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Note to Our Subscribers: This time of year normally brings a cluster of changes in local transportation fares, tolls, schedules and routes. We have gathered several such stories and published them all today so our email subscribers would get them in one block. We'll continue to try to group stories as we work to inform our readers about this year's changes.
On Tuesday, April 7, all passengar vehicle tolls on the Golden Gate Bridge will go up by $1.00, part of a four year increase planned to cover budget shortfalls for bridge maiontenance and for the bus and ferry services.
FasTrak users, whose passage is recorded automatically through a special sensor in your car, will now pay $6.00. Click on the FastTrak link in this paragraph to learn more about getting one — I love using it because it saves me time and money, and since the NSA is already watching everything there are no privacy issues! (Ahem.)
Plate Camera — If you don't have a FasTrak the system photographs your license plate and sends you a bill. This will now cost $7.00 per crossing… and saving $5 a week is a great reason to get FasTrak!
Carpool — To get the reduced fare of $4.00 you must have a FasTrak and for the Carpool rate you must go through the carpool lane, which is the second lane over from the right at the San Francisco end of the Bridge. Carpool rates apply 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on weekdays (except the following holidays: New Year's Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas).
The carpool lane is open to:
– Passengar cars with three or more passengers
– Motorcycles
– Buses
– Cars with a WHITE Clean Air Vehicle decal from the California DMV.
Yellow stickers (or polka dot or Hello Kitty) will not work.
Graphic courtesy of Golden Gate Bridge District
