San Francisco – September 14, 2026 -- The California Highway Patrol, working with Caltrans and the Bay Area Toll Authority, is stepping up enforcement this month on the westbound bus/carpool lane bypassing the toll plaza on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.
The lane is restricted to specific hours and vehicle types
Accessible from Interstate 80, Interstate 880 or West Grand Avenue, the lane may be used by buses, motorcycles, or carpools carrying three or more people only during weekday commute windows of 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Outside those hours -- including all day on weekends -- only buses are permitted.
Violators face a fine starting at $490
Drivers caught using the lane improperly outside the designated commute periods can be fined $490 or more. "The signs at access points to the lane are clear and unambiguous. They read 'Buses Only,'" said Lt. Ed Clarke of the CHP's Oakland Area, adding that compliance has slipped in recent years.
Toll booths are being phased out entirely
Acting Caltrans District 4 Director and BATA Commissioner Doanh Nguyen said the region's toll booths are on their way out. Open-road tolling is already underway and will debut next year at the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, with plans to reconfigure the approaches to every state-owned toll bridge so drivers no longer need to slow down at booths.
BATA oversees toll revenue collection across the region's seven state-owned toll bridges, while Caltrans owns and operates the state highway system, including the Bay Bridge.