Proposed NorCal bridge tolls to increase from $2/axle to $5/axle

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Author Topic:   Proposed NorCal bridge tolls to increase from $2/axle to $5/axle

WT posted 01-26-2010 11:59 AM ET (US)
It's not a tax increase, we just might have to pay more money to use bridges.
It currently costs me $6 to cross some San Francisco Bay Area bridges towing my single axle 170 Montauk. It's been propesed to inrcease the fee to $15 by 2012. That's only a 150% increase.
Price goes from $2/axle to $5/axle. So if you are towing an 18 Outrage with dual axels it will cost you $20 to cross that bridge.
Is this happening in your area?
Warren
pglein posted 01-26-2010 12:12 PM ET (US)
Here in Washington, the advisory board has recommended raising the cash toll price from $4 to $5 for two axle vehicles crossing the Tacoma Narrows Bridge (the only true toll road in the state). They did not specify the impact for 3+ axle vehicles, but if it follows the current system, it would rise from $8 for a tandem trailer (four axles total) to $9.
It is currently only costs me $5.50 to cross towing my tandem trailer because I participate in the automatic toll collection system which provides a discount to drivers with electronic transponders.
BlueMax posted 01-26-2010 04:48 PM ET (US)
WT - That seems quite excessive on two fronts. 1) The amount of increase and 2) The amount it will cost because of the increase. I wonder what they will do if they price out routine trips for 'the common man.' I can see paying $20 or so to cross the bridge 4 times (maybe even twice if it is a round trip cost, but I would not make the trip as often). But at $20 a pop? Maybe not at all unless it was one way on my way out!
I also wonder how the vote to raise taxes on business and "higher income" folks will effect various rates for 'the common man' in that state should it pass.
BlueMax posted 01-26-2010 04:55 PM ET (US)
I meant in that Oregon state vote.
diveorfish posted 01-26-2010 04:57 PM ET (US)
Bay area folks got the goverment they voted for. I'm surprised its not even higher really. I just feel sorry for the taxpayers in the rest of the state.
WT posted 01-26-2010 06:55 PM ET (US)
The Bay Area Toll Authority is going to consider raising the tolls at their 9:30 am meeting tomorrow. I wonder how they are going to vote?
I won't be surprised if "they"(not the same group) raise fees at all the boat ramps too.
I guess I shouldn't be upset. It's a use fee, I don't have to use the bridge or the ramps. If I want to use it, I have to pay for it.
Warren
Chuck Tribolet posted 01-26-2010 07:32 PM ET (US)
Boat ramp fees are set by a wide variety of folks: Local
government (Monterey and I think Petaluma), State government
(Pt. Lobos State Reserve), I suspect some counties, I suspect
some water districts, and private business (private marinas).
No one can raise ALL the ramps.
WT posted 01-26-2010 07:43 PM ET (US)
It's all about the money.
"They" want and need your money.
A neighbor of mine was stopped at a stop sign in our neighborhood. My neighbor said he stopped at the stop sign in his car before he proceeded. She was ticketed for roolling past the white line at the stop sign before coming to a full stop. She paid a $300 ticket.
Another neighbor got ticketed for parking his car too high on the curb in front of his house. Apparently the tires were a bit on the sidewalk. I don't remember how much the ticket cost.
At the Valley High Country Club last Friday night, ABC comes in and confiscates $1800 for a Super Bowl raffle during their crab feed.
"They" will raise the ramp fees, boating fees, etc.
Warren
David Pendleton posted 01-26-2010 08:54 PM ET (US)
Here in Minnesota, we don't have toll bridges or toll roads; boat ramp fees depend on the owner.
If the ramp is private there is usually a fee. I've used two state-owned ramps on the Mississippi near my house; both were free. I don't know about other state-owned ramps.
My marina charges $15-$25 for non-members to use the ramp.
pglein posted 01-26-2010 09:07 PM ET (US)
I don't pay for boat ramps, period. If they charge to use the ramp, I launch elsewhere. It's the principal of the thing. I pay property taxes for that. I don't need to be charged extra when I use it as well.
frontier posted 01-27-2010 12:11 AM ET (US)
Could future fine or toll amounts in America be levied on your ability to pay?
Saw this in Autoweek:
According to the BBC, a Swiss court fined a millionaire speeder $290,000 for driving a Ferrari through a village at 85 MPH, 35 MPH more than the posted limit. The court levied the fine after determining that the driver - who is also a repeat offender - is worth almost $23 million.
bassguy posted 01-27-2010 08:34 AM ET (US)
people break the law, people pay fines... the problem with this is what?
For those of you unwilling to pay ramp or bridge fees, don't use the damn things, your choice.
Is this thread just complaining for the sake of complaining?
bassguy posted 01-27-2010 08:36 AM ET (US)
[quote]Could future fine or toll amounts in America be levied on your ability to pay?[quote]
someone explain the income tax system (or, property taxes for that matter) to this guy, he evidently hasn't been paying attention.
dnh posted 01-27-2010 01:45 PM ET (US)
We don't have toll bridges around here (South Carolina lowcountry - I specify lowcountry b/c there is a toll interstate spur in the upstate several hours inland).
