BAIFA Toll Ordinance Amendment 2025

What was the Schedule to Adopt Changes?

• Written public comments were due by May 9, 2025 at 5 p.m.
• Public hearing: May 9, 2025
• Adoption vote: June 25, 2025

BAIFA hosted an informational webinar via Zoom on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. to present more details and answer questions about the proposal.

• View the webinar video recording
• Download the webinar transcript

The proposed changes were adopted at the June 25, 2025 BAIFA meeting. Changes go into effect on July 30, 2025.

How Can I Comment on Changes?

Oral testimony was received during a public hearing on Friday, May 9, 2025, both in-person and via Zoom. 

Written comments were accepted until 5 p.m. on May 9, 2025. Written comments to be submitted by any of the following methods. Please include “BAIFA Toll Facility Ordinance” in the subject line of any correspondence.

• Send an email to expresslanes@bayareametro.gov
• By U.S. mail: MTC Public Information Office, 375 Beale Street, Suite 800, San Francisco, CA 94105
• Submit the form at the bottom of this webpage
• Send a fax to 415-536-9800.
• Comment in person at the May 9, 2025 public hearing.

Comments Received

See the public comments received on the BAIFA Toll Facility Ordinance from April 8, 2025 through May 9, 2025.

Do Comments Matter?

Yes! Past comments have led to new programs and policies for Express Lanes.  Written comments on this proposal were summarized and presented to decision-makers before their vote on June 25, 2025.

What is BAIFA?

The Bay Area Infrastructure Financing Authority (BAIFA), a joint powers authority between the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA), oversees the financing, planning, and operation of MTC Express Lanes and related transportation projects. BAIFA manages MTC Express Lanes and works with Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol and county transportation agencies on the overall Bay Area Express Lanes network. 

What are Express Lanes?

Express Lanes are specially designated highway lanes that offer drivers a choice to save time by paying a toll while rewarding carpoolers with the same time savings at a lower cost. Learn more about Express Lanes at expresslanes.511.org.

What is Express Lane toll revenue used for?

In compliance with state and federal law, BAIFA uses toll revenues to pay for maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, improvement, reconstruction, administration and operation of Express Lanes, including enforcement costs, and for reserve funds that are designated to be used for any of these purposes. Revenues may also be used to pay for debt financing for Express Lane costs, although BAIFA does not currently hold any debt obligations. Any remaining revenue left over after paying these costs can be spent to support mobility investments, subject to the requirement that any remaining revenue be spent in the corridor where it was generated. BAIFA is currently developing its remaining revenue policy for all its express lanes.

What is the Toll Facility Ordinance?

The ordinance establishes Express Lane tolls, a toll collection process, and civil penalties for the evasion of tolls on MTC’s Express Lanes. Learn more about the history of the toll facility ordinance and review the current version.

What does this amendment change?

BAIFA adopted five changes to the toll facility ordinance:

1. I-80 Express Lanes: Adopted tolling policies for the newly constructed I-80 Express Lanes in Solano County. The new corridor needed to be added to the ordinance before tolling operations begin later this year.
2. Pilots: Increased the allowable timeframe and parameters for pilot projects on BAIFA Express Lanes.  Pilots can now be extended beyond the previous limit of three years in certain circumstances, and pilots will be permitted to test alternative hours and days of the week for tolling operations.
3. Minimum Toll: Increased the minimum toll per zone from $0.50 to $0.75 for all BAIFA Express Lanes. The minimum toll is the toll when there is little or no congestion, and the increase ensures that each such transaction covers the transaction cost.
4. Clean Air Vehicle (CAV): Clarified that the CAV discount will end September 2025, at the sunset of existing federal law regarding CAV usage of carpool lanes without the qualifying number of occupants (unless the law is amended prior to that date).
5. Toll Zones: Adjusted the boundaries of the toll zones on southbound I-680 to reflect the gap closure between BAIFA’s and Alameda CTC’s Express Lanes on I-680. The construction project to close the gap is expected to be completed within the next year.

Other minor clarifications and clean-up language were also adopted. 

What was the schedule to adopt changes?

• A public hearing was held May 9, 2025, at 9:35 a.m.
• Written public comments were due by May 9, 2025, at 5 p.m.
• The policy changes were adopted at the June 25, 2025 BAIFA meeting.

When will tolling begin on the new I-80 Express Lanes?

The construction to build the I-80 Express Lanes in Solano County is nearing completion. The existing high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes between Red Top Road in Fairfield and Air Base Parkway in Fairfield and the newly constructed HOV lanes between Air Base Parkway in Fairfield and Interstate 505 in Vacaville opened to traffic in the westbound direction in March; the eastbound direction opened to traffic in June.  Tolling will begin on the entire length of the corridor in late 2025.

How much will it cost to use the new I-80 Express Lanes?

All vehicles need FasTrak® or FasTrak Flex® to use the I-80 Express Lanes:

• Motorcycles and carpools with three or more persons travel free with FasTrak Flex
• Two-person carpools can choose to pay half-price tolls with FasTrak Flex
• Solo drivers can choose to pay full tolls with FasTrak or FasTrak Flex

There is a minimum toll for each zone, even when there is little to no congestion, which is set at a level that covers transaction costs; the toll ordinance amendment increases the minimum toll to $0.75 per toll zone. The maximum toll for each zone is determined by traffic congestion.

BAIFA is working on expanding the Express Lane START℠ pilot program, which currently offers qualified low-income drivers at least 50% discount on tolls on the I-880 Express Lanes. At its meeting on July 23, 2025, the BAIFA board voted to expand this program to the I-80 Express Lanes and extend the pilot through March 2029.

How are dynamic tolls on Express Lanes calculated?

Dynamic tolling on Express Lanes is based on real-time traffic conditions. Algorithms adjust toll prices according to current traffic volume, speed, and demand. The aim is to keep traffic flowing smoothly by raising tolls during congestion and lowering them when traffic is light. To learn more about Express Lanes pricing, visit 511.org. 

How do I pay tolls on Bay Area Express Lanes?

All customers who use Express Lanes pay their tolls with FasTrak. A FasTrak Flex toll tag is a type of electronic toll collection device that allows drivers to pay tolls automatically and is required for carpools, vanpools and motorcycles to use Express Lanes toll-free or at a reduced toll. Before starting their trip, drivers should set their FasTrak Flex transponder to the correct position based on how many people are in the vehicle. This allows the toll system to automatically calculate the correct toll amount. Learn more about FasTrak Flex.

How do I get FasTrak?

Customers may sign up for and order a FasTrak tag online at bayareafastrak.org; by phone (toll free) at 877-229-8655; by printing out the FasTrak application form and mailing it to the FasTrak Customer Service Center, P.O. Box 26926, San Francisco, CA 94126; or in person at the FasTrak Customer Service Center at 375 Beale Street in San Francisco. Customers can also obtain a FasTrak tag at a Northern California Costco membership warehouse and select Walgreens locations. 

Updated December 22, 2025.

What pilots are currently in effect on BAIFA’s Express Lanes?

Express Lanes START is a trial program for income-qualified customers that provides discounted tolls on the I-880 Express Lanes.  For enrolled participants, solo drivers receive a 50% discount and two-person carpools pay 75% off the posted toll. Carpools with three or more persons always travel free in all Express Lanes. Learn more about Express Lanes START at expresslanesstart.org.

In partnership, BAIFA, Solano County Transportation Authority (STA) and Caltrans have developed a pilot to evaluate operating the Solano County I-80 Express Lanes on weekends to mitigate the increasing weekend congestion and with the knowledge that weekend operations are also under consideration for the Express Lanes under development on I-80 in Yolo County. BAIFA voted to authorize the weekend tolling pilot. Thus, the I-80 Express Lanes currently operate all seven days a week.