The following is a release from the Washington State Department of Transportation:

The Interstate 405 express toll lanes rate will be decided this week when Washington State Transportation Commission holds a final hearing on its rate proposal at 6:30 p.m. on March 18, at Kirkland City Hall. The express toll lanes will open later this year on the north end of I-405 between Bellevue and Lynwood.

Public hearing details

· 6:30–8 p.m. on March 18, Kirkland City Hall, 123 Fifth Ave., Kirkland: Public comment will be taken on the rate proposal and then the commission will take action on the final rates and rules. There will be an open house at the same location from 5:30–6:30 p.m. where people can learn more about the I-405 express toll lanes project.

I-405 express toll lanes rate proposal highlights

· Good To Go! toll rates will range from a minimum of 75 cents to a maximum of $10 – it is estimated that the typical toll will range from 75 cents to $4.

Carpools with three or more people will be exempt from paying a toll at all times, and carpools with two people will be exempt, except during weekday peak hours (5 – 9 a.m. and 3 – 7 p.m.).  Motorcycles, transit vehicles, and vanpools will also be exempt.

To use the express toll lanes free, drivers must meet the occupancy requirements, have a Good To Go! account and have a Flex Pass, which soon will be offered by the Washington State Department of Transportation starting in spring 2015.

Drivers without a Good To Go! account can also use the express toll lanes and will receive a bill in the mail for their trip.  Drivers who chose this option will pay $2 above the posted Good To Go! rate in effect at the time of the trip. This additional amount is necessary to cover the cost of collecting Pay By Mail toll bills.

The commission has been collecting public input and comments since Feb. 3 in a variety of ways, including three public meetings, email and written comments and online discussion forums.