In addition to the peak-hour Bay Bridge toll and the flat $1 increase for six other Caltrans bridges (Antioch, Benicia, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo bridges), carpools will lose their free trip across the bridges, but receive a 50% discount, paying $2.50 (on all bridges at all times).
"The toll increases, designed to raise about $160 million a year, are needed to pay for $750 million in seismic strengthening for the Antioch and Dumbarton bridges, and to make up for declining bridge traffic and toll revenue.
For car drivers and carpoolers, the new tolls would take effect July 1. For truckers, who face increases of nearly 300 percent, tolls would be delayed for one year and then phased in."
The plan was approved by a committee of the Bay Area Toll Authority - the same body as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. The full board will vote on the recommendation on Jan. 27
Thanks to MTC-ABAG Library
Comments
Pointless Tolls
I think we should get past the policy of tolls and let cars, trucks and buses move freely across our roads. The stopping required at tolls leads to idling and in the case of major highways to accidents.
Our government can find more efficient ways of obtaining needed road funding rather than collecting via tolls.
Pointless Toll 'booths'
HR:
I think you are referring to toll booths, not tolls, when you refer to "the stopping required at tolls". More and more tolls are going the electronic route - 'Fastrack' in the Bay Area is used on all eight Bay Area bridges (including Golden Gate which is not subject to the new policy as it is not a Caltrans bridge)
Irvin Dawid, Palo Alto, CA
Yes, toll booths
Yes, I was referring to tollboooths. However, here on the east coast there are highways with toll stops where there are fastrack toll lanes (enter through E-Z pass) and then cash tolls. People can easily crash into another car if they try to swerve over into one of these opposing lanes (say they were in the cash lane and had to swiftly crossover to the E-Z pass lane.) Also, exiting, some people speed and there are opportunities for one of these people to crash into you as you try to enter lanes that are directly or diagonally ahead.
Traffic should be free flowing without hazardous toll stops and starts.
Correction to new toll proposed for Bay Area bridges - carpools
Summary above states, "carpools will...receive a 50% discount, paying $2.50 (on all bridges at all times)."
Carpools now receive free passage on all 7 Caltrans' Bay Area bridges (plus Golden Gate) only during the peak hours. If the new toll schedule is approved on 1/27, the carpools will pay half the toll, or $2.50, during the peak hour, and the full toll at all other times. As the Contra Costa Times notes today, that would "leave the Golden Gate as the only large toll bridge in the nation where carpools pay nothing during the busiest hours."
For carpool occupancy requirements, see 511.org: Rideshare - BRIDGE TOLL INFORMATION
Thanks to the Contra Times transportation reporter, Dennis Cuff, for pointing out the correct carpool toll schedule.
See MTC's update on the proposed toll schedule
Irvin Dawid, Palo Alto, CA