• BBRC WEEKLY NEWSLETTER • VOL 23, NO 5, AUGUST 3, 2010 •
IN THIS ISSUE
"Tolling on 520 Starts in Spring 2011 — What to Expect!" Patty Rubstello, Director of Toll Systems Development & Engineering for the Washington State Department of Transportation | Opener | Goodbyes to our Exchange Student | Golf Tourney Recap | Adoption Party | Sergeant At Arms | Web Fun
"Tolling on 520 Starts in Spring 2011 — What to Expect!" Patty Rubstello, Director of Toll Systems Development & Engineering for the Washington State Department of Transportation | Opener | Goodbyes to our Exchange Student | Golf Tourney Recap | Adoption Party | Sergeant At Arms | Web Fun
THIS WEEK
"A Truly International Business," Manfred Markevitch, Chief Financial Officer, CNH International SA, Lugano Switzerland (part of the Fiat Group), will be joining us to discuss the Fiat Group and the subsidiary that is his employer, Case New Holland (CNH) International (www.cnh.com), a world leader in agricultural and construction equipment businesses. After giving a brief introduction of the Fiat Group activities and those of CNH, he will take us on a world tour of his travels (for work) to India, China, Uzbekistan, Japan, and Australia. With Manfred's job, home is where you rent your car! [Holert]
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
1. Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything. ~ Charles Kuralt
2.The reason the Romans built their great paved highways was because they had such inconvenient footwear. ~ Charles de Montesquieu
2.The reason the Romans built their great paved highways was because they had such inconvenient footwear. ~ Charles de Montesquieu
President Chuck
Kimbrough
Paul Chapman & Kevin
O'Brien (with Wendi Fischer
adding her 2¢ worth)
Jon Quinlivan & Mike Ralph
Tim Moriarty
Tim said we had 121 golfers and netted over $41,000. Special recognition went to our in-kind sponsors: Steve Szirmai, who donated the signage from his Bellevue Fast Signs business; Katherine De Stephano, who donated the vests from Helly Hansen, and Robin Callan, who donated the golf balls, most of which now reside in woods, high grass, or water hazards.
Dick Brown & Tim Moriarty
He also recognized once again all of the generous financial sponsors of the tournament. If you missed the listing of them last week or at the tournament, here they are again:
Eagle Sponsor Level: $2,500
- Steve Lingenbrink, PS
- Friend of Bellevue Schools Foundation (Howard Johnson)
- Norman & Kitto, PLLC (Ann Norman)
- BBRC Microsoft employees (Bill Spencer, Curtis Cummings, Morris Kremen, Celia Morant, Wendi Fischer, Ercan Turkarslan)
- Escape Outdoors (Katherine De Stephano)
- The Monger Company & Family (Chris Monger)
- The Law Office of Thomas D. Smith, PLLC (Tom Smith)
- Fortune Bank (Lisa Forest)
- Powell Development Co. (Peter Powell)
- Stephen M. Waltar, PS
- Advanced Renal Technologies (Robin Callan)
- “Partner” On-Call Network (John Martinka)
- St. Peter’s United Methodist Church (Roger Allington)
- Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP (Rick Klobucher)
- Chuck and Nancy Kimbrough
- Bender Chaffey Corporation (Steve Bender)
- The Hong Family
- Charter Private Bank (Mike Ralph)
- Alvin Goldfarb Jeweler (Steven Goldfarb)
- Andelcare
- Kim Shrader
- Sterling Savings Bank (Ruben Ladlad)
- Ted and Jeanne Ederer
- NW Haiti Biofuels (Steve Roberts)
- Arscentia (Lennie Lutes)
- Symmetry Electronics
- Doug Cameron
- Colin Radford
- Peach of Mind Estate Organization & Management (Tom Helbling)
- Cruise Holidays of Bellevue (Colleen Turner)
- AtWork! (Jane Kuechle)
- Pacific Industrial Supply
- Duncan and Haley
- WestRiver Capital
- Scott Galvanizing
- Chuck Barnes
- Brian Evison
- Steven and Susan White
Madeline Gauthier
Elena Howell
The answers to the trivia questions were:
The first BBRC tournament was held at Mount Si, and the year was 1996.
For those who forget, Norm Johnson was the chair, and the golf shirt was white with blue trim (Editor's Note: Yep, there is still one in my closet, even though I didn't join BBRC until 1997).
For those who forget, Norm Johnson was the chair, and the golf shirt was white with blue trim (Editor's Note: Yep, there is still one in my closet, even though I didn't join BBRC until 1997).
FRIDAY's PROGRAM
Program Chair Bob Holert introduced Patty Rubstello, Director of Toll Systems Development & Engineering for the Washington State Department of Transportation, a title that is clearly too long for any standard size business card. Bob recounted his recent experiences with toll roads in Spain. There, he observed, the new toll roads are parallel to the older roads they replaced. The toll roads are free of traffic; the adjacent older and deteriorating free roads are bumper-to-bumper with traffic congestion. Go figure. That observation provided fodder for discussion in pondering 520 versus I-90 traffic in the speaker's Q&A.
Patty Rubstello, and the proposed SR 520 toll system.
Patty Rubstello
Patty brings experience to the SR 520 project from the 167 and Narrows Bridge toll projects. Her current project, the toll system for 520, goes into effect in 2011. Her purpose Friday was to explain how that system will work, and what the current state of planning is.
As we all know, the 520 bridge is going to be replaced with a newer, high capacity floating bridge in a multi-year project. That project not only includes the new bridge, but expansion of the feeder portions of 520 on both sides of the lake, as well as enhancing the infrastructure that support 520, such as the Kirkland and Redmond park'n'rides and increased bus capacity.
This expensive project will be paid largely through user tolls, similar to what exists on Highway 167 south of Renton, and the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge.
A show of hands indicated that the vast majority of the BBRC members used the original 520 toll system, which was thirty-five cents per one-way trip, or a little less if you bought a discount book of bright yellow tickets (that looked eerily the same as the old BBRC raffle tickets).
President Chuck Kimbrough thanks Patty Rubstello
for her program. The new system will be totally different. The first noticeable change is that there will be no toll booths. Instead, drivers can subscribe through the "Good To Go" toll transponder system. This system, as Patty explained, will have a permanently affixed transponder card about the size of your Visa card that will be in the windshield of your car. It also works a lot like your Visa card: when you drive across the bridge, it will electronically charge your credit card or debit your checking account for that one-way trip.
What if you don't have a transponder? Patty said they've got that covered: the system will take a picture of your license plate, and then you'll receive a bill in the mail. The bill will include your toll plus a $1.50 processing fee. She even said that they have it worked out so they can bill out of state drivers.
The tolls are planned to be variable depending on peak versus slack period usage, ranging from $3.30 to $3.80 per trip. The tolls and all the policies (like exemptions) will be set by the Washington Transportation Commission, the same folks who set the fees for our ferry system. Under this toll system, government vehicles will pay, motorcycles will pay, and so will carpools. Bicycles and pedestrians are exempt, and the commission is studying whether there will be any other exemptions. BBRC scooter badges probably won't hack it.
Drivers will be able to establish the "Good To Go" toll accounts online, and the transponders may be available for sale at retail stores and mobile customer service centers at large public events. When can you sign up? Now. Here's the site: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/goodtogo/
The DOT education campaign is in full swing now, and the final toll rates will be set by the commission later this year.
The Q&A session revealed that there are some unknowns that will need to be addressed as the program unfolds:
Further questions? Contact Janet Matkin, Communications Manager, SR 520 Tolling at 206-716-1150, or visit www.wsdot.gov/goodtogo/
Patty Rubstello, and the proposed SR 520 toll system.
Patty RubstelloPatty brings experience to the SR 520 project from the 167 and Narrows Bridge toll projects. Her current project, the toll system for 520, goes into effect in 2011. Her purpose Friday was to explain how that system will work, and what the current state of planning is.
As we all know, the 520 bridge is going to be replaced with a newer, high capacity floating bridge in a multi-year project. That project not only includes the new bridge, but expansion of the feeder portions of 520 on both sides of the lake, as well as enhancing the infrastructure that support 520, such as the Kirkland and Redmond park'n'rides and increased bus capacity.
This expensive project will be paid largely through user tolls, similar to what exists on Highway 167 south of Renton, and the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge.
A show of hands indicated that the vast majority of the BBRC members used the original 520 toll system, which was thirty-five cents per one-way trip, or a little less if you bought a discount book of bright yellow tickets (that looked eerily the same as the old BBRC raffle tickets).
President Chuck Kimbrough thanks Patty Rubstello
for her program
What if you don't have a transponder? Patty said they've got that covered: the system will take a picture of your license plate, and then you'll receive a bill in the mail. The bill will include your toll plus a $1.50 processing fee. She even said that they have it worked out so they can bill out of state drivers.
The tolls are planned to be variable depending on peak versus slack period usage, ranging from $3.30 to $3.80 per trip. The tolls and all the policies (like exemptions) will be set by the Washington Transportation Commission, the same folks who set the fees for our ferry system. Under this toll system, government vehicles will pay, motorcycles will pay, and so will carpools. Bicycles and pedestrians are exempt, and the commission is studying whether there will be any other exemptions. BBRC scooter badges probably won't hack it.
Drivers will be able to establish the "Good To Go" toll accounts online, and the transponders may be available for sale at retail stores and mobile customer service centers at large public events. When can you sign up? Now. Here's the site: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/goodtogo/
The DOT education campaign is in full swing now, and the final toll rates will be set by the commission later this year.
The Q&A session revealed that there are some unknowns that will need to be addressed as the program unfolds:
Question: How long will the toll be in effect?
Answer: Indefinitely – until the project is paid for.
Question: What will the impact be on I-90, and will there be tolls there?
Answer: The DOT will study the impact the toll has on I-90 and make adjustments as necessary to balance the traffic. There are no current plans for an I-90 toll.
Question: Is this a public-private partnership?
Answer: No, it's 100% public.
Question: What determined the amount of toll?
Answer: Combination of the value of time and the cost of the debt.
Answer: Indefinitely – until the project is paid for.
Question: What will the impact be on I-90, and will there be tolls there?
Answer: The DOT will study the impact the toll has on I-90 and make adjustments as necessary to balance the traffic. There are no current plans for an I-90 toll.
Question: Is this a public-private partnership?
Answer: No, it's 100% public.
Question: What determined the amount of toll?
Answer: Combination of the value of time and the cost of the debt.
Further questions? Contact Janet Matkin, Communications Manager, SR 520 Tolling at 206-716-1150, or visit www.wsdot.gov/goodtogo/
Finding Inner Peace
I am sharing this because it definitely worked for me and we all
could use more calm in our lives.
By following the simple advice I heard on a Dr. Phil show, I have
finally found inner peace. Dr. Phil proclaimed, "The way to achieve
inner peace is to finish all the things you've started."
So, I looked around my house to see all the things I started and hadn't
finished.
Before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of
Merlot, a bottle of White Zinfandel, a bottle of Bailey's, a bottle of
Kahlua, a package of Oreos, the remainder of my Prozac prescription, the
rest of the cheesecake, a bag of potato chips, some saltines, and a box
of chocolates.
You have no idea how freaking good I feel.
Please, feel free to share this with those you feel are in need of
inner peace.
I am sharing this because it definitely worked for me and we all
could use more calm in our lives.
By following the simple advice I heard on a Dr. Phil show, I have
finally found inner peace. Dr. Phil proclaimed, "The way to achieve
inner peace is to finish all the things you've started."
So, I looked around my house to see all the things I started and hadn't
finished.
Before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of
Merlot, a bottle of White Zinfandel, a bottle of Bailey's, a bottle of
Kahlua, a package of Oreos, the remainder of my Prozac prescription, the
rest of the cheesecake, a bag of potato chips, some saltines, and a box
of chocolates.
You have no idea how freaking good I feel.
Please, feel free to share this with those you feel are in need of
inner peace.
BIRTHDAYS
John Uppendahl, 08/02
Lou Webb, 08/04
Tom Miller, 08/05
Tom Helbling, 08/08
Lee Smith, 08/08
Jim Gordon, 08/11
Kaj Pedersen, 08/23
Desiree Salgado, 08/28
Lou Webb, 08/04
Tom Miller, 08/05
Tom Helbling, 08/08
Lee Smith, 08/08
Jim Gordon, 08/11
Kaj Pedersen, 08/23
Desiree Salgado, 08/28
ANNIVERSARIES
Bill Brooks, 6 yrs
Alan Forney, 5 yrs
Bob Bowen, 3 yrs
Bill Rambo, 3 yrs
Joellen Monson, 1 yr
John Uppendahl, 1 yr
Alan Forney, 5 yrs
Bob Bowen, 3 yrs
Bill Rambo, 3 yrs
Joellen Monson, 1 yr
John Uppendahl, 1 yr
REAL OR HOAX
Remember to visit snopes.com before forwarding on "urgent" and "important" emails .
REAL (TRUE)
• Post Card Virus
• UPS/Fedex Delivery Failure
• reunion.com spamming
• Conficker or Downadup Worm
• Turning on AC when you first get in your car (open windows!)
HOAX (FALSE)
• Credit Card-Type Hotel Keys
• Internet Petitions
• Dialing *77 on cell phone summons highway patrol
• Cell phone numbers released to telemarketers
REAL (TRUE)
• Post Card Virus
• UPS/Fedex Delivery Failure
• reunion.com spamming
• Conficker or Downadup Worm
• Turning on AC when you first get in your car (open windows!)
HOAX (FALSE)
• Credit Card-Type Hotel Keys
• Internet Petitions
• Dialing *77 on cell phone summons highway patrol
• Cell phone numbers released to telemarketers
FRIDAY SNAPS
