How Toll Lane Surge Pricing Impacts Your Bay Area Commute

Several commuters in the Bay Area say rising prices in the express lanes are forcing them to move over into traffic to save money.

Bay Area toll lanes along Highway 101, Interstate 880 and Interstate 680 are charging higher prices during peak commute hours. The express lanes are designed to let carpools and busses ride for free, but anyone has the option to bypass the masses for a price.

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And that price ranges from a few bucks to $30 per section, depending on traffic and your willingness to pay up to speed up.

Scott Budman has more on what to know for your next commute in the video report above.

What to Know: Toll Express Lanes on Bay Area Freeways

While much of Silicon Valley was working from home, some workers were busy making big changes to Highway 101 along the Peninsula. As commuters return to the office, they’ll find the congested two-person carpool lanes have been replaced by toll express lanes. The system aims to make traffic move faster by using the laws of supply and demand. Here’s how to use the 155 miles of freeway express lanes now open throughout the Bay Area, and why Caltrans says they’re effective.