What Washington State Transportation Commission does

The Washington State Transportation Commission is a state government agency of Washington State, established in 1951 and headquartered in Olympia. It serves as the State's designated Tolling Authority, with exclusive statutory authority to set toll rates and policies for all state highways and bridges, and to set ferry fares biennially for Washington State Ferries — the largest ferry system in the United States, operating 20 terminals. The Commission also holds charter authority for naming state bridges, highways, and ferries, and develops long-range transportation policy through the Washington Transportation Plan, with Vision 2050 released in 2025 as the current 20-year roadmap.

The Commission's core operational product is policy direction over the Good To Go! electronic toll collection system and its associated tolled facilities — SR 520 Bridge, SR 99 Tunnel, Tacoma Narrows Bridge, I-405/SR 167 Express Toll Lanes (50+ miles), and the newly opening SR 509 and SR 167 Expressways. Technology exploration includes telematic and in-vehicle cashless toll payment pilots (informed by the North Carolina Turnpike Authority) and V2X connected vehicle integration via engagement with the OmniAir Consortium. An Autonomous Vehicle Work Group addresses AV policy rather than building AV systems. The Commission is operationally dependent on the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), which executes toll operations and ferry services under Commission policy direction.

The Commission's revenue model is regulatory rather than commercial — it sets rates and policies but does not directly collect toll or fare revenue, which flows through WSDOT and state transportation accounts. Toll revenue, ferry fares (set by October 1 each biennium to meet legislatively determined revenue targets), and the Road Usage Charge program (studied since 2012 as a potential replacement for the state gas tax) constitute the state's user-fee transportation funding streams. Pricing mechanisms include transaction-based tolls with planned triennial escalations (e.g., a 3% SR 99 Tunnel rate increase effective July 1, 2025), a forthcoming low-income 50% discount program on SR 509 and SR 167 Expressways for households at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, and proposed adjustments to administrative fees effective August 1, 2026. The Commission also operates a formal bi-state toll-setting process with the Oregon Transportation Commission for the I-5 Bridge over the Columbia River, with tolling scheduled to begin in 2028.

Name

Washington State Transportation Commission

Legal name

Washington State Transportation Commission

Website

https://wstc.wa.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Washington State Transportation Commission is a Washington State government agency that serves as the State Tolling Authority, setting toll rates and ferry fares, developing 20-year transportation policy, and coordinating bi-state tolling with Oregon for the I-5 Bridge.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Transportation Policy and Tolling Administration

NAICS

Regulation and Administration of Transportation Programs (926120)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Managed Services & Operations Outsourcing for Tolling/RUC Programs (TLAJABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) & Transponder/Tag Systems (RFID/DSRC) (TLAJABAA), Back-Office Toll Transaction Processing, Billing & Customer Account Management (TLAJABAC), Intercity & Regional Passenger Ferries (THAIAJAB)

Keywords

• Transportation policy
• State tolling authority
• Ferry fare setting
• Highway toll rates
• Transportation planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Olympia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Toll Revenue Collection: The Commission sets and collects tolls on state highways and bridges including SR 520, SR 99 Tunnel, Tacoma Narrows Bridge, I-405/SR 167 Express Toll Lanes, and the new SR 509 and SR 167 Expressways. Tolling provides traffic management, project funding, and covers ongoing operations and maintenance costs.
2. Ferry Fare Setting: The Commission sets Washington State Ferry fares by October 1 each biennium to achieve revenue targets set by the Legislature, supporting ferry operations across 20 terminals statewide.
3. Road Usage Charge Assessment: Washington State has been studying and testing Road Usage Charging since 2012 to replace the state gas tax as the next user fee to fund the transportation system, continuing under a new Federal Grant.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Washington State Transportation Commission is a state government agency designated as the State Tolling Authority that sets toll rates and policies for all state highways and bridges in Washington. It establishes ferry fares for Washington State Ferries biennially, develops the 20-year Washington Transportation Plan, oversees the Road Usage Charge program, and provides an open public forum for transportation policy development through regional meetings across the state.

