FasTrak is an electronic toll collection (ETC) system that allows drivers to prepay their bridge tolls, eliminating the need to stop at the toll plaza. FasTrak will also allow solo drivers to pay to use the future Bay Area Express Lanes. The system has three components: a toll tag, which is placed inside your vehicle; an overhead antenna, which reads the toll tag and collects the toll; and video cameras to identify toll evaders.

At the toll bridges, FasTrak equipment is installed in all the lanes – even those that are shared with cash vehicles. Therefore, as a FasTrak user of the toll bridges, you can drive in either a dedicated FasTrak-only lane or a cash/FasTrak lane. A standard FasTrak lane can process about three to four times more vehicles per hour than a cash lane. An Open Road Tolling lane, such as those on the Benicia-Martinez Bridge, can process about four to five times more vehicles per hour than a cash lane.

On Express Lanes, solo drivers with FasTrak toll tags installed on their windshield can choose to access the Express Lanes and pay the posted toll automatically without slowing down. The toll will vary depending on the level of congestion in the lanes. Carpools will continue to use the lanes for free while the variable toll will make excess capacity available to paying motorists while guaranteeing a reasonable travel time for all users of the lanes.

As you pass through a toll lane – either at a toll bridge or in an Express Lane – the toll tag is read, and your tolls are deducted from your prepaid toll balance. When you reach your replenishment threshold, your account is replenished automatically, if you opened your account with a credit card. If you opened your account as a cash/check account, then you are responsible for replenishing your account by making regular payments.

There is no fee for the toll tag and no service charge to open and maintain a FasTrak account. To open an account using a credit card, an initial prepaid balance of $25 per toll tag will be charged to your credit card. To open an account with cash/check, an initial prepaid balance of $50 per toll tag is due at the time the account is opened, plus a $20 per toll tag deposit. The deposit is refunded to you when you close your account and return the toll tag in good condition.

The FasTrak system tracks your usage and account balance. A monthly or quarterly statement itemizing your bridge use and account balance will be sent to you through the mail or emailed to you.