Bay Area bridges jack auto rates -- trailers okay for a year

OAKLAND, California -- If Tony Bennett has plans of taking his RV across any of the five county-operated Bay Bridges, he may be leaving more than just his heart in San Francisco. A rate increase slated for July 1 may mean leaving a few more dollars behind, too.

Effective July 1, vehicles with two axles (which could include some motorhomes) will see a jump in crossing fees--and throw in the mix is a new factor for some: Congestion pricing — also known as time-of-day pricing — on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, which is by far the region's busiest toll bridge. Beginning July 1, two axle vehicle tolls on the Bay Bridge will vary from $4 during weekday off-peak hours, to $5 all day on Saturdays and Sundays, to $6 from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. The regular two-axle toll will rise to $5 at all times on the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward bridges.

For vehicles with more than two axles (motorhomes or rigs towing trailers), the rate increases won't catch up with you until next year. On July 1, 2011, a two-axle rig pulling a tandem axle trailer (making the unit a four axle vehicle) will see the crossing fees jump from the current $8.25 to $14.00. Evidently time of day has no effect on the rate for rigs with more than two axles. To mix it up even more, come July 2012, vehicles with more than two axles will be charged a rate of $5 per axle, making our hypothetical RV here cost $20.00 to cross.