New Tolls & Lower Speed Limits Coming to Bay Area Freeways?
Thank you SFGATE for letting us know that new tolls are reportedly coming to ‘many if not most’ Bay Area freeways.
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. Earlier this month, the agency sent a letter to all nine Bay Area counties stating that they envision an “eventual transition to congestion pricing on all freeway lanes in corridors with robust transit options.”
The letter states the implementation of congestion pricing on all lanes of many, if not most, Bay Area freeways. It also includes the goal of lowering the speed limit to 55 mph on freeways to improve safety. The target date is not until 2035, but the study may begin as soon as 2022.
These changes are suggested to help the final Plan Bay Area 2050 meet the 19 percent reduction in per-capita greenhouse gas emissions mandated by state law.
MTC is asking the nine Bay Area counties to sign off on the letter, so it can be included in the Plan Bay Area 2050 draft blueprint.
