For the Interstate 5 bridge replacement project, the tolling authority may enter into a bistate agreement with the Oregon state transportation commission regarding the mutual or joint setting, adjustment, and review of toll rates and exemptions as the tolling authority may find necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. The toll rates established pursuant to the bistate agreement may not be set at a rate that exceeds the highest toll rate allowed on any of the other toll facilities in Washington, unless the legislature provides direction to do so in duly enacted legislation. The toll rates established pursuant to the bistate agreement may not be set to pay for all of the operational and administrative costs of Oregon's tolling system. The Washington tolling authority must require toll rates that specifically cover the Interstate 5 Columbia river bridge without subsidizing other Oregon toll facilities. Washington residents are already paying for toll system operations of the Washington department of transportation, and therefore the agreement must recognize that it would be unfair for the toll rates on the Interstate 5 Columbia river bridge to pay for administrative and program costs of the Oregon department of transportation that are created with the expectation to benefit multiple tolled facilities in Oregon.

Finding—Notice of certification and bistate agreement—2023 c 377: See notes following RCW 47.56.902.