Although I avoid the stretch of I-405 that runs from downtown Bellevue to Lynnwood, Wash. like the plague, others of you may not be so lucky.
So, be warned. The Good to Go! Express toll lanes open on Sept. 27, 2015.
The worst part of the whole ordeal is figuring out which pass to purchase, organizing your life around two and three person carpools and not going crazy trying to understand the regulations.
Here is part of the information released by WDOT and Good to Go! about what drivers need to know. Good luck!
Choose the pass that’s right for you
Regular I-405 carpoolers—or those that want to be ready for anything—should get the Good To Go! Flex Pass before the lanes open Sunday, Sept. 27. The Flex Pass gives drivers the option to travel in the express toll lanes in TOLL or HOV mode depending on the number of passengers in the vehicle. Solo drivers, or those that rarely carpool, can use any Good To Go! pass to pay the toll, or Pay By Mail at a higher rate.
Carpoolers need a Good To Go! Flex Pass
Qualifying carpools must have a Flex Pass set to HOV mode to travel for free in the express toll lanes. Drivers can also use it to pay the toll on all other tolled facilities in the state like the SR 520 and Tacoma Narrows bridges.
In addition, new carpool rules set require three or more people during weekday commute periods from 5 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. Two people qualify as a carpool all other times, including weekends.
Several options for getting a Flex Pass
Purchase at a retail location: The fastest way to get a Flex Pass is to purchase it for $15 at a local retailer. Flex Passes will be available at several local retailers along the corridor, including QFC, Walgreens and soon at Fred Meyer stores.
Purchase from Good To Go!: Drivers can also purchase a Flex Pass for $15 online. A Flex Pass will already be activated if it is purchased through Good To Go!. It takes about a week to receive your Flex Pass through Good To Go!customer service.
Free pass for regular I-405 carpoolers: Drivers who carpool at least once a week on I-405 qualify for a free Flex Passthrough WSDOT’s partnership with RideshareOnline.com and local partnering networks. It may take up to three weeks to receive a free Flex Pass in the mail and you may not receive it before Sept. 27.
Swap it out. SR 167 HOT lane drivers with the old, on/off switchable pass can call Good To Go! customer service to exchange it for a Flex Pass.
Activate and install your Good To Go! pass
Getting a pass is the first step, but those who receive a free Flex Pass on Rideshareonline.com or purchase one through a retailer must activate it on an existing Good To Go! account. Drivers can also open a new account with a $30 prepaid balance by visiting MyGoodToGo.com.
After the Flex Pass is activated on a Good To Go! account, drivers should install the new pass in their vehicle under the rearview mirror. Existing customers need to remember to remove any portion of the existing Good To Go! pass from the vehicle windshield. Drivers should only have one pass installed in a vehicle at a time.
Visit GoodToGo405.org to learn more about I-405 express toll lanes. An animated video gives an example of what a trip may look like in the express toll lanes.
