Work Begins on Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Open Road Tolling Project

Changes are coming soon to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge toll plaza, the first of the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA)-managed bridges to be transformed as part of a multi-year conversion to Open Road Tolling (ORT). 

Pre-construction began in late 2025. Work to re-stripe lanes on the bridge approach and to erect a new gantry structure over the westbound lanes to accommodate tolling equipment is now set to begin in March 2026, weather permitting. Visit the Caltrans District 4 website for additional details on the construction schedule.

ORT is the future for all toll bridge plazas in the Bay Area – and the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge will be the first to see the transition to ORT.

ORT uses advanced technology to read FasTrak® toll tags without the need to slow down and go through toll booths. Overhead equipment can read the toll tags as vehicles travel at highway speeds.

The transition to ORT will include:

• The removal of toll booths (not actively used since 2020).
• Installation of overhead structures and equipment.
• Re-striping of the toll plaza that will no longer require drivers to merge in and out of lanes at the plaza. 

ORT is expected to improve safety and traffic flow while reducing congestion.

ORT Conversion Schedule

About the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA)

BATA, which is directed by the same policy board as MTC, administers toll revenues from the Bay Area's seven state-owned toll bridges. MTC is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.