Preliminary OK given to raise bridge tolls
Thursday, January 14, 2010
The toll increases, designed to raise about $160 million a year, are needed to pay for $750 million in seismic strengthening for the Antioch and Dumbarton bridges, and to make up for declining bridge traffic and toll revenue.
The plan, approved by a committee of the Bay Area Toll Authority, would:
-- Impose congestion-based tolls on the Bay Bridge, with drivers traveling from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. paying $6. The higher fee is supposed to discourage drivers from traveling during the busiest times. Officials estimate traffic during peak hours would decline by 23 percent. Drivers traveling outside peak commute hours would pay $4. Weekend tolls would be $5. The toll is now $4 at all times.
-- Charge carpoolers their first-ever tolls - $2.50 - on all bridges.
-- Raise tolls on all state bridges but the Bay Bridge to $5 - a $1 increase.
The Golden Gate Bridge, which is owned and operated by an independent district, is not affected by the changes. It charges a $6 cash toll with a $1 discount for FasTrak users.
The toll increases must be voted on by the full authority board on Jan. 27. For car drivers and carpoolers, the new tolls would take effect July 1. For truckers, who face increases of nearly 300 percent, tolls would be delayed for one year and then phased in.
Toll hikes have been discussed for months and debated at numerous public hearings, but Wednesday was the first time officials voted on the proposal. They made one change to their staff's recommendation - voting to delay the toll increase for trucks and other multiple-axle vehicles until July 2011, then to charge only half of the increase until July 2012.
Truckers and industry representatives argued at the meeting that they've been slammed by the economy, which has driven down business and rates, as well as by air-quality regulations that have required the installation of costly equipment. They said they need time to renegotiate contracts to cover the increased costs.
"When you increase bridge tolls," said Jeff Becker, of the Bay Cities Dump Truck Association, you take money right out of the pockets of these (truck) owner-drivers."
The committee also heard from recreational vehicle drivers, who don't want larger RVs to be charged as if they were trucks, and from bicyclists, who want revenues from the toll increases steered toward construction of a combined bicycle and maintenance lane on the west span of the Bay Bridge. The new eastern span, scheduled to open in 2013, will have a bike lane from Oakland to Treasure Island.
But neither of those requests got any support from the committee. Steve Heminger, executive director of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, said that tolls are collected by a system that counts axles, and that it would be too difficult to change that system. He also said state law permits the toll authority to increase fees only to cover operating and other existing expenses and for seismic safety.
No carpoolers spoke against the new fee, but Berkeley Mayor and toll authority member Tom Bates, who has opposed tolls for carpools, suggested they be reduced to $2. That motion failed, with only Bates and San Francisco Supervisor Chris Daly supporting the plan. Bates argued that it would cause less disruption to the East Bay's informal casual carpool system.
"My concern is the 50 cents," he said. "I'm not wild about any charge, but if it went to $2, when someone picks you up, you give them a dollar. It seems much easier."
Toll hikes
If approved later this month, the new fees would be:$5 All state bridges except the Bay Bridge.
$2.50 Carpools, all bridges.
$6 Bay Bridge during peak commute hours ($4 nonpeak and $5 on weekends).
E-mail Michael Cabanatuan at mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/14/MNIT1BHO8F.DTL
This article appeared on page A - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle
No comments:
Post a Comment