Golden Gate Bridge toll would hit $10 under proposed increases

Golden Gate Bridge officials will consider four options for another five-year round of toll increases that would break the $10 mark for all drivers as the agency faces financial struggles.

Last week, the board governing the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District authorized staff to hold two online “open houses” before taking the proposal to a vote at a public hearing.

District officials say they are facing a $220 million budget shortfall over the next five years if tolls are not increased.

“At the open houses, the public will learn about the financial needs and will be asked to comment on the four toll increase options,” Jennifer Mennucci, the district’s budget director, said Thursday at a meeting of the finance committee.

“Staff looked at a variety of toll options, and the ones proposed produce approximately half — a little more, a little less — of the projected $220 million five-year shortfall,” Mennucci said.

The online forums are scheduled for noon Feb. 14 and 7 p.m. Feb. 15. The public hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 22 in the board room at the Golden Gate Bridge administration building in San Francisco. The board approved the schedule at its meeting on Friday.

For the fiscal year that ended June 30, toll revenue — about half of which funds transit activity — was about $146 million. That revenue is expected to remain flat over the next year, even with the 35-cent increase that took effect in July. That’s because violation policies have changed, and the district is projecting less revenue from infractions, staff said.

The toll for two-axle vehicles is $9.75. The tolls for drivers with FasTrak, who make up the majority of bridge users, is $8.75. For drivers who have a “pay as you go” account, which includes drivers who register their license plates or set up a one-time payment through the district, the toll is $9.

The rates represent the final increase in the five-year toll hike plan that started in 2019.

Looking ahead, each of the new proposals envisions a five-year plan beginning on July 1. The first option would set a 50-cent annual increase, raising about $139 million over five years. The second option is a 40-cent annual bump that would collect about $114 million over the same time period.

Option three involves a 4% annual increase, raising about $107 million. This option would add 35 cents annually in the first two years, then 40 cents per year in the remaining three years.

Option four is another 35-cent annual increase that would generate about $101 million over five years.

The effects of the pandemic are lingering, staff said. Although the district received $278 million in pandemic relief, those funds will be exhausted by the end of the fiscal year. The 10-year forecast shows a $679 million deficit if tolls aren’t increased, staff said.