No Congestion Toll on Golden Gate Bridge

You won't be paying $7 (or more) to drive the Golden Gate Bridge -- for now. But you'll pay a heftier rate if you park along the bridge's access corridors (Lombard, Van Ness).

Today's Chronicle piece mentions the "Marin commuter tax" issue cited by the Golden Gate Bridge District -- which argued that the proposed "congestion toll" would penalize North Bay commuters.

Instead, parking fees on the San Francisco side of the bridge -- exact plan still hazy -- will help fund the Doyle Drive seismic reconstruction. Read more details here on the Doyle Drive plan.

On September 2, the toll does go up to $6 ($5 for FasTrak users). Anyone who crisscrosses the bay most likely has a FasTrak transponder. For California newcomers, the FasTrak plan gives you easier access by way of automatically calculating tolls. No stopping to fork over cash.

In fact, if you drive the 680 north across the Benicia-Martinez Bridge, you can speed through the toll gate at a regular clip, owing to their FasTrak open road tolling lanes.

Of course, your movements are trackable by electronic read. So if you're on the lam or living off the grid, not so much a good idea.

^{Photo © Ingrid Taylar}