In January of 2022, toll prices rose one dollar for seven of the Bay Area’s bridges, including Marin’s Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and the Bay Bridge. The rise in this fee is due to Regional Measure 3, a bill that was voted on by Bay Area residents. Following the approval by voters, Regional Measure 3 increases toll fees by a dollar over three years: January of 2019, 2022 and 2025. Currently, the toll prices stand at a standard seven dollars, one dollar more than they were last year.

Deputy Executive Director of the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA), Andrew Fremier, has worked in the transportation field since he graduated from college, starting his career at the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Then in 2005, he was recruited by BATA and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). Fremier described the responsibilities of BATA. 

“When it comes to keeping the bridges open and safe, meaning painting, pavement, redecking and collecting the revenue, the BATA has unlimited toll setting authority,” Fremier said. 

Fremier also recognized the functions of the specific Bay Area bridges and acknowledged that every bridge benefits another in a unique way.

“The way that the bridges were built is very interesting,” Fremier said. “The Bay Bridge is the [main focal point], as more cars cross the Bay Bridge than any other structure in the Bay Area. However, most of the tolls from the smaller bridges have helped pay for the new Bay Bridge, and now the Bay Bridge is repaying that and helping the other bridges.”

The toll increase provides significant funding to aid the development of bridges across the Bay Area. Anne Richman, the Executive Director of Transportation Authority of Marin since 2019, oversees an agency that develops and funds transportation projects across the county. Richman observes that this support is vital for continuous upgrades that bridges rely on.

“I really enjoy the combination of infrastructure and technical issues with policy and how it affects people’s lives every day,” Richman said. “While I love the industry, I don’t think everyone understands the importance of maintaining these bridges to keep up with our ever-changing society.”

However, Richman acknowledged that an increase by one dollar does not carry the same weight to everyone in the county.

“For some people, an extra dollar is probably not a big deal. While for some, it is a bigger deal …. It really depends on the person and their transportation budget,” Richman said.

While the Golden Gate Bridge is not being affected by this toll hike, tolls in general are still impacting those commuting from Marin to San Francisco.

Senior Robyn Stephens works at Brandy Melville in San Francisco and realizes how the toll increase on the other bridges impacts commuters’ lives.

“Every time I go over the Golden Gate Bridge to work, my parents have to pay,” Stephens said. “There are many people that are going to be affected by increasing the tolls. Part of every paycheck that everyone is going to make goes to pay for the tolls.”

Stephens also notices a need to improve transportation in the Bay Area, which she said will offer a cheaper way for commuters to access the city.

“It would be nice to improve the transportation system from Marin to San Francisco. The Muni and trains in the city work really well, but the public transportation could definitely be improved from the suburbs like Marin,” Stephens said.

Whether it is by a significant amount or not, the toll increase will impact those entering and exiting Bay Area cities; it will make commuters, in particular, think about how much of their paycheck is spent getting to work.