Bay Curious Your Bay Area Transit Questions, Answered: Bridge Tolls, Lane Closures and Vanity Plates Too
Mar 20, 2025
Dan Brekke, a seasoned KQED reporter with over 20 years of experience in Bay Area transportation, joins the discussion. He answers burning questions like where all the toll money from Bay Area bridges goes. Brekke uncovers the reasons for the long-closed toll booth on the Bay Bridge and explains why many interstates end in '80.' The conversation also dives into the surge of vanity plates in California, revealing intriguing trends and regional differences. Listeners will find practical insights and quirky facts about their local transit system!
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Bridge Toll Allocation
- Bay Area bridge tolls fund bridge maintenance and other transit projects.
- This includes BART's new cars, bike paths, and projects decided by Regional Measures 1, 2, and 3.
Closed Toll Booth Story
- A closed Bay Bridge toll booth resulted from a fatal 2017 truck accident.
- Caltrans opted against rebuilding due to extensive damage and planned toll plaza replacement with open-road tolling.
Bay Bridge Carpool Lane
- Using the Bay Bridge's bus-only lane outside carpool hours is illegal.
- While photo tolls don't enforce carpool rules, CHP can issue fines if they catch violators.