The State : Bay Area Tolls to Rise Sunday

Drivers in the San Francisco Bay Area are bracing for a flurry of toll increases that take effect Sunday. Voters approved the increases Nov. 8 when they overwhelmingly passed a proposal to raise tolls to pay for bridge-related highway improvements. The measure covers all seven state-owned bridges. The toll on the Golden Gate Bridge, which is owned by a special district and was not affected by the ballot proposal, will increase to $2 every day starting Jan. 2. Books of 16 $1.25 discount tickets are on sale at about 100 outlets. The funds are targeted for improvements in bus and ferry service. The increases will bring the toll to $1 on all seven state bridges. Current tolls are 75 cents on the Dumbarton, San Mateo and San Francisco-Oakland bridges, 40 cents on the Carquinez and Benicia bridges, 50 cents on the Antioch bridge and $1 on the Richmond bridge.