Overview
The San Francisco Bay Area toll bridges consist of eight toll bridges. The seven state-owned bridges, Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Richmond-San Rafael, Dumbarton, San Mateo Hayward and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, are owned and operated by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). State toll bridge operations are funded by toll revenues, which are administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, acting as the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA). The Golden Gate Bridge is operated and funded by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (GGBHTD).

All eight toll bridges are equipped with Electronic Toll Collection (ETC), which has been dubbed “FasTrak™” in California. All bridges have toll collection systems that include both manual and FasTrak capabilities. All of the seven state-owned bridges have at least one FasTrak-only lane in operation, and the Golden Gate Bridge has up to four FasTrak-only lanes in operation at a time.

California Department of Transportation
Under legislation, Caltrans owns, operates, and maintains the seven state bridges in the Bay Area and is responsible for administration and oversight of the $1 seismic surcharge. For more information about Caltrans visit http://www.dot.ca.gov/.

In 2001, FasTrak was implemented on all seven state-owned toll bridges. Up until recently, Caltrans had been responsible for operating and maintaining the FasTrak system at the toll plazas, as well as operating their FasTrak Customer Service Center for the state-owned bridges. However, when the service center contract expired on December 31, 2003, Caltrans transferred the service center responsibilities to the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA).

Bay Area Toll Authority
BATA was established in January 1998 as the entity responsible for programming, administering and allocating the revenue generated by the $1 base toll on the seven state-owned Bay Area toll bridges. Caltrans retains ownership and operational management of the bridges.

In December 2003, Caltrans authorized BATA to take over the operations of their FasTrak Customer Service Center in Concord, and both Caltrans and GGBHTD authorized BATA to consolidate both Customer Service Centers into a single regional operation – scheduled to open around June 2005. The consolidation effort is intended to achieve cost savings; provide uniform, consistent customer service to Bay Area FasTrak patrons, irrespective of the bridge used; and enhance the FasTrak Program.

For more information about BATA, visit http://www.mtc.ca.gov/bata/

Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District
The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (GGBHTD), San Francisco, CA, maintains and operates the 1.7 mile-long Golden Gate Bridge which links the City of San Francisco with the California counties to the north. Tolls are collected southbound only (into San Francisco). GGBHTD is a special district of the State of California formed in 1928 as the entity to build, maintain and operate the Golden Gate Bridge. GGBHTD is a pubic agency and funds its operations through bridge tolls, bus and ferry transit fares, limited government grant funds and other sources such as advertising and concessions. GGBHTD also operates two integrated public transit systems: Golden Gate Transit and Golden Gate Ferry. For more information about Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Transit, and Golden Gate Ferry visit http://www.goldengate.org.

On July 13, 2000, FasTrak™ was fully implemented in all 11 toll lanes. Currently, 3 or 4 of the 11 toll lanes are dedicated for use by FasTrak customers only, during peak traffic periods.

Metropolitan Transportation Commission
MTC is the transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. Created by the state Legislature in 1970, MTC functions as both the regional transportation planning agency -- a state designation -- and for federal purposes, as the region's metropolitan planning organization.

In recent years, MTC also has added to its activities some "hands-on" projects to promote the efficient monitoring and operation of the regional transportation network through programs such as, 511 Traveler Information, TransLink®, Call Boxes, and the Freeway Service Patrol.

In January 1998, MTC was also designated to serve as BATA’s policy board and to staff the toll authority. In its role as BATA, MTC also operates the FasTrak Customer Service Center.

For more information about MTC, visit http://www.mtc.ca.gov.