Bay Area Express Lanes are carpool lanes that are free for carpools, buses, motorcycles and other eligible vehicles. Solo motorists — who choose to pay a toll — can use express lanes, too!
Express lane tolls are collected electronically via FasTrak® - no stopping at toll booths!
Newer Express Lanes, including those that opened in February 2016 on Interstate 580 through Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore, will require carpoolers to use FasTrak Flex® for toll-free travel. Visit Bay Area FasTrak to learn more