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April 12, 2010 By Karen Wilkinson
Photo courtesy the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District
With hopes of closing a projected $132 million deficit and decreasing congestion, the operator of San Francisco's world-famous Golden Gate Bridge is considering moving toward a cashless toll system.
The Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District on Friday, April 9, approved the study of a plan to have all tolls electronically collected by 2013. If approved, the bejeweled landmark would be the first California bridge with unmanned, electronic-only tolling booths, according to John Goodwin, spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Bay Area (Calif.) Toll Authority.
"It's certainly a trend, there's no question about that," he said. "At this point, the challenges are technological rather than administrative."
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Many people who live in the Bay Area do not have transponders because they infrequently cross the bridges. I know they're saying they intend to use 'license plate cameras' and presumably they will send invoices to the addresses related to the registration of those vehicles, requesting a check for payment- but what will it cost to process these? Will they actually realize a savings? And what about the problems already seen with red light cameras on intersections and the lack of accuracy in those image collection systems? Sounds like a typical case of tripping over dollar bills to pick up nickels to me.
Many people who live in the Bay Area do not have transponders because they infrequently cross the bridges. I know they're saying they intend to use 'license plate cameras' and presumably they will send invoices to the addresses related to the registration of those vehicles, requesting a check for payment- but what will it cost to process these? Will they actually realize a savings? And what about the problems already seen with red light cameras on intersections and the lack of accuracy in those image collection systems? Sounds like a typical case of tripping over dollar bills to pick up nickels to me.
Many people who live in the Bay Area do not have transponders because they infrequently cross the bridges. I know they're saying they intend to use 'license plate cameras' and presumably they will send invoices to the addresses related to the registration of those vehicles, requesting a check for payment- but what will it cost to process these? Will they actually realize a savings? And what about the problems already seen with red light cameras on intersections and the lack of accuracy in those image collection systems? Sounds like a typical case of tripping over dollar bills to pick up nickels to me.
Being a FasTrak user myself, I fully appreciate the system's convenience, and the cost savings it could bring to the City and State. However, I do feel it would be a mistake to eliminate all possibility of using cash to cross the bridge. There will always be a portion of the populace that leads very low-tech lives, without the desire or need to purchase a FasTrak. I think they should be able to cross the bridge without receiving a bill later, which can turn into a bigger hassle down the line for issues of non-payment, etc.
Being a FasTrak user myself, I fully appreciate the system's convenience, and the cost savings it could bring to the City and State. However, I do feel it would be a mistake to eliminate all possibility of using cash to cross the bridge. There will always be a portion of the populace that leads very low-tech lives, without the desire or need to purchase a FasTrak. I think they should be able to cross the bridge without receiving a bill later, which can turn into a bigger hassle down the line for issues of non-payment, etc.
Being a FasTrak user myself, I fully appreciate the system's convenience, and the cost savings it could bring to the City and State. However, I do feel it would be a mistake to eliminate all possibility of using cash to cross the bridge. There will always be a portion of the populace that leads very low-tech lives, without the desire or need to purchase a FasTrak. I think they should be able to cross the bridge without receiving a bill later, which can turn into a bigger hassle down the line for issues of non-payment, etc.
How will they collect tolls from out-of-state residents and/or rental vehicles?
How will they collect tolls from out-of-state residents and/or rental vehicles?
How will they collect tolls from out-of-state residents and/or rental vehicles?
I imagine that non-fastrak users who have expired registration may find extra fines included when they receive their toll bill. Fastrak and Video LP identification are already being used to track suspects' whereabouts - now they can also use it to crack down on unregistered vehicles and for BOLO suspects.
I imagine that non-fastrak users who have expired registration may find extra fines included when they receive their toll bill. Fastrak and Video LP identification are already being used to track suspects' whereabouts - now they can also use it to crack down on unregistered vehicles and for BOLO suspects.
I imagine that non-fastrak users who have expired registration may find extra fines included when they receive their toll bill. Fastrak and Video LP identification are already being used to track suspects' whereabouts - now they can also use it to crack down on unregistered vehicles and for BOLO suspects.
I only travel to San Francisco once a year. What an inconvenience having to buy a fastrack pass when I can just hand $6.00 to a toll taker once a year. The problem that is causing the deficit is that the Golden Gate Bridge District is also supporting the Larkspur ferry.
I only travel to San Francisco once a year. What an inconvenience having to buy a fastrack pass when I can just hand $6.00 to a toll taker once a year. The problem that is causing the deficit is that the Golden Gate Bridge District is also supporting the Larkspur ferry.
I only travel to San Francisco once a year. What an inconvenience having to buy a fastrack pass when I can just hand $6.00 to a toll taker once a year. The problem that is causing the deficit is that the Golden Gate Bridge District is also supporting the Larkspur ferry.
Where do I get the special Tag for cash in Southern California so I don't have to shell out huge bucks for FasTrak to cross a bridge and get bills. Think I'll go to Vegas instead and skip the Southern Oregon Coast also.