OAKLAND, Calif. (KCBS) -- Members of a key transportation committee said Wednesday morning they generally support a proposal to raise tolls on the Bay Area's seven state-owned bridges by $1.
KCBS’ Bob Melrose Reports
Staff members of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's Bay Area Toll Authority Oversight Committee said the increase, which would bump up tolls from $4.00 to $5.00, is needed to help finance seismic retrofit work on the Antioch and Dumbarton bridges, offset higher borrowing costs and address a five-year decline in toll-paying traffic on the bridges.
Several committee members said they also support experimenting with congestion pricing on the Bay Bridge.
Under such a system, drivers who cross the span during peak commute hours would pay a higher toll than those who cross it during less busy, off-peak hours.
Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, a member of the committee, said he supports creating a "large" differential between peak and off-peak tolls in order to discourage people from crossing the bridge during peak hours.
MTC Executive Director Steve Heminger said "the bigger the differential, the more you'll reduce delays" at the Bay Bridge toll plaza.
Heminger recommended trying out congestion pricing on the Bay Bridge first because it's the busiest bridge in the region.
The committee will hold several public hearings on the toll increase proposal in the next few months and a final vote is scheduled for January. If the toll hike is approved, it would take effect next July.
(MGO)
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