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Uploaded: Thursday, February 21, 2013, 7:32 AM
Updated: Saturday, February 23, 2013, 8:52 AM
All-electronic tolling to start in late March on Golden Gate Bridge
Cashless toll system would mean big changes for motorists on first toll bridge to adopt new system
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 | With the Golden Gate Bridge moving to all-electronic tolling by the end of March, bridge officials Wednesday began handing out informational guides to drivers paying cash at the toll plaza to notify them of the change.
The bridge, which will be the first in California to move to a cashless toll system at an as-yet-unspecified date next month, also launched
a new section of its website at www.goldengate.org/tolls that outlines the various ways drivers can pay for a trip across the bridge.
"We're trying to get our local market engaged that a big change is coming in about six weeks," bridge spokeswoman Mary Currie said.
Drivers who use FasTrak electronic tolling -- about 70 percent of the southbound motorists who currently cross the bridge -- will not have to make any changes and will pay $5 tolls, a dollar less than other methods. Northbound trips on the bridge are free.
For people who do not want to use FasTrak, tolls will be assessed
based on license plate numbers. Drivers can either set up a license plate
account tied to a credit card or make a one-time payment up to 30 days before
a trip across the bridge.
Once the toll plaza stops collecting cash, drivers will also be
able to pay within 48 hours after crossing the bridge, either online, by
phone or at cash payment locations that have yet to be determined.
If the toll is not paid within that time frame, an invoice will be
mailed to the address of the vehicle's owner requiring payment within 21 days
or else fines will be levied. Renewal of the car's registration will be put
on hold until the fine is paid, Currie said.
Currie said bridge workers began testing the electronic tolls on
Jan. 30 and have been working out kinks with the system before it goes fully
live next month.
"We're building the aircraft while we're flying," she said.
Bridge officials decided in January 2011 to make the change to
all-electronic tolling.
Nearly half of the 28 full-time toll collectors are being
transitioned to other positions in the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and
Transportation District while the others will receive severance packages once
the tolls go cashless, Currie said.
She said the move was made to save money -- an estimated $16
million over the next eight years -- as well as to improve traffic on the
bridge.
A large LED sign will be placed at the toll plaza in the coming
weeks telling drivers to not stop after the move to all-electronic tolls.
More information about the changes, as well as how to sign up for
the various accounts, is available on the bridge's website at
www.goldengate.org/tolls.— Bay City News Service Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by Roger Gathers, a resident of the Pleasanton Valley neighborhood, on Feb 21, 2013 at 12:18 pm And just what are the tourists from out of state supposed to do?? This is about the stupidest decision I have seen yet concerning bridge tolls.
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Posted by Tennessee Jed, a resident of the Jensen Tract neighborhood, on Feb 21, 2013 at 12:48 pm I visited the ggb website and looked for the out-of-state or no plate vehicle toll payment options, and discovered there are several ways to pay the tolls, either before or after the crossing. Boy! I bet we will see 100% collection compliance with that system. Who thinks-up this nonsense?
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Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on Feb 21, 2013 at 1:37 pm There may be a way of sneaking across by using a red laser light that binks...just saying...tee hee
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Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on Feb 21, 2013 at 1:37 pm blinks...tee hee
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Posted by m, a resident of the Amador Estates neighborhood, on Feb 21, 2013 at 2:53 pm The bridge toll takes a picture of the front license plate. But, if it's a new car or anyone without a front license plate I wonder how they are going to collect.
My best guess is that they can have losses from non-collected tolls but they are minor to the labor costs to manually collect the toll.
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Posted by mg, a resident of the Gatewood neighborhood, on Feb 21, 2013 at 3:38 pm Let's see-- $16 million saved over 8 years, say $2 million a year divided by 15 toll takers (nearly half of 28 will be reassigned) equates to $133,333/year(including benefits per toll taker... A good target job to cut costs. But, the next question, as mentioned above, is what about the out of state tourist, rent a car local, or other non payer? Is that included in the $16 million saved?? I doubt it. Just another "save money in theory, not in reality" edict. Heck, how else do you design a plane while it's flying?
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Posted by liberalism is a disease, a resident of the Birdland neighborhood, on Feb 22, 2013 at 8:39 am
liberalism is a disease is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com Sounds like the toll takers must not have been in a union. Maybe there are some openings at Castlewood that they could apply for.
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Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on Feb 22, 2013 at 9:43 am There are ways to coat a license plate that cannot be seen by a camera...tee hee...the camera will click but not record the number...duh
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