Carpools to pay Golden Gate tolls for 1st time

OFF THE WIRE
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_15183606 Carpools to pay Golden Gate tolls for 1st time The Associated Press Posted: 05/28/2010 01:47:42 PM PDT
SAN FRANCISCO—San Francisco Bay area carpoolers are losing one of the perks of commuting as a group. The board that governs the Golden Gate Bridge voted Friday to charge vehicles with three or more people $3 to cross the span during commute hours starting July 1.
Carpools and motorcycles currently get free passage across the bridge except on holidays.
The new toll is half what vehicles with two or fewer people pay, but carpools and motorcycles only will be eligible for the reduced price if they have a FastTrak electronic payment transponder.
The move puts Golden Gate carpool fares on par with the Bay Area's seven state-owned bridges. Carpoolers also are going to have to start paying tolls on those bridges come July 1.