520 Toll Vendor Settles With State For $6.4 Million For Delayed Start of Tolls

Now we know how much the nine month delay in the tolling of the State Route 520 Bridge is going to cost the vendor Electronic Transaction Consultants — the tolling contractor has settled with the state for $6.4 million.

“This settlement covers our costs due to the late start of tolling,” said Craig Stone, Toll Division director for the Washington State Department of Transportation. “This was a challenging and complex process that resulted in a fair outcome for everyone, including drivers, taxpayers and the state.”

In the past year, Electronic Transaction Consultants was beseiged with issues on the 520 bridge and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

The 520 Bridge tolls started . The toll originally . The state also lost revenue from the Tacoma Narrows toll because of many toll infractions .

According to the press release by the Washington State Department of Transportation, the settlement includes the cost of the delays, lost revenue, and extra WSDOT and consultant staffing.

Electronic Transactions Consultant's original five-year contract with WSDOT was for $23 million, according to the state. 

$2.4 million of the settlement is a result of the reduction of monthly payments to the vendor, WSDOT reported. The state also paid reduced its payments to ETC in 2011, saving $1.5 million.

The state may also be able to operate the toll without the company in the future. WSDOT also receives a license for ETC’s software as part of the settlement, which would enable the state to operate the related software and background documents necessary to operate the statewide tolling customer service center and manage the toll-accounting system without paying royalties to the company. The state said an independent consultant valued the license at $4 million.

“Having a license to the toll-system software gives us flexibility in the years ahead,” Stone said in a prepared statement. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with ETC, but if we decide to change plans in the future, we have the freedom to use their software without them.”

Editor's Note: Venice Buhain is the editor of Bellevue Patch.