the full news release from the Puget Sound Regional Council.

July 11, 2008

Contact: Rick Olson, Director of Government Relations and Communications, Puget Sound Regional Council, 206-971-3050

520 Tolling Implementation Committee Announces Open Houses

=> Read more!

Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed had his lawyer write a letter to lawyers for the Republican and Democratic parties, explaining why he's right and they're wrong about the Aug. 19 primary election.

(Well, that's sorta the way he put it. I'm paraphrasing, of course.)

Here's a link to Assistant Attorney General Maureen Hart's full letter to the party lawyers.

The parties claimed there's still an injuction in place that keeps the state from running a Top Two election. Reed and his lawyer say that injuction is long gone, wiped out by the U.S. Supreme Court decision that said the Top Two is OK.

At least, not yet.

A federal judge earlier this week denied a request that would have exempted Human Life of Washington from complying with state campaign finance laws.

Human Life doesn't want to disclose the names of the people who give them money to pay for ads against I-1000. The groups says they don't want their donors harassed. I wrote a story about this a while back.

But this isn't the last word. There's hearing set for Tuesday for arguments on the case.
UPDATE:Actually, there is no hearing for arguments tomorrow. It's just a scheduling conference for the lawyers. The judge will set deadlines for each side to submit paperwork, etc. and may schedule a trial date.

The federal judge said he wasn't going to issue a preliminary injunction without hearing from the state Public Disclosure Commission.

Here's the release I got earlier this week from supporters of the Death with Dignity campaign.

=> Read more!

So far, we're OK on this side of the mountains. But Eastern Washington is having its share of problems.

This from the news release:
"Fire crews from across Washington are battling fires in Chelan, Douglas, Stevens, Adams, Ferry, and Spokane counties. With hot and dry conditions continuing on both sides of the state, the proclamation ensures all Washington communities have sufficient fire-fighting resources during this vulnerable time."

Gov. Gregoire signs state-wide State of Emergency proclamation due to wildfires

OLYMPIA – Governor Chris Gregoire today signed a statewide State of Emergency proclamation, freeing up equipment, human resources and funding to help battle the growing wildfires in central and Eastern Washington. The emergency proclamation will remain in effect until the governor rescinds it.

=> Read more!

Pierce Conservation Voters has endorsed county councilman Calvin Goings for Pierce County executive.

"We look forward to working with our next county executive to continue to push forward environmental progress in Pierce County," said the group's copchairwoman Sara Lowe. "For over a decade, Goings has shown a record of environmental leadership on many of our most-pressing community priorities."

In a press release, the group praised Goings’ efforts to preserve farmland, support growth management and promote the transfer of development rights. Pierce Conservation Voters is a chapter of Washington Conservation Voters.