Morning commuters drive through without stopping at the Golden Gate Bridge toll booths on Tuesday March 27, 2013 in San Francisco. The bridge no longer has toll takers with an electronic system that took place at 12 a.m. Wednesday. (Conner Jay/Press Democrat)

Comment sought on Golden Gate Bridge toll hike

MATT BROWN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Golden Gate Bridge officials want to know what Sonoma County drivers think about a toll increase planned for April.

Officials will present four options to raise tolls at a public hearing this evening in Petaluma. All options would raise tolls from the current $6 to $8 by 2018.

One option would increase tolls to $6.50 in April and $7 in 2015. Other options would raise tolls in April to $7. FasTrak rates would remain $1 less than pay-by-plate rates in most of the plans.

The plans would raise between $93 million and $138 million over five years to be used to projects such as painting on the south tower and a moveable median barrier.

The bridge district, which also operates a fleet of buses and ferries between Sonoma and Marin counties and San Francisco, faces a $142 million five-year shortfall.

The meeting is Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at the Petaluma Community Center, 320 North McDowell Blvd.

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