Product overview

The Washington State Transportation Commission is a state government agency that serves as the policy-making body for Washington's transportation system. The Commission's portfolio consists primarily of tolling services (acting as the State Tolling Authority), transportation planning, and various advisory programs. The core products include the Good To Go! electronic toll collection system, management of multiple tolled facilities (SR 520 Bridge, SR 99 Tunnel, I-405/SR 167 Express Toll Lanes, SR 509 and SR 167 Expressways), the Road Usage Charge program, ferry fare setting, and the Washington Transportation Plan (Vision 2050) 20-year policy plan. The Commission also oversees programs including autonomous vehicle policy, ferry rider feedback (FROG), public-private partnerships, and the bi-state I-5 Bridge tolling effort with Oregon.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• State Tolling Authority Services Designated State Tolling Authority that sets toll rates and policies for all state highways and bridges including SR 520 Bridge, SR 99 Tunnel, Tacoma Narrows Bridge, and I-405/SR 167 Express Toll Lanes. Serves Washington State drivers and commuters.
• Ferry Fare Setting Biennial setting of Washington State Ferries fares by October 1 to achieve revenue targets set by the Legislature, supporting ferry operations across 20 terminals statewide.
• Washington Transportation Plan (Vision 2050) State's 20-year policy plan setting forth guidance for the statewide transportation system and informing state, regional, and local transportation plans.
• Road Usage Charge Program Study and pilot program exploring Road Usage Charging as a potential replacement for the state gas tax as the next user fee to fund transportation infrastructure in Washington State.
• Low-Income Toll Discount Program Proposed toll discount program offering 50% off the applicable Good To Go! pass toll rate for two-axle vehicles on SR 509 and SR 167 Expressways for households at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
• I-5 Bridge Over the Columbia River Tolling Bi-state toll rate and policy setting process between Washington State and Oregon Transportation Commissions for the I-5 Bridge crossing the Columbia River.

Quantifiable outcome

• Road Usage Charge program active since 2012, continuing under new Federal Grant
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Oregon Transportation CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Bi-state agreement between Washington State and Oregon Transportation Commissions for cooperative joint process for setting toll rates and policies for the I-5 Bridge over the Columbia River. The two Commissions have established Operating Procedures to guide their joint operations. A Bi-State Tolling Subcommittee with commissioners from both states focuses on assessing toll rate and policy options and making recommendations to the full memberships.
• Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSDOT is the primary operational partner for implementing Commission policies. WSDOT manages toll operations, maintains tolling infrastructure, and implements transportation projects including the Puget Sound Gateway Program. The Commission sets toll rates and policies while WSDOT executes operations.
• Washington State Office of the State TreasurercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Office of State Treasurer is required to confirm the sustainability of toll rates on tolled facilities and provides financial analysis including debt management and sufficiency assessments for SR 520 Bridge and SR 99 Tunnel.
• Puget Sound Regional CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional planning agency that develops long-range transportation plans for the central Puget Sound region and coordinates with the Commission on regional transportation priorities.
• Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic partnership that works with Western Washington's Border Policy Research Institute to assess emerging issues, trends and opportunities in trade and border security related to regional transportation.
• Ferry Advisory CommitteesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory committees that provide recommendations to the Commission on ferry fares and policies, representing ferry users across different routes.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• North Carolina Turnpike Authority: State tolling authority explicitly cited in WSTC's data as a technology partnership peer. Operates toll facilities, pilots transponderless in-vehicle tolling, and runs RUC-adjacent programs, making it directly comparable in mandate and innovation scope.
• Maryland Transportation Authority: State tolling authority operating Maryland's toll bridges, tunnels, and express lanes with rate-setting authority. Comparable in mandate of setting toll rates and managing major tolled facilities under a state-level governance structure.
• Illinois State Toll Highway Authority: State-level toll authority operating Illinois Tollway system with independent rate-setting authority. Comparable in tolling operations, capital programming, and rate governance.
• California Transportation Commission: California's state-level transportation commission with comparable responsibilities for programming transportation funds, setting policy, and approving toll and managed-lane projects. Directly comparable as a sister state transportation commission.
• Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission: Statewide toll authority operating a large tolled road network with sustained capital and rate-setting pressure. Comparable as an entity that sets and manages toll rates for a major state highway system.
• New Jersey Turnpike Authority: State toll authority operating the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. Comparable as a state-level entity with statutory authority to set toll rates for major highway facilities.
• Florida Department of Transportation: State-level transportation agency managing Florida's highway system including managed lanes and toll facilities. Comparable in scope of statewide transportation planning and toll program oversight.
• Oregon Transportation Commission: Oregon's state transportation commission and direct bi-state partner on I-5 Bridge tolling. Operates the same policy-setting, rate-setting, and planning functions for Oregon's transportation system, making it the closest comparable peer.
• New York State Thruway Authority: Statewide toll authority operating the New York State Thruway system, with statutory authority to set toll rates. Comparable as a large-scale state tolling and highway management authority.
• Texas Transportation Commission: Governing body of TxDOT with broad transportation policy and toll program oversight. Directly comparable as a state commission overseeing a diverse mix of highways, toll projects, and planning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WashingtonStateTransportationCommission
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/washington-state-transportation-commission
• Instagraminstagram.com/watransportationcommission

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Washington State Transportation Commission