Transportation officials appear poised to approve a five-year plan to raise tolls on seven-state-owned bridges in the Bay Area, including the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, to help address rising costs maintenance.

The Bay Area Toll Authority heard public comments this week on the proposal, which aims to generate about $300 million in additional toll revenue by 2030. The funds are needed to support a capital improvement program of $1.9 billion. Commissioners are expected to vote on the proposal next month.

“The bridges are extremely well maintained and we want to keep them that way,” Andrew Fremier, executive director of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, which manages the state-owned bridges, told his commissioners Wednesday. “But revenue from toll bridges that can be used for maintenance and rehabilitation operations has not kept pace with needs. In reality, it is quite the opposite: inflation has reduced the purchasing power of tolls.”

The proposal is separate from Regional Measure 3, the 2018 ballot measure that raised tolls to support highway and transit projects aimed at reducing traffic. The latest increase from the voter-approved toll hike takes effect Jan. 1, raising the price of crossing the bridges to $8 for most drivers.

The new proposal would raise tolls for all drivers to $8.50 starting in January 2026 on the Bay, Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward bridges.

The way the new proposal is structured, FasTrak users will receive a reduced rate starting in 2027 compared to drivers who have a license plate account or receive a bill in the mail.

Tiered pricing is designed to align with the Golden Gate Bridge model that encourages drivers to pay electronically with FasTrak transponders. Toll readers have a lower administrative cost than payments through license plate accounts or by mail.

FasTrak users would see an increase to $9 in 2027, $9.50 in 2028, $10 in 2029 and $10.50 in 2030. Tolls would be even higher for vehicles without transponders.

Derek Hansel, chief financial officer of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, said traffic on the bridges is lower than projections made before the pandemic and construction costs have increased more than 30% over the past four years.

Since 2021, the authority has had to borrow approximately $560 million to provide maintenance. If the agency continues to finance itself through debt, staff projects it will need about $600 million over the next five years.

The proposed toll hike would generate about $60 million in additional revenue in the first year and about $300 million annually in 2030.

In addition to the toll increase, the Bay Area Toll Authority is proposing a uniform three-person occupancy requirement for half-price tolls during weekday travel periods – 5 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. – on all state-owned bridges. This would also start in 2026.

The update would allow vehicles with two occupants and a FasTrak Flex toll tag set to the “2” position to use carpool lanes around Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward. bridges. However, these vehicles do not benefit from toll reduction.

Use of carpool lanes near the Bay Bridge would still require a minimum of three occupants.

Some residents who called into the meeting Wednesday supported the plan, saying the bridges are vital to the area. Others have expressed concerns about the inequity and burden that increased tolls place on commuters who use the bridges frequently, even daily. The new proposal would increase tolls by up to $11.50 for some users by 2030.

“Knowing that another increase in bridge tolls is imminent in 2025, I was upset to hear about this measure aimed at passing on additional costs to commuters who are simply trying to get to their jobs, pay their bills, to provide for their families,” said Daniella Tobey, a Contra Costa County resident.

It’s a point Marin County Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters, commissioner of the Bay Area Toll Authority, suggested addressing.

“I agree with my colleagues on the importance of keeping our bridges in good condition,” Moulton-Peters said. “I’m wondering if there’s some sort of frequent flyer discount we could consider.”

Officials plan to put the issue to a vote on Dec. 18. Public comments must be submitted by 5 p.m. on December 3 to be included in the staff presentation for this meeting. Comments can be emailed to [email protected].

The Golden Gate Bridge, which is not a public bridge, increased tolls in July from $8.75 to $9.25 for FasTrak users and up to $12.25 for some two-wheel drive drivers. axles. The rate will increase 50 cents annually through 2028. The program is expected to generate $139 million in additional revenue to help reduce a projected $220 million deficit over five years attributed to the pandemic.