Tolls for crossing Golden Gate Bridge rise $1

Vehicles pass through the Golden Gate bridge toll booths in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, June 25, 2013. Vehicles pass through the Golden Gate bridge toll booths in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, June 25, 2013. Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close Tolls for crossing Golden Gate Bridge rise $1 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

The cost of crossing the Golden Gate Bridge goes up by a buck Monday - with another $1 increase spread across the next four years.

Tolls will rise to $6 from $5 for the vast majority of folks, who drive across the bridge and pay with FasTrak. But for those who pay by license plate, the toll will climb from $6 to $7.

Because the Golden Gate Bridge collects all its tolls electronically, drivers won't have to carry any extra cash. But they will see their FasTrak or license plate payment accounts drop faster, and drivers who get bills mailed to their homes will run up bigger tabs.

The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District board approved the toll hike in February after a series of public hearings - and objections - from North Bay commuters. Bridge officials say the increase is needed to help chip away at a $142 million deficit the district is expected to face over the next five years. The toll increase is expected to raise $138 million by 2019.

After the $1 increase on Monday, the toll is scheduled to rise an additional 25 cents in July 2015 and then by another quarter each of the next three years.