To save money, board cuts 3 lines, reduces 1; ends free passage across bridge for car pools, motorcycles

It will soon become harder for North Bay residents to get to San Francisco and San Rafael using public transportation, after Golden Gate Transit on Friday eliminated or reduced four bus routes.

Carpoolers also lost a financial perk as the board that governs the Golden Gate Bridge made moves to help close a $132 million, five-year shortfall.

The board voted to charge vehicles carrying three or more people $3 to cross the span during commute hours starting July 1. Car pools and motorcycles currently get free passage across the bridge except on holidays.

The bus routes cut were:

Route 72, direct service from Santa Rosa to the San Francisco Civic Center. The move is expected to save $130,200. Alternate service will be available on the 72's route to the Financial District, which requires transferring to a shuttle at the bridge toll plaza.

All seven Route 73 trips to the Civic Center. But a new route, 101X, will offer two southbound trips and one northbound trip daily. The change is expected to save $306,500.

Route 75 to San Rafael. The bridge district staff said that Route 101 is an alternate bus for travelers from Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park and Cotati. Eliminating the route is expected to save $233,000 a year.

Some Route 76 service to the Civic Center. Two trips to the Civic Center and returning to Santa Rosa were cut. Like the 72, the alternate route for eliminated 76 trips will also be the route's Financial District trip, requiring change to a shuttle at the toll plaza. The changes are expected to save $121,500 a year.

The reasoning behind the changes was low ridership, the bridge district staff said in their report to the board.

For example, Route 72's trips south average 16 passengers, Route 73's trips to the Civic Center average from 17 to 39 passengers, and ridership on the Route 75 bus to San Rafael averages fewer than 16 passengers per trip.

At the toll plaza, the new $3 toll is half what vehicles with two or fewer people pay, but car pools and motorcycles will be eligible for the reduced price only 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 starting July 1.