The Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) took a major step toward ensuring seismic safety on all state-owned toll bridges in the Bay Area by adopting a package of toll hikes. The toll increases will go into effect July 1, 2010, on all seven of the region’s state-owned toll bridges: the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael, San Mateo-Hayward and San Francisco-Oakland Bay bridges.

The new toll schedule is designed to generate an additional $165 million a year, much of which will go toward the estimated $750 million seismic retrofitting of the 27-year-old Dumbarton Bridge and the 31-year-old Antioch Bridge, the last two state spans in the region to undergo strengthening to bring them up to modern earthquake safety standards.

Beginning July 1, the toll for autos will increase from $4 to $5 to cross the seven bridges. However, the rate on the Bay Bridge will vary determined by the day of the week and the time of day. For the Bay Bridge, which is the region’s busiest span, tolls for autos will increase to $6 during weekday commute hours, (5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.) dropping to $4 during off-peak hours on weekdays. On weekends, the auto toll will be the same as elsewhere, $5. Officials expect the congestion pricing plan to ease commute-period congestion by diverting a good chunk of trips to the off-peak hours.

Also new at all of the state-owned toll bridges is a toll for carpools, which will be set at $2.50, during weekday peak periods of 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Previously carpools crossed the state-owned bridges free of charge during weekday commute hours. Motorcycles and inherently low-emission vehicles (ILEVs) with a DMV decal will also now pay a reduced toll during commute hours instead of passing for free. Carpools, motorcycles and ILEVs will not have to stop at toll booths. Tolls in these lanes will be collected exclusively through the FasTrak® electronic toll collection system.

The Golden Gate Bridge is owned and operated by a separate district, therefore, this increase will not effect the Golden Gate Bridge. For additional information on Bay Area bridges click HERE. To go to FasTrak website and apply for a  FasTrak toll tag click HERE.

Tracy celebrated the opening of its new Transit Station with city leaders calling it a critical part of the city's revitalization effort. The Transit Station was designed as a state-of-the art transportation center built on approximately four acres east of Central Avenue and south of Sixth Street. The 9,000 square foot facility includes a central hub for a variety of transportation modes such as, the Tracy Tracer, San Joaquin RTD, Greyhound, dial-a-ride, vans, taxi's, carpools and bicycles.

MOVE OVER/SLOW DOWN LAW

Effective January 1, 2010 this new California law was in effect. Section 21809 VC Move Over/Slow Down law requires a person driving a vehicle on a freeway and approaching in a lane immediately adjacent to a stationary, authorized emergency vehicle that displays emergency lights, or a stationary tow truck that displays flashing amber warning lights, to safely make a lane change from that lane, or slow to a reasonable speed. Section 25253 VC requires tow trucks used to tow disabled vehicles to be equipped with flashing amber warning lamps and authorizes tow trucks to display flashing amber warning lamps while providing service to a disabled vehicle. However, this section prohibits tow trucks from displaying flashing amber warning lamps on a freeway except when an unusual traffic hazard or extreme hazard exists. BUCKLE UP AND DRIVE SAFE