Regional Measure 1
When it comes to transportation funding, even a few cents can make a big difference. Regional Measure 1 (RM 1) financed major bridge and roadway improvements all around the Bay Area.
Regional Measure 1 (RM 1) — approved by voters in 1988 — established a uniform $1 base toll on the Bay Area’s seven state-owned toll bridges. The cost of these tolls varied widely before the RM 1 increase took effect on Jan. 1, 1989.
The Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) used the new revenue to support bond issues to finance:
- Richmond Parkway construction — 2001
- New westbound Carquinez Bridge — 2003
- San Mateo-Hayward Bridge widening — 2003
- State Route 84-Bayfront Expressway widening — 2004
- Richmond-San Rafael Bridge rehab — 2006
- New northbound Benicia-Martinez Bridge — 2007
- Southbound Benicia-Martinez Bridge rehab — 2008
- Interstate 880/State Route 92 interchange replacement — 2011
While all RM 1 projects are now complete, BATA continues to tap the RM 1 revenue stream to service the debt used to finance the program.
The Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) manages the toll revenues from the Bay Area’s seven state-owned bridges and the FasTrak® electronic toll payment system.
The California Department of Transportation completed two RM1 projects before the state Legislature established the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) in 1998:
- Widening of the original 1962 Benicia-Martinez Bridge
- West Grand Avenue connector to Bay Bridge
Tolls at the Bay Area’s state-owned toll bridges varied widely before the RM1 increase took effect on Jan. 1, 1989:
- Antioch — 50 cents
- Benicia-Martinez — 40 cents
- Carquinez — 40 cents
- Dumbarton — 75 cents
- Richmond-San Rafael — $1
- San Francisco-Oakland Bay — 75 cents
- San Mateo-Hayward — 75 cents