520or90 helps local drivers cope with tolls, traffic and weather.

On Dec. 29, 2011, travel across Lake Washington changed forever as toll booths opened on SR 520. Two weeks later, commuters must ask a daily question: which bridge is best to take to work?

Enter 520or90, an ingenious wesite that originated at Startup Seattle Weekend in November 2011. Per competition rules, the founding team of nine engineers, designers, marketers and business developers were given 48 hours to design, program and launch a fully-functional site. The end result was 520or90.

“We wanted to do something to help the Seattle community make better decisions about their commute – saving time and money on the road,” says 520or90 team leader Gabe Brown.

To use the site, Eastside commuters simply configure the settings to their vehicle (hybrid, mid-size, SUV or truck) and preferred fuel type. If the user is a Good To Go! pass-holder, they may input that as well. Once a starting point (Seattle, Bellevue, Issaquah or Redmond) and destination are entered, the user instantly receives a side-by-side comparison of the two main thoroughfares (SR 520 or I-90).

The results are based on live data that includes estimated driving time based on current road conditions and active tolls. Cost is also calculated. 1-90 requires no toll, so its cost only accounts for gas mileage based on current fuel prices; meanwhile, the cost of SR 520 accounts for both gas mileage and toll fees. After the quickest route is determined, the user can view a summary of the aggregate time and money saved — and share their fine decision-making skills on Facebook or Twitter, if they wish.

Last week, 520or90 proudly released a mobile app available to iPhone and Android users. The app contains the same features as its parent site, including real-time calculations generated from current traffic data. In addition to helping drivers make educated commute choices, Brown notes that 520or90 allows drivers to use the evil toll for good.

“The toll isn’t all bad news,” he says. “Commuters just need help understanding when they can use it to their advantage.”

To download the mobile app, simply visit 520or90 online and click the install button that corresponds to your device.