(Sacramento, CA) – The California State Legislature passed legislation authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D–San Francisco) to prohibit sidewalk tolls for pedestrians and cyclists crossing the Golden Gate and state-owned toll bridges.
Assembly Bill (AB) 40 passed the Assembly with a 65-13 vote, following a 29-11 Senate vote on Tuesday. It is now pending Governor Jerry Brown’s signature or veto by October 11.
“The impact of foot and pedal power cannot be overlooked as we strive to combat climate change. We should not discourage these healthy transportation alternatives by nickel and diming people who are part of the solution,” said Ting. “Our bridges link a network of parks, paths, and trails that we have built around the Bay Area to promote active lifestyles. By signing this bill, the governor can protect this legacy and promote a bigger environmental mindset.”
All toll bridges in California are located in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Golden Gate, the Antioch, the Benicia-Martinez, the Carquinez, and the Dumbarton bridges have bicycle and pedestrian crossings. The eastern span of the Bay Bridge does as well. Currently, there are no tolls for cyclists and pedestrians to cross any of these bridges.
The Golden Gate Bridge is managed by a special district. AB 40 was inspired by the Golden Gate Highway and Transportation District’s vote last October to study, again, the imposition of a sidewalk toll to help eliminate a projected operating deficit over the next five years. A 2005 analysis conducted by the District found such a toll at the state’s most visited bridge would generate just $500,000 to $1.5 million annually. If approved, the Golden Gate Bridge would become the only contiguous bridge in the nation with a sidewalk toll.
Forty percent of climate changing emissions come from transportation. In 2014 Bay Area commuters lost over 45 million hours in traffic, wasting $291 million in fuel. The Golden Gate Bridge is crossed by tens of millions of people each year, with as many as 10,000 pedestrians and 6,000 cyclists crossing each day. And, 43.6% of tourists report visiting the bridge during their visit to San Francisco.
There are four bridges at the borders of the United States that charge 50-cent pedestrian tolls. One links New York and Canada at Niagara Falls and the other three bridges link El Paso, Texas with Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.
Here is what supporters are saying about AB 40.
“The idea that ‘everyone should pay their fair share’ is a noble one but to use that argument to justify charging people when they walk or bicycle reflects a naïve and erroneous understanding of how we pay for the benefits and impacts of our transportation system.”
-Dave Snyder, Executive Director, California Bicycle Coalition
“AB 40 will maintain unencumbered access for individuals of all income levels to some of the nation’s most treasured assets, and preserve an incentive for residents and visitors alike to pursue emission-free methods of active transportation that are beneficial for our environment and for our health.”
-Edwin M. Lee, Mayor, City of San Francisco
“A bridge toll would drastically reduce the number of people using the path for commute purposes, encouraging more people to use private vehicles for transportation, and would limit the number of people able to use the [Golden Gate] bridge and surrounding trails for healthy recreation.”
-Nicole Ferrara, Executive Director, Walk San Francisco
“Charging a toll for people biking and walking is antithetical to San Francisco and Marin County’s goals of improving our air quality, encouraging physical activity and improving public access to our most treasured places.”
-Tyler Frisbee, Policy Director, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition
“The Golden Gate Bridge is not only an international icon and treasure, it is an important segment of the San Francisco Bay Trail, Bay Area Ridge Trail, and California Coastal Trail, and is a transportation and recreation corridor between San Francisco and Marin County used by as many as 10,000 pedestrians and 6,000 cyclists each day.”
-Laura Thompson, Project Manager, San Francisco Bay Trail
“For many, the full experience of the Golden Gate Bridge is far more than a walk or a ride across this beautiful structure. The Golden Gate Bridge is woven into a much larger adventure that includes hiking trails, parks and bike paths on both sides of the bridge. To begin charging a fee for this “only in San Francisco” experience would significantly disrupt and diminish the opportunity to enjoy this iconic structure for visitors and residents equally.”
-Jon Ballesteros, Senior Vice President for Public Policy, San Francisco Travel
Further information about AB 40 is available at www.leginfo.ca.gov.
CONTACT: Anthony Matthews, tel. (916) 319-2019, anthony.matthews@asm.ca.gov