Bay Area bridge tolls set to rise under five-year plan

0
2119
Bay Area bridge tolls set to rise under five-year plan
Photo by Kathy Chouteau.

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, tolls on the Bay Area’s seven state-owned bridges will go up by 50 cents.

The increase kicks off a five-year plan to fund maintenance, repairs and operations of bridges such as the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward bridges, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

On Jan. 1, 2026 the standard toll for a regular two-axle car or truck will rise from $8 to $8.50. Beginning in 2027, a tiered toll system will take effect, with rates depending on how you pay. Drivers using a FasTrak tag will pay $9 in 2027, then $9.50 in 2028, $10 in 2029 and $10.50 in 2030. Those paying via a pre-registered license-plate account will pay slightly more: $9.25 in 2027, $9.75 in 2028, $10.25 in 2029 and $10.75 in 2030. Drivers who get invoiced by mail will see the highest rates: $10 in 2027, $10.50 in 2028, $11 in 2029 and $11.50 in 2030. 

In addition to raising tolls, the regional authority is changing the rules for carpool discounts. Starting in 2026, to qualify for the half-price (discounted) toll during weekday commute hours, a carpool must carry at least three people. Two-person carpools will no longer get the discount, though they may still use carpool lanes on some bridges to help ease congestion, even without the discount.

More info here.