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.

Bridge toll fees to jump for RV owners

The Bay Area Toll Authority, that has control over the seven state-run toll bridges in teh greater San Francisco Bay Area, will vote Wednesday on whether to increase tolls for multi-axle vehicles. In case that didn't get your attention, chances are if you are an RVer, you drive a multi axle vehicle--which includes trailers, fifth-wheels, and toads.

That means that you would be charged on the same basis that a commercial freight truck driver would pay.

Recreation advocates, which include boaters, campers, and recreational vehicle owners, would be gouged by a toll system that blindly bases charges on the total number of axles. Under the current system, the driver of a two-axle pickup truck towing a three-axle fifth wheel already pays the same--and unfair--$11.25 toll as a commercial big rig and trailer with five axles.

But with the rate increase, this same configuration would jump to $18 after July 20ll and $25 after July 2012. A two-axle motorhome towing a car would see a fee increase from $8.25 to $14 in July of 2011 and $20 in July of 2012.

An irony of this is fee schedule is that a motorhome could unhitch its toad before reaching the toll plaza and drive both vehicles over the bridge paying only $5 per vehicle, total $10, or half what towing it across would cost. If that make no sense to you, $20 to cross a bridge is even more senseless--unless the "rich" recreational vehicle owner is being selected to fill the coffers of the bridge department.

Toll Authority members say state law requires them to base tolls on the number of axles. The idea is that more axles means more weight and more wear and tear on highways and bridges, said Rod McMillan, the toll authority director of bridge oversight and operations. Oh yeah, my motorhome and toad inflicts the same wear and tear as a commercial big rig!

If this plan works, I can see bridge directors in other states passing their own fee increases and salivating over how many RV owners they can now soak for ridiculously high tolls.