Only days away from the switch to all-electronic toll collection on the Golden Gate Bridge on Wednesday, the Golden Gate Bridge’s Board of Directors today approved raising the speed limit through the toll plaza from 15 to 25 mph, district spokeswoman Mary Currie said.
The conversion to electronic tolling and the higher speed limit will occur sometime between 11:59 p.m. Tuesday and 5 a.m. Wednesday, Currie said.
Around 7:30 a.m. Monday, a new 27-foot-long LED sign that will read: “Do Not Stop, Automatic Tolling” will be lifted with a crane to the top of the toll plaza, Currie said.
“The toll collectors will be gone from the toll plaza and the interior windows of the toll booths will be covered to avoid motorists stopping,” Currie said.
Motorists can pay through the existing FasTrak system or three new Pay-By-Plate options: automatically billing to an account associated with the car’s license plate; making a one-time payment prior to crossing the bridge; or paying a toll invoice mailed to the car’s registered owner. Motorists can pay tolls by credit card, cash, check or money order online, by phone or in person in participating stores.
Motorists who have not yet made arrangements for electronic toll payments on Wednesday should not stop at the toll plaza, Currie said.
“Do not panic, do no fret, do not stop. You will get a toll invoice with no added fees mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle,” Currie said.
The four “FasTrak Only” toll lanes on the far left, east side of the toll plaza will no longer be designated “FasTrak Only” because all the toll lanes will process tolls electronically.
A new toll payment rate sign will read: Pay-By Plate $6, FasTrak $5.
All-electronic toll collection will save the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation $16.8 million over 8 years.
It also is expected to improve traffic flow through the plaza during the afternoon commute hours, and on afternoons and evenings on weekends and holidays, Currie said.
James Lanaras, Bay City News
Elsewhere: Several Changes Planned As GG Bridge Switches To All Electric Tolls [KCBS]
