Major Toll Hike for Bay Area Bridges Begins in 2026: What You Need to Know
As the New Year approaches, drivers in the San Francisco Bay Area are about to experience a 50-cent toll hike at seven state-owned bridges. The Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) has announced that starting January 1, 2026, the toll for regular two-axle cars and trucks will rise from $8.00 to $8.50. This increase marks the beginning of a planned series of toll hikes that will occur every January through 2030.
The tolls collected are intended to fund the maintenance and operations of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as well as other crucial structures including the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael, and San Mateo-Hayward bridges. The additional funds are essential for keeping these vital transit links in good repair and ensuring the safety of all who traverse these routes.
In late 2024, BATA approved a new tiered pricing structure that encourages drivers to utilize electronic payment methods, particularly the FasTrak® toll tags. The rationale for this initiative lies in the lower administrative costs associated with electronic payments compared to those made via license plate accounts or through invoiced payments. As part of this structure, those who opt for FasTrak will initially face an increase in tolls to $9 in 2027. Subsequent yearly increments will raise the FasTrak toll to $9.50 in 2028, $10 in 2029, and finally to $10.50 in 2030.
For users who pay via a pre-registered license plate account, the tolls will increase more gradually. Starting in 2027, these drivers will see their charges rise to $9.25, with further increases scheduled to reach $10.75 by 2030. For those choosing invoicing, the rates will be even higher, starting at $10 in 2027 and climbing to $11.50 by 2030.
Large freight trucks and vehicles with three or more axles will also see a 50-cent increase for each axle annually from 2026 through 2030. Adjustments are also coming for carpool vehicles. Beginning January 1, 2026, all seven bridges will adhere to a unified requirement for high-occupancy vehicles, necessitating three occupants for half-price tolls during weekday rush hours.
The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge will require carpool vehicles to utilize a dedicated lanes specifically for carpools, and these drivers can benefit from either a standard FasTrak or a FasTrak Flex toll tag set to '3+'. For the other bridges, two-occupant vehicles will have access to carpool lanes but will not qualify for the half-price toll discount, as the standard will still involve a three-passenger minimum.
These updated policies aim to improve safety on toll bridge approaches by reducing lane changes between vehicles, thus lowering the risk of accidents and enhancing the flow of traffic. The emphasis is particularly on improving public transport, as bus and carpool access will be prioritized to facilitate smoother journey times for those who share rides.
In preparation for these changes, BATA has deprecated certain older toll booths as part of the transition towards open-road tolling. The Richmond-San Rafael Bridge will be the first among the state-owned bridges to adopt this new method, with construction expected to begin shortly.
Overall, the planned increases and new policies not only represent a shift in how tolls are structured and collected but also aim to ensure sustainable funding for crucial infrastructure in the Bay Area that connects communities and supports economic activities. The BATA's adjustments are designed to promote more efficient traffic management while prioritizing safety for all bridge users.
The tolls collected are intended to fund the maintenance and operations of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as well as other crucial structures including the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael, and San Mateo-Hayward bridges. The additional funds are essential for keeping these vital transit links in good repair and ensuring the safety of all who traverse these routes.
In late 2024, BATA approved a new tiered pricing structure that encourages drivers to utilize electronic payment methods, particularly the FasTrak® toll tags. The rationale for this initiative lies in the lower administrative costs associated with electronic payments compared to those made via license plate accounts or through invoiced payments. As part of this structure, those who opt for FasTrak will initially face an increase in tolls to $9 in 2027. Subsequent yearly increments will raise the FasTrak toll to $9.50 in 2028, $10 in 2029, and finally to $10.50 in 2030.
For users who pay via a pre-registered license plate account, the tolls will increase more gradually. Starting in 2027, these drivers will see their charges rise to $9.25, with further increases scheduled to reach $10.75 by 2030. For those choosing invoicing, the rates will be even higher, starting at $10 in 2027 and climbing to $11.50 by 2030.
Large freight trucks and vehicles with three or more axles will also see a 50-cent increase for each axle annually from 2026 through 2030. Adjustments are also coming for carpool vehicles. Beginning January 1, 2026, all seven bridges will adhere to a unified requirement for high-occupancy vehicles, necessitating three occupants for half-price tolls during weekday rush hours.
The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge will require carpool vehicles to utilize a dedicated lanes specifically for carpools, and these drivers can benefit from either a standard FasTrak or a FasTrak Flex toll tag set to '3+'. For the other bridges, two-occupant vehicles will have access to carpool lanes but will not qualify for the half-price toll discount, as the standard will still involve a three-passenger minimum.
These updated policies aim to improve safety on toll bridge approaches by reducing lane changes between vehicles, thus lowering the risk of accidents and enhancing the flow of traffic. The emphasis is particularly on improving public transport, as bus and carpool access will be prioritized to facilitate smoother journey times for those who share rides.
In preparation for these changes, BATA has deprecated certain older toll booths as part of the transition towards open-road tolling. The Richmond-San Rafael Bridge will be the first among the state-owned bridges to adopt this new method, with construction expected to begin shortly.
Overall, the planned increases and new policies not only represent a shift in how tolls are structured and collected but also aim to ensure sustainable funding for crucial infrastructure in the Bay Area that connects communities and supports economic activities. The BATA's adjustments are designed to promote more efficient traffic management while prioritizing safety for all bridge users.
Topics Auto & Transportation）
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