TACOMA (AP) — Washington has decided it will not enforce millions of dollars in fines against a Texas-based contractor that has failed to efficiently setup tolling systems on the 520 and Tacoma Narrows bridges.
Officials tell the Tacoma News Tribune (http://bit.ly/p4PWHX) that fining Electronic Transaction Consultants Corp. would further delay installing the tolling projects and may drive the contractor out of business. The state does not want to start over.
The newspaper reports that fines would have amounted to $12 million.
Tolling on 520 has been delayed until December while the system is straightened out. The pay-by-mail system for the Tacoma Narrows is also delayed until December.
The state signed the 5-year, $23 million contract with ETCC in 2009.
