WSDOT: 26% decrease in tunnel trips after tolling began

Over a quarter of the total vehicles on a weekday through the state Route 99 tunnel opted out of taking the route under the city once tolling started, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.

The 26% -- about 20,000 vehicles -- drop was almost half of the projected diversion rate. In August, WSDOT and the Seattle Department of Transportation said models showed a possible 40-50% drop in total trips through the tunnel.