But we don't have any money to pay tolls either.
BlueMax posted 01-27-2010 03:35 PM ET (US)
dnh - do they take fish?
^@^
WT posted 01-27-2010 03:44 PM ET (US)
The Bay Area Toll Authority unanimously voted to increase tolls. Now that's a shocker.
Warren
nats posted 01-27-2010 04:02 PM ET (US)
Next election VOT THE BUMS OUT.
BlueMax posted 01-27-2010 07:19 PM ET (US)
Can I buy a vowel? Is there an 'E'? ;-)
contender posted 01-27-2010 07:28 PM ET (US)
WT: you have to be kidding me if you thought the government was not going to raise the tolls on the bridges, how do you think they are going to pay for all those new government positions, trips, and airplane rides to sister cities like Denmark....
wezie posted 01-27-2010 08:18 PM ET (US)
I doubt that you can vote them out.
Many of these things are set up by appointment.
"They" are so insulated in Gov. crap you cannot get to them.
Chuck Tribolet posted 01-27-2010 08:21 PM ET (US)
The "Bay Area Toll Authority" http://bata.mtc.ca.gov/
is actually the "Metropolitan Traffic Commission"
http://www.mtc.ca.gov/ wearing a second hat.
They are appointed, not elected, by the mayors of the cities
and the county board of supervisors. You CAN'T vote them out.
You can, however, vote those who appointed them out.
Me, I use the bridges about twice a year, one direction free,
to get to the rendezvous. So I don't give a darn.
I'd rather you NorCal folks got focused on organize an
rendezvous this year.

Chuck
boatdryver posted 01-27-2010 08:37 PM ET (US)
I don't mind if they try to take care of our bridges.
remember the one in Minnesota that fell down.
JimL
WT posted 01-27-2010 08:41 PM ET (US)
I predict that boat registration fees, fishing license fees, trailer license fees, park/lake/camping use fees, ramp fees, and gasoline fees, will have huge rate increases. This is not surprising since California is broke.
I noticed that there were a lot less boaters in my stomping grounds last year. I'll bet that there will be even less boaters this season.
The positive spin is that I will have less crowded waterways to run my 170 Montauk. :-)
Warren
R T M posted 01-27-2010 09:01 PM ET (US)
That may have more to do with folks not having jobs, that raising a few silly fees that don`t amount to squat.

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Author	Topic: Proposed NorCal bridge tolls to increase from $2/axle to $5/axle
WT	posted 01-26-2010 11:59 AM ET (US) It's not a tax increase, we just might have to pay more money to use bridges. It currently costs me $6 to cross some San Francisco Bay Area bridges towing my single axle 170 Montauk. It's been propesed to inrcease the fee to $15 by 2012. That's only a 150% increase. Price goes from $2/axle to $5/axle. So if you are towing an 18 Outrage with dual axels it will cost you $20 to cross that bridge. Is this happening in your area? Warren
pglein	posted 01-26-2010 12:12 PM ET (US) Here in Washington, the advisory board has recommended raising the cash toll price from $4 to $5 for two axle vehicles crossing the Tacoma Narrows Bridge (the only true toll road in the state). They did not specify the impact for 3+ axle vehicles, but if it follows the current system, it would rise from $8 for a tandem trailer (four axles total) to $9. It is currently only costs me $5.50 to cross towing my tandem trailer because I participate in the automatic toll collection system which provides a discount to drivers with electronic transponders.
BlueMax	posted 01-26-2010 04:48 PM ET (US) WT - That seems quite excessive on two fronts. 1) The amount of increase and 2) The amount it will cost because of the increase. I wonder what they will do if they price out routine trips for 'the common man.' I can see paying $20 or so to cross the bridge 4 times (maybe even twice if it is a round trip cost, but I would not make the trip as often). But at $20 a pop? Maybe not at all unless it was one way on my way out! I also wonder how the vote to raise taxes on business and "higher income" folks will effect various rates for 'the common man' in that state should it pass.
BlueMax	posted 01-26-2010 04:55 PM ET (US) I meant in that Oregon state vote.
diveorfish	posted 01-26-2010 04:57 PM ET (US) Bay area folks got the goverment they voted for. I'm surprised its not even higher really. I just feel sorry for the taxpayers in the rest of the state.
WT	posted 01-26-2010 06:55 PM ET (US) The Bay Area Toll Authority is going to consider raising the tolls at their 9:30 am meeting tomorrow. I wonder how they are going to vote? I won't be surprised if "they"(not the same group) raise fees at all the boat ramps too. I guess I shouldn't be upset. It's a use fee, I don't have to use the bridge or the ramps. If I want to use it, I have to pay for it. Warren
Chuck Tribolet	posted 01-26-2010 07:32 PM ET (US) Boat ramp fees are set by a wide variety of folks: Local government (Monterey and I think Petaluma), State government (Pt. Lobos State Reserve), I suspect some counties, I suspect some water districts, and private business (private marinas). No one can raise ALL the ramps.
WT	posted 01-26-2010 07:43 PM ET (US) It's all about the money. "They" want and need your money. A neighbor of mine was stopped at a stop sign in our neighborhood. My neighbor said he stopped at the stop sign in his car before he proceeded. She was ticketed for roolling past the white line at the stop sign before coming to a full stop. She paid a $300 ticket. Another neighbor got ticketed for parking his car too high on the curb in front of his house. Apparently the tires were a bit on the sidewalk. I don't remember how much the ticket cost. At the Valley High Country Club last Friday night, ABC comes in and confiscates $1800 for a Super Bowl raffle during their crab feed. "They" will raise the ramp fees, boating fees, etc. Warren
David Pendleton	posted 01-26-2010 08:54 PM ET (US) Here in Minnesota, we don't have toll bridges or toll roads; boat ramp fees depend on the owner. If the ramp is private there is usually a fee. I've used two state-owned ramps on the Mississippi near my house; both were free. I don't know about other state-owned ramps. My marina charges $15-$25 for non-members to use the ramp.
pglein	posted 01-26-2010 09:07 PM ET (US) I don't pay for boat ramps, period. If they charge to use the ramp, I launch elsewhere. It's the principal of the thing. I pay property taxes for that. I don't need to be charged extra when I use it as well.
frontier	posted 01-27-2010 12:11 AM ET (US) Could future fine or toll amounts in America be levied on your ability to pay? Saw this in Autoweek: According to the BBC, a Swiss court fined a millionaire speeder $290,000 for driving a Ferrari through a village at 85 MPH, 35 MPH more than the posted limit. The court levied the fine after determining that the driver - who is also a repeat offender - is worth almost $23 million.
bassguy	posted 01-27-2010 08:34 AM ET (US) people break the law, people pay fines... the problem with this is what? For those of you unwilling to pay ramp or bridge fees, don't use the damn things, your choice. Is this thread just complaining for the sake of complaining?
bassguy	posted 01-27-2010 08:36 AM ET (US) [quote]Could future fine or toll amounts in America be levied on your ability to pay?[quote] someone explain the income tax system (or, property taxes for that matter) to this guy, he evidently hasn't been paying attention.
dnh	posted 01-27-2010 01:45 PM ET (US) We don't have toll bridges around here (South Carolina lowcountry - I specify lowcountry b/c there is a toll interstate spur in the upstate several hours inland). But we don't have any money to pay tolls either.
BlueMax	posted 01-27-2010 03:35 PM ET (US) dnh - do they take fish? ^@^
WT	posted 01-27-2010 03:44 PM ET (US) The Bay Area Toll Authority unanimously voted to increase tolls. Now that's a shocker. Warren
nats	posted 01-27-2010 04:02 PM ET (US) Next election VOT THE BUMS OUT.
BlueMax	posted 01-27-2010 07:19 PM ET (US) Can I buy a vowel? Is there an 'E'? ;-)
contender	posted 01-27-2010 07:28 PM ET (US) WT: you have to be kidding me if you thought the government was not going to raise the tolls on the bridges, how do you think they are going to pay for all those new government positions, trips, and airplane rides to sister cities like Denmark....
wezie	posted 01-27-2010 08:18 PM ET (US) I doubt that you can vote them out. Many of these things are set up by appointment. "They" are so insulated in Gov. crap you cannot get to them.
Chuck Tribolet	posted 01-27-2010 08:21 PM ET (US) The "Bay Area Toll Authority" http://bata.mtc.ca.gov/ is actually the "Metropolitan Traffic Commission" http://www.mtc.ca.gov/ wearing a second hat. They are appointed, not elected, by the mayors of the cities and the county board of supervisors. You CAN'T vote them out. You can, however, vote those who appointed them out. Me, I use the bridges about twice a year, one direction free, to get to the rendezvous. So I don't give a darn. I'd rather you NorCal folks got focused on organize an rendezvous this year. Chuck
boatdryver	posted 01-27-2010 08:37 PM ET (US) I don't mind if they try to take care of our bridges. remember the one in Minnesota that fell down. JimL
WT	posted 01-27-2010 08:41 PM ET (US) I predict that boat registration fees, fishing license fees, trailer license fees, park/lake/camping use fees, ramp fees, and gasoline fees, will have huge rate increases. This is not surprising since California is broke. I noticed that there were a lot less boaters in my stomping grounds last year. I'll bet that there will be even less boaters this season. The positive spin is that I will have less crowded waterways to run my 170 Montauk. :-) Warren
R T M	posted 01-27-2010 09:01 PM ET (US) That may have more to do with folks not having jobs, that raising a few silly fees that don`t amount to squat.