How do toll roads work?

in the San Francisco area we don't have many toll roads, just toll bridges. There are 7 bridges in the bay area that all require a toll to cross in one direction. It varies by bridge and often times time of day for teh amount of tool required. The bridges are oriented in such a manner that unless you drive all the way around certain parts of the bay, you cannot just go into SF one direction and not pay and then come out again and not pay. You will either pay going into SF or pay going out.

we don't have any turnpike style roads like they do on the east coast where you pay a few to drive on the highway, though in the east bay areas like Pleasanton/Fremont area they are just starting to use pay tolls on the carpool lanes.

the fees are a pay by use. I.e you are going from berkeley for instance to SF you would pay going in to SF and then be free on the way out.

The best thing to do is to get the Fastrak transponder from Caltrans. it is this little square device that you can hook up to your credit card and it keeps a set balance on the box so you do not need to stop and use cash. It is almost like a prepaid debit card that refills itself based on usage and a low balance level. It is good in all areas of the bay area and most of LA where they do have actual toll roads.

this is the list of bridge tolls and what each bridge charges http://bata.mtc.ca.gov/tolls/schedule.htm. Most bridges are $5.00. though the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge are their own animals.

Public transit can be a good option depending on where in SF you live. If you plan to live in san francisco itself, you don't really need a car and can utilize public transit the majority of the time. It is only when you want to venture outside San Francisco that a car would be easier. Or taking a combination of car, ferry and/or city transit.

Just sort of depends on you and where you are moving to.

For the San Francisco area the bridges usually are where you will find tolls. As you enter the bridge there will be a tool booth. You stop, pay the toll then precede over the bridge. Exact change is greatly appreciated. On San Francisco bridges you pay going in one direction, and the opposite direction is non-toll. The toll charges vary with each particular bridge. You pay each time you use the bridge. Yes, parking is hard to find in San Francisco, but the public transportation is extremely slow. You may find using BART (the light rail system) much more convenient, and cheaper.

On some toll roads in other parts of California you can get a device that goes in your car, and will automatically detect each time you use the toll road, and send you a monthly bill.

Toll Roads San Francisco

I actually live here. There are no toll roads in the bay area, only the bridges. I believe they are $4 now - maybe one or two are $5, one way only. The Golden Gate Bridge is something like 8-$10 now. I don't know because we don't use it because it costs so much ;<} That's southbound, into the city. If you go into the city on a day trip you can easily take BART - it's cheaper, faster and easier than driving. You can walk just about anyplace for shopping and entertainment. If you want to go to some of the farther museums and other things, then driving is best. Those places mostly have parking, though. Public transit is slow-er. I wouldn't really call it slow. Millions of people use Muni - the bus and tram system. It's very efficient, but it's also public. You meet all kinds of people there, for better or worse. All in all, downtown SF is very compact, and the other tourist attractions are easy to get to, also. Don't drive unless you have some certain reason to.

You can pay as you go but most people in the Bay Area who use toll road/bridge use fast track. It is a electronic card assigned to your car that automaticly deducts the toll when you pass through the toll plaza. You load money on it via credit card or bank transfer.

http://www.bayareafastrak.org/

All tolls are different and yes you have to pay at each toll - you can buy something called an 'e-z pass'. It's prepaid and you don't have to wait on the cash lines that way - you'll just drive through the toll and there's a camera in the booth that reads the e-z pass from your car so you can drive right though it.

ADD...Maybe they don't have ez pass where you are? I'm in NY...

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This is just another avenue. The public should absolutely know about them and possible consequences and any benefits. It would seem any benefit would be short-term in nature. It is maddening. We have utility companies owned by foreign companies. (National Grid - England) We have the Chinese buying up our bonds. We are indebted to the Chinese. Why more people aren't bothered by this is beyond my comprehension. It is frustrating.

Tolls can range widely - in our area usually $2.00. You can pay only each time you go through.........or you can get an E Z pass.