South King County motorists traveling on State Route 167 are one step closer to having the option of paying for a faster, more reliable trip.

WSDOT awarded a contract to Signal Electric, Inc. of Kent for a competitive bid of $7,087,088 to build the SR 167 HOT Lanes Pilot Project, which will convert nine miles of SR 167 high occupancy vehicle lanes to high occupancy toll lanes between Renton and Auburn. The SR 167 HOT Lanes Pilot Project will allow solo drivers to pay a toll to use the HOV lanes. Construction begins in mid-July, and the project opens to traffic in the spring of 2008.

Toll rates are set electronically to keep HOT lanes traffic flowing at 45 miles per hour or faster, even when the regular lanes are congested. During the SR 167 HOT Lanes Pilot Project buses, vanpools, carpools and motorcycles may continue to use the HOT lanes without paying a toll.

"This pilot project will test innovative technologies to give drivers new choices for express travel," said Patty Rubstello, Project Manager. "HOT lanes are showing great success elsewhere in the country."

There are no toll booths. To use the lanes, solo drivers will need a pre-paid Good To Go! account, and a transponder mounted on their windshields. Tolls will be debited from their accounts electronically upon entry. Good To Go! transponders are also valid at the new Narrows Bridge in Tacoma, which opens to traffic in July.

When construction of the SR 167 HOT lanes is complete, roadway signs and dashed lines will indicate where drivers can enter and exit the HOT lanes. Motorists will access the HOT lanes at the beginning of the HOT lanes or at several mid-point access locations.

Construction work includes re-striping the lanes to create a 2-foot buffer with a double white line between the regular lanes and the HOT lanes. It will be illegal to cross the double white line. Crews also will install overhead signs to display the toll price and other driver information. Traffic sensors embedded in the pavement will detect vehicle volumes and speeds.

Construction will occur mostly at night to keep traffic moving during the day. Nighttime drivers should expect closures of the inside lanes as crews work behind barrier in the middle of the freeway.

Other contractors working on the project include TransCore, LP of San Diego, CA and Electronic Transaction Consultants Corporation of Richardson, TX.

While HOT lanes are new to this state, they have been successful and popular in other U.S. states -- California, Texas, Minnesota and Colorado. The pilot project will use flexible pricing technology to maintain the optimum number of vehicles in the HOT lane. The toll price will automatically adjust up or down depending on space available in the HOT lanes to keep traffic moving. Signs will inform drivers of the price before they enter the HOT lanes so they can decide if and when they want to use them. With HOT lanes, more vehicles will be able to travel on SR 167 daily.

To see how the new SR 167 HOT lanes will work, view the video on the SR 167 HOT lanes Web site www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR167/HOTLanes. For more information on Good To Go! visit the WSDOT Good To Go! Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov/GoodToGo.