A Alas, no. There are no plans to convert current lanes on the bridge for carpools or buses. Caltrans believes any such changes would worsen delays on Highway 92 and cause more congestion on Interstate 880.
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Bridge Facts At-A-Glance.
| Location: | State Route 92 between San Mateo and Alameda counties |
|---|---|
| Carpools: | $3.50 |
| Collection: | One way, westbound in Hayward |
| Traffic Lanes: | Three in each direction |
| FY 2020-21 Total Toll-Paid Vehicles: | 13,434,159 |
Is carpool free on San Mateo bridge?
Qualified carpool vehicles that use a designated carpool lane will pay a reduced-price toll of $3.50 during carpool hours, 5:00 am to 10:00 am and 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
Can FasTrak use carpool lane?
FasTrak allows you to use express lanes, qualify for carpool and bridge toll discounts, cross toll bridges without having to stop at the tollbooth and even pay for parking at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
How much is carpool Bay Bridge?
$7. Weekday Peak Carpools: $3.50.
What is carpool on Bay Bridge?
Carpool lanes, also known as High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, allow carpools, vanpools, buses, motorcycles, and eligible clean air vehicles(opens in a new window) to drive in them during their designated commute hours. Other vehicles are not allowed.
What time is carpool on the Bay Bridge?
Qualified carpool vehicles that use a designated carpool lane will pay a reduced-price toll of $3.50 during carpool hours, 5:00 am to 10:00 am and 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The following vehicles qualify to use the carpool lane: 2-axle vehicles, without a trailer, carrying 3 or more people.
Do you need FasTrak flex for carpool?
Yes. A FasTrak Flex or FasTrak CAV toll tag is required to receive carpool discounts in the SR-237 express lanes. To qualify as a carpool, a vehicle must have two or more passengers. Both tags have a three-position switch that must be set in position 2 or position 3+, depending on the number of people in the vehicle.
Can you cross Bay Bridge without FasTrak?
As of January 2021, state-owned bridges will use an invoice system and drivers will receive an invoice if they do not pay with a FasTrak toll tag, a License Plate Account, or a One-Time Payment. The best way to avoid violations is to sign up for a FasTrak account.
How much is the San Mateo bridge toll?
$7Bridge Facts At-A-GlanceLocation:State Route 92 between San Mateo and Alameda countiesAuto Toll:$7Carpools:$3.50Collection:One way, westbound in HaywardTraffic Lanes:Three in each direction8 more rows•Jan 1, 2022
How do you pay for the San Mateo bridge?
There are four ways to pay bridge tolls: FasTrak®, License Plate Account, One-Time Payment, and Invoice. Tolls on all Seven Bay Area state owned bridges have increased as of January 1, 2022.
How many people is carpool on the Bay bridge?
Casual carpooling allows cars with three or more people going westbound on the Bay Bridge in the morning to take advantage of the high occupancy vehicle lanes, save time at the toll plaza and get the double bonus of a reduced bridge toll. There are more than 20 casual carpool pick-up locations.
What happens if you accidentally get on the express lane in California?
If you use an express lane without a valid FasTrak toll tag, you will receive a violation notice. The following is a schedule of toll evasion penalties: First notice issued: $25 penalty. Second (delinquent) notice issued: $70 ($25 penalty plus $45 late fee).
How does FasTrak know how many people are in the car?
The toll tag switch positions are used to tell the toll system the number of occupants in the vehicle, so the correct toll amount is collected. The switch positions also assist with California Highway Patrol (CHP) enforcement of express lane use.
How does FasTrak detect carpool?
When a FasTrak Flex or FasTrak CAV toll tag is set in position 2 or position 3+, CHP is alerted that the vehicle is using the express lane as a carpool-eligible vehicle. CHP will visually confirm whether the vehicle qualifies for carpool status; if not, CHP may pull the vehicle over.
How does FasTrak know how many people you have in your car?
FasTrak knows if you are a carpool when you toggle your FasTrak Flex switch from 1 Person to 2 or 3+ people. By doing this, the driver sends a signal to the electronic gantries that there are other occupants in the car.
What happens if you accidentally get on the express lane in California?
If you use an express lane without a valid FasTrak toll tag, you will receive a violation notice. The following is a schedule of toll evasion penalties: First notice issued: $25 penalty. Second (delinquent) notice issued: $70 ($25 penalty plus $45 late fee).
Is FasTrak free for 3 people?
Carpools of two people receive a 50% discount on the toll. Carpools with 3+ people, motorcycles, 2-seater vehicles carrying 2 people and vanpools may travel toll free.
What are the express lanes in the Bay Area?
Carpool Lanes and Express Lanes. All Bay Area bridges have carpool lanes, and several Bay Area corridors have designated express lanes allowing carpools, other qualified vehicles and solo-occupant vehicles that pay a toll to bypass traffic congestion.
What are the markings on the pavement for express lanes?
Express lanes are usually identified with white pavement markings as well as signage above and next to the lanes. Carpool lanes are identified with white diamonds on the pavement and signage above and alongside the roadway.
How many passengers can you cross the bridge with a vanpool?
Qualifying Vanpools with 11–15 passengers that are registered with the Bay Area Vanpool Program can also cross bridges toll free. For more information on how to qualify, visit the Bay Area Vanpool Program (opens in a new window) or call 511, and say "Vanpool" to speak with a vanpool consultant.
Can you use a FasTrak tag on Bay Area express lanes?
Clean Air Vehicles (CAVs) with current DMV-issued decals (opens in a new window) and the correct FasTrak toll tag are eligible to travel toll free or at a discounted rate on Bay Area express lanes and state-owned bridges in the carpool lane (excluding the Golden Gate Bridge). Learn more about discounts available to clean air vehicles.
Does FasTrak offer tolls?
FasTrak offers toll discounts to carpools, motorcycles and eligible clean air vehicles during designated commute hours on all Bay Area bridges and toll-free travel for carpools and other qualified vehicles in express lanes throughout the day. Learn more about carpool requirements for Bay Area bridges and express lanes.
When was the San Mateo Hayward Bridge widened?
Once one of the busiest evening commutes in the Bay Area, the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge saw enormous improvements in traffic flow with the completion of the bridge’s widening in January 2003.
When did Caltrans retrofit the bridge?
The seismic safety of the bridge was increased by Caltrans’ completion of its bridge retrofit project in 2000.
When was the Interstate 880/State Route 92 interchange completed?
As part of the effort to improve traffic flow and to relieve congestion on the bridge and the roads that lead to it, the RM1-funded Interstate 880/State Route 92 interchange in Hayward was completed in October 2011.
When was Measure 1 approved?
Regional Measure 1, approved by Bay Area voters in 1988, raised tolls on the Bay Area’s seven state-owned toll bridges to fund bridge improvements and parkway construction.
What is the San Mateo Hayward Bridge?
Crossing the San Francisco Bay on State Route 92, the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge carries vehicular traffic between San Mateo and Alameda counties. The Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) collects tolls on the seven state-owned toll bridges in the Bay Area. As of Friday January 1, all seven of the Bay Area’s state owned bridges ...
Is the Bay Area bridge all electronic?
As of Friday January 1, all seven of the Bay Area’s state owned bridges have permanently transition to all-electronic tolling. (opens in a new window) . You can use either FasTrak. (opens in a new window) to pay your toll, or set up a License Plate Account.
Why won't MTC reveal the site of the tests?
MTC officials won’t reveal the site of the tests for fear of vandalism or theft of equipment and concern that cheaters might change their behavior if they’re aware they’re being watched. Just as no citations based on the testing are being issued, no license-plate data are being recorded, either, Rentschler said.
What is the camera technology being tested?
The camera technology being tested comes from one of three firms with systems that MTC has decided to look at. All three claim their automated systems can snap photos of a passing vehicle, accurately count the number of passengers and send citations to violators. All three will be tested in turn.
What are the tools used to count passengers?
The systems employ a variety of tools to enable them to look inside vehicles, even through dark-tinted windshields, to count passengers. They include standard and infrared cameras that can detect human skin, systems that illuminate images to make them easier to read and geometric algorithms.
What is the CHP?
The CHP, the agency now tasked with carpool, or high-occupancy, lane enforcement, does it the old-fashioned way, looking into vehicles and pulling over drivers they suspect of cheating. But it’s difficult for an officer to accurately and quickly count occupants, and there’s frequently no safe place on freeways to pull drivers over.
Can carpool cameras count occupants?
To sell legislators on the idea for carpool lanes, transportation officials will have to show not only that the cameras can count the occupants accurately, but that they can differentiate a dog or a well-dressed dummy from a human passenger, as well as detecting a sleeping infant in a rear-facing carrier in the back seat, Rentschler said.
Where is the busiest carpooling lanes in the Bay Area?
Drivers interviewed last week at a Berkeley gas station near Interstate 80, which has the Bay Area’s busiest carpool lanes, agreed with the need for better enforcement, but some were leery.
Does the California Highway Patrol enforce carpool lane?
In recent months, the California Highway Patrol has increased enforcement , assigning dedicated strike teams working overtime shifts to catch the cheats, but the agency has been unable to abate the problem. Lanes created to move at a decent clip are sometimes as sluggish as the regular lanes, triggering rising frustration in drivers legitimately using the carpool lane and in those stuck in the slower lanes watching cheaters pass them by.
