**Bay Area Drivers Outraged as Express Lane Charges Soar to $20 During Morning Commute**

SAN MATEO COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) — Bay Area drivers are expressing outrage over soaring express lane charges during the morning commute, with prices now reaching as high as $20.

On a section of Highway 101 from San Carlos to an area of Palo Alto, it currently costs $20 to use the express lanes during peak morning hours. Viewer Joe Villa shared photos and videos documenting the situation, adding his own take: “$20 for 10 miles. California is trippin’,” he wrote on Instagram.

Astrian Cael, a mother of five, echoed the frustration. “Twenty dollars for express lane. I get it. You want to get to work on time and everything, but that’s insanity!” she said.

To use the express lanes, drivers need a FasTrak to cover the toll, or a FasTrak Flex toll tag if they qualify for the free carpool rate. However, $20 is among the highest toll prices seen in the Bay Area. Some drivers reported seeing prices as high as $22 recently.

Cael explained how the rising costs are affecting her family: “The way we are living out here for one bag of groceries — it’s like $100. So you want me to pay $20 just to get down the road? I’m taking my kid to basketball practice, and it’s taking me $14 to come from San Francisco to Belmont? That’s crazy. That’s insanity.”

State and county officials say that the price increases are a direct result of higher congestion on the roads as more people have returned to work post-pandemic. They emphasize that toll rates rise with congestion to manage traffic flow.

ABC7 News reporter J.R. Stone shared images of the high toll prices on Instagram and Facebook, sparking a wave of complaints from drivers asking where their money is going.

According to those managing the state and county express lane program, the revenue generated is used to repay a $100 million loan taken out to fund the program, as well as covering operational costs. Despite the high prices, officials acknowledge the lanes can provide significant commute time savings for those willing or able to pay.

Javaid Noori commented, “So, if you don’t mind spending. Yeah, if you don’t mind spending, you’ll cut down your commute by 20 to 25 minutes.”

To help alleviate some of the burden, San Mateo County offers the Go Card program, which provides $200 annually in toll assistance for individuals earning under $81,000 a year. However, at $20 per ride, this assistance may not stretch very far.

“It’s still a lot, a lot, and it’s hard for us. Especially working families in the Bay Area. It’s really, really hard,” Cael said.

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https://abc7news.com/post/express-lane-charges-reach-20-parts-highway-101-during-morning-commute-san-mateo-county/18023364/