Politics & Government

July 1: Free Ride for Hybrids Ends

And more: Beginning Friday, bridges and transit agencies around the region see increases; carpool lanes will become just for carpools.

Kiss that carpool lane goodbye, hybrid owners. Unless, of course, you really have passengers.

Taking Caltrain to San Francisco or elsewhere? Riders will start paying an extra 25 cents for every additional zone of travel next month.

These and other changes go into effect Friday, July 1, for those who are keep track of transportation costs, from bridge crossings to bus and lightrail transit.

Find out what's happening in Los Gatoswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Hybrid owners who have enjoyed carpool lane freedom on highways and at bridge toll booths will see that perk end.

Caltrain's extra bump will bring a round-trip day pass from Zone 3 to Zone 1 in San Francisco to $13.50 up from $13, according to Caltrain. The one-way, four-hour fare to the city will go from $6.50 to $6.75.

Find out what's happening in Los Gatoswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The changes include:

  • CaltrainEach zone traveled will cost an additional 25 cents
  • San Francisco MUNI: $2 more for a monthly pass; $1 more for seniors. Cable car rides are up to $6.
  • Golden Gate Transit: 25 percent more for the Larkspur ferry and busses. Sausalito ferries are up $1. Special ferries will cost $8.75 a trip.
  • Bridge tolls: Vehicles with more than two axles will pay between $10.50–$24.25 on state-owned bridges. Tolls on the Golden Gate Bridge will be between $13–$31 for more than two axles.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is bumping up the prices of items including monthly passes, cable car fares and parking permits.

The cost of the Muni monthly passes will increase by $2 for adults, and $1 for seniors, youths and the disabled. Cable car fares are jumping from $5 to $6, while the city's annual parking permits are increasing by $2, according to Muni officials.

Golden Gate Transit buses and ferries will also become more expensive to ride.The bus fares and Larkspur ferry fares are increasing by 5 percent. Sausalito ferry riders will now pay an additional $1 on their fare, and the fare for special event ferries to AT&T Park in San Francisco is increasing to $8.75, according to the transit district.

On Bay Area bridges, tolls will increase for vehicles with more than two axles, including big-rigs and cars with boats or other trailers attached to them.

On the region's seven state-owned bridges, the new toll will range from $10.50 to $24.25, depending on the number of axles, while the Golden Gate Bridge's tolls for multi-axle vehicles will rise to between $13 and $31, with discounts available for FasTrak users.

Also starting Friday, hybrid car drivers will lose a perk of driving their fuel-efficient vehicles.

Since 2004, solo drivers of hybrid vehicles with yellow clean-air stickers have been able to drive in carpool lanes, but that privilege will no longer be afforded, according to the state's Department of Motor Vehicles.

All-electric vehicles with white stickers will still be able to drive solo in the carpool lanes until 2015, according to the DMV.

The various increases are the result of local and state agencies trying to close large budget deficits as the new fiscal year begins Friday.

The SFMTA faced a $45 million budget shortfall this year, while the Golden Gate Bridge District faces a five-year deficit of $89 million.

—By Eric Gneckow and Bay City News


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