May 9, 2008 12:17 am US/Pacific
Congestion Pricing Closer To Reality On GG Bridge
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5 / KCBS) ―
The Golden Gate Bridge District has a $1 toll hike in the works, expected to be approved and implemented in September or January, taking the toll from $5 to $6.
In order to keep $158 million in federal funding for transit projects at the bridge and San Francisco in the pipeline, the government wants congestion pricing on the bridge as well. Consequently, the Bridge Board's finance committee voted to send to the full board a $7 toll proposal, during peak periods, the hours of 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. on weekdays, and 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. on weekends on holidays.
There would be discounts for FasTrak users.
"The revenue generation that we projected also shows a shift to FasTrak, a great shift to FasTrak, particularly during the morning and afternoon peaks," said Bridge District spokeswoman Mary Currie. "Particularly if the FasTrak variable toll only goes up by 50-cents rather than a dollar, we would anticipate seeing a pretty good shift. We now have 70% of motorists on FasTrak because they can save a dollar."
The congestion toll of $1 has to be in place by September 2009 in order to secure federal funding.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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