The Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Bay Area Toll Authority voted unanimously today to raise tolls by at least a dollar on the region’s seven state-owned bridges beginning July 1.
MTC officials say the toll hike is needed to raise an additional $160 million in annual revenues to help finance the estimated $750 million cost of seismic retrofit projects on the Antioch and Dumbarton bridges.
Tolls on all of the bridges except the Bay Bridge will increase by $1 at all times, from $4 to $5.
The toll on the Bay Bridge will increase by $2, from $4 to $6, during peak commute hours, which are from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
During non-commute hours on weekdays, the toll will remain at $4 on the Bay Bridge. However, that will increase to $5 on weekends.
For trucks, the cost per axle will increase to $5 on all seven spans.
In addition, carpoolers will have to pay $2.50 during commute hours on all seven bridges. Carpoolers now cross the bridges for free during commute hours.
