2 Fee Increases Will Impact Bay Area Commuters Starting Thursday

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Commuters in the Bay Area can expect to pay higher bridge tolls and BART fares starting Thursday, Jan. 1.

The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward bridges will see a 50-cent increase beginning on Jan. 1, 2026, officials with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission said Monday.

This is the first of five phases in the price increase on these Bay Area bridges through 2030, officials said.

The funds from these toll increases will go towards the maintenance and rehabilitation of the bridges.

SEE ALSO: BART Fares, Parking Rates To Increase Soon

Tolls for two-axle cars will increase from $8 to $8.50, while large freight trucks or other vehicles with three or more axles will pay 50 cents more per axle on top of the increase, officials said.

A tiered toll system will be implemented by 2027, which will see FasTrak drivers pay $9 and non-FasTrak users pay $10 for driving through those lanes, officials said.

By 2030, FasTrak drivers can expect to pay $10.50, while drivers with pre-registered license plate accounts will pay $10.75 and everyone else will pay $11.50, officials said.

The Golden Gate Bridge, which is operated by its own district, has already seen increasing toll prices. Regular drivers saw toll prices rise from $10.25 to $10.75 in July, while FasTrak users saw an increase from $9.25 to $9.75.

Further increases are planned at the Golden Gate Bridge. By 2028, drivers crossing the bridge can expect to pay anywhere from $11.25 to $12.25, depending on their method of payment.

People taking public transportation will also see increased costs starting Thursday.

BART officials say rider fares will increase 6.2% in 2026. That means the average fare will see a 30-cent increase from $4.88 to $5.18, according to the agency.

Shorter trips, such as those from Downtown Berkeley to 19th Street in Oakland, will increase by around 15 cents. But a longer trip, from Antioch to Montgomery, will increase by 55 cents, according to BART officials.

The funds from the increase will fund the agency's operations and help it work towards restoring its financial stability.

This increase comes as the agency says it is facing a "fiscal cliff." The agency previously announced it is continuing to operate despite facing a $350-400 million deficit.

Daily parking fees, meanwhile, will increase by 40 cents at most stations to account for inflation and parking demand, officials said. Higher demand stations, including Glen Park, MacArthur, Rockridge and Walnut Creek, will see prices increase by 30%.

“As we ask the region for greater investments and support for BART while also making internal cuts to reduce costs, we also must ask our riders to contribute more towards their trips,” BART Board President Mark Foley said in a statement earlier this month. “We will continue our commitment to enhance efficiencies and implement strict cost controls.”