The tolls on the Golden Gate Bridge jumped on Labor Day to five
bucks from $3. According to The (San Francisco) Examiner, drivers
are very unhappy with the change even though it is the first increase
in 11 years.
The toll increase is part of a five-year plan to reduce a projected
$441 million deficit the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway, and Transportation
District is facing. On June 27, district directors voted overwhelmingly
to support the jump. Bridge maintenance and daily operation of the
bridge has an annual budget of $39 million, which is funded by tolls.
Mary Currie, spokesperson for the Bridge division of the transportation
department, said there is a way to get a discount off the new $5
toll. Users of the FasTrak electronic toll-paying system are charged
only $4, Currie said. Since the bridge directors voted in the toll
increase more than 5,000 people have signed up.
Reportedly, the directors also are considering waiving the toll
altogether for environmentally conscious "green" cars.
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