Report: Officials may consider changes to Golden Gate Bridge toll plaza

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Officials may consider upgrades to toll collection at the Golden Gate Bridge, according to a report.

The $7 million FasTrak toll system built in 2000 is already outdated and toll takers were eliminated a few of years ago. Now bridge officials are trying to decide the future of toll collection at the bridge while the state decides on new rules for electronic toll systems.

One possibility is a toll gantry where lasers, lights and cameras will go to appraise tolls. This may be built, instead of putting new equipment in the old toll plaza. The Marin IJ says this could go a few hundred feet south of the toll plaza and be placed over southbound lanes by the end of 2018.

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Of course there is concern about what the bridge will look like and if it will impact the view. Bridge board members expect that issue to face the biggest debate. Some are also considering demolishing the old toll plaza, but no proposal has been put forward so far, so the art deco clock will stay at its current home for now.

Bridge officials say this gantry will also allow for maintenance above the roadway so lanes wouldn't need to be closed if there's a problem. However, the new equipment will not be able to count passengers in the vehicles, so the CHP would have to catch the cheaters in the 3 person carpool lane.

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