Ballot measure could raise bridge tolls to fund transportation

Bay Area transportation officials are eyeing a regional ballot measure that could increase tolls on the Bay Bridge and other state-owned spans by as much as $3 to raise money for transportation projects.

At a workshop meeting Wednesday at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in San Francisco, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission discussed the notion of persuading the state Legislature to create Regional Measure 3 — a ballot measure to increase tolls — for voters’ consideration in 2018.

The ballot measure could also create a discount for drivers who pay their tolls with FasTrak, expand congestion-based tolling, now in use at the Bay Bridge, and charge an additional toll for trucks.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said the potential measure should direct funding to affordable housing, and bicycling advocates argued that it should pay for construction of a bike path on the west span of the Bay Bridge between Yerba Buena Island and San Francisco.

Bay Area transportation officials are eyeing a regional ballot measure that could increase tolls on the Bay Bridge and other state-owned spans by as much as $3. Bay Area transportation officials are eyeing a regional ballot measure that could increase tolls on the Bay Bridge and other state-owned spans by as much as $3. Photo: Instagram / Mgrevtsov Photo: Instagram / Mgrevtsov Image 1 of / 7 Caption Close Ballot measure could raise bridge tolls to fund transportation 1 / 7 Back to Gallery

At this point, Regional Measure 3 is little more than a vision. Unlike sales taxes or bond measures, counties can’t place a toll increase and spending plan on a ballot. That requires action by the Legislature, and the commission hopes to persuade lawmakers to grant them that authority in 2017.

Twice, legislators have allowed the commission to place regional toll measures on the ballot, and both times they’ve been approved by voters. In 1988, Regional Measure 1 raised $2 billion for transportation projects, including the widening or replacement of four toll bridges. In 2004, Regional Measure 2 raised $1.5 billion for projects, including the Caldecott Tunnel fourth bore and Oakland Airport Connector, as well as $41 million per year to help cover transit operating costs.

Randy Rentschler, MTC spokesman and legislative director, said the staff needs to know what the commission would like from a 2018 toll increase to allow it to lobby legislators in the coming year.

Commissioners took no votes but suggested they’d favor a toll increase of at least $3, perhaps coming in phases or all at once, depending on what polls indicate voters would approve. A $3 toll increase would raise an estimated $5 billion over 25 years compared with $3.3 billion from a $2 increase and $1.7 billion from a $1 boost.

“As much as we can get, as soon as we can get it,” said Commissioner Anne Halsted, echoing the sentiments of several others.

Commissioners also expressed interest in changing the toll rates to allow a FasTrak discount to encourage more drivers to pay tolls electronically. They also suggested expanding congestion tolls, now used at the Bay Bridge, either to other spans or by increasing the existing toll differential, now $2, to encourage more drivers to leave earlier or later or take transit.

Transportation funding, always hard to come by, has become even more scarce in recent years, driving metropolitan areas and transit agencies to come up with their own sources of revenue.

Despite pleas from Gov. Jerry Brown, state lawmakers have been unable to come up with a way to fund transportation improvements. Federal funding has nearly dried up, and with a change in the presidency in January, prospects are uncertain.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan