Bay Area tolls jump to $10 as greedy California milks commuters dry

Tolls on seven San Francisco Bay Area bridges are set to rise on New Year’s Day, with the standard charge increasing from $8.50 to $10 per crossing. The change will raise commuting costs for drivers, while a tiered pricing system offers lower rates to encourage electronic payment and reduce the cost of billing by post.

Drivers using a FasTrak tag will pay $9, and those with a pre-paid licence plate account will pay $9.25; about three-quarters of bridge users already use FasTrak. The increases were approved in 2024 and are intended to help cover rising maintenance costs as the region moves towards toll-free-flow systems using cameras and sensors. FasTrak tolls are scheduled to rise to $9 in 2027, $9.50 in 2028, $10 in 2029 and $10.50 in 2030, with invoiced tolls carrying an extra dollar.