This browser does not support the Video element.
San Francisco Bay Area Bridge tolls could go above $10 by 2030
The proposal is under consideration by the Bay Area Toll Authority Oversight Committee, and it includes increasing tolls by 50 cents each year. KTVU's Amanda Quintana reports.
San Francisco Bay Area bridge tolls are already going up to $8 on January 1, 2025 for seven state-owned bridges. But in a meeting Wednesday, the Bay Area Toll Authority Oversight Committee will also discuss increasing tolls over a five year period starting in January 2026.
The proposal includes increasing tolls by 50 cents each year.
For a typical car, if you're using FasTrak, the fee would be $10.50 by 2030. There would be an additional increase if you don't use FasTrak, making it $1 more if you're sent an invoice. Cars in the carpool lane would pay half price at $5.25.
This money would go to funding toll bridge operations and maintenance. The committee said this would help fund a $1.9 billion capital improvement plan as well as other needs.
The pandemic negatively impacted revenue. There were fewer drivers on the road, which meant lower tolls collected. The proposed increase would help make up the gap.
The proposal also includes requiring at least three people in the car to use the carpool lane on all bridges, in order to get the discount. Right now some bridges allow two people in the carpool lane.
The committee has been taking public comment on this issue since early November and has received nearly 175 responses. Most people are against the increase, saying it would just be another financial strain on working-class families.
"Everything is increasing, but I don’t think it’s very fair. I pay toll, my husband pays two tolls – for the Carquinez Bridge and the toll for the Bay Bridge. I just think it’s not fair to the people to have to pay more and more each year," said Cynthia Martinez.
"It really sucks. I know that it's gone up greatly in the last 10 years. I remember when I was a kid it was only like $3 to go over the bridge. $10.50 - that's really crazy," said Christina from Clayton.
In response to these complaints about economic burden, the Bay Area Toll Authority posted this statement:
"While BATA is sensitive to financial strains and the rising cost of living, BATA is required to keep the bridges in a state of good repair, and tolls are the only reliable funding source available to BATA. BATA has designed the toll increase at $0.50 increments each year to minimize the annual burden to toll payers."
The committee will consider more public comment received over the next week, before making a final decision.
You can email in public comment to info@bayareametro.gov.