Caltrans News Release
District 4
Harry Yahata, District Director


November 6, 2000
 

Contact:

Greg Bayol (510) 286-6169
Colin Jones (510) 286-5776

 

Caltrans Urges Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Commuters
to Sign Up for FasTrak --
Electronic Toll Collection Begins November 15

 

The FasTrak electronic toll collection system will begin operation at the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge before the morning commute on Wednesday, November 15, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced today.

Toll Booth #5 at the right center of the toll plaza will be dedicated to FasTrak 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are seven toll lanes at the bridge.

"Everything is a go," said Caltrans Director Jeff Morales. "Next week, motorists with the FasTrak tag will have the convenience of electronic toll collection at the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. We are encouraging bridge users to obtain a tag so they can enjoy the benefits that FasTrak offers."

For quickest service, applications for FasTrak can be obtained from the Internet at www.dot.ca.gov/fastrak. Applications can also be mailed or faxed by contacting FasTrak at 888-725-TRAK or visit the Service Center at:

Park N' Shop Shopping Center
1849 Willow Pass Road
Concord, CA 94520-2532

The system is being installed on all other toll bridges in the Bay Area and at least one dedicated lane will be operational on each of the spans as follows:

  • November 29 on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge,
  • December 20 on the Dumbarton Bridge,
  • December 31 on the San Mateo-Hayward and Antioch Bridges.

FasTrak has been in place at the Benicia-Martinez Bridge for nine days and the Carquinez Bridge since 1997. So far, Caltrans has issued 27,000 transponders to commuters with new accounts averaging 400 per day.

Also, FasTrak system transponders for Caltrans toll bridges will be compatible with the Golden Gate Bridge and vice versa.

"We're pleased that the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge is the next one to get FasTrak and expect many of these commuters will use our bridge as well," said Golden Gate Bridge Manager Kary Witt.

Motorists who primarily use the Golden Gate Bridge are asked to sign up for FasTrak by calling 1-877-GGB-TOLL. Those who cross the state-owned toll bridges like the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge more frequently should apply for FasTrak at 1-888-725-TRAK.

FasTrak customers receive a small wireless transponder that is easy to install on the windshield inside the vehicle. Each time you travel in the designated FasTrak lane, an overhead antenna reads the transponder and debits the toll amount from a pre-paid or credit card account.

Caltrans is a department within the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency that operates and maintains California's transportation system. For more information about the department, please visit our website at www.dot.ca.gov. Information about the Business Transportation and Housing Agency is available on the Internet at www.bth.ca.gov.

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