New Toll-Payment Assistance Programs in San Francisco, California helps low-income families and veterans

Lower-income households and eligible military veterans are beneficiaries of two new bridge assistance programs announced by the Bay Area Toll Authority and the Golden Gate Bridge District beginning in 2023, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Under the COVID Waiver program, qualifying drivers can request a waiver of overdue bridge toll violation penalties from FasTrak. Waiver recipients are then obliged to pay tolls and any fees charged by the Department of Motor Vehicles for Vehicle registration, holds due to the non-payment of penalties.

Vehicles registered to military veterans with license plates of one of the following designations are eligible for free travel across California toll bridges.

• Congressional Medal of Honor

• Disabled Veteran

• Legion of Valor

• Pearl Harbor Survivor

• Ex-Prisoner of War

• Purple Heart

A FasTrak Electronic toll payment isn’t a qualification for eligible veterans seeking free passage; albeit, a FasTrak-enrollment requirement will be instituted in the future. To avoid toll charges, FasTrak veteran customers must place their FasTrak tag in a Mylar bag when traveling through bridge toll plazas.

1. Request a bag by logging into your FasTrak account.

2. Select ‘Vehicles and Tags.’

3. Select ‘Request Toll Tag Supplies.’

Veterans can also contact the FasTrak customer service center at 877-BAY-TOLL (877-229-8655) to request a bag free of charge.

Low-income households are eligible beneficiaries of a new policy instituted by BATA and the Golden Bridge District by July 1, 2023.

Households with incomes 200 percent below the federal poverty level (approximately $55,000 for a family of four) to receive a waiver of any penalties for overdue or missed payments of toll invoices and evasion notices induced for toll bridge crossings between March 20, 2020, and Jan. 1, 2023.

BATA administers the toll revenues from the San Francisco Bay Area’s seven state-owned toll bridges. The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway, and Transportation District own and operates the Golden Gate Bridge.