Hwy. 520 toll transponders weren't quite 'Good to Go'

Drivers might want to wait a few days before trying to order new "Good to Go" toll transponders for the Highway 520 floating bridge.

The state Department of Transportation announced Thursday it will revamp the sign-up system after complaints by frustrated motorists who were trying to buy transponders. State tolling director Craig Stone apologized for the difficulty.

The slips began right after a kickoff event Tuesday at University Village with DOT Secretary Paula Hammond and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

A $1.3 million advertising blitz, using federal funds, is under way to encourage use of the car-mounted transponders, which allow DOT to deduct funds from the driver's prepaid toll account as they cross the bridge.

Customers who placed orders via goodtogo520.org have been grumbling about cumbersome security passwords and slow download times. Also, callers to the phone hotline were put on hold or routed to unrelated voice-mail trees.

Nonetheless, 6,600 transponders were successfully ordered in the past two days, a spokeswoman said. Tolls are planned to begin some time in April, from zero to $3.50 each direction, depending on time of day. The revenue will help pay for a six-lane replacement bridge.

Mike Lindblom: 206-515-5631 or mlindblom@seattletimes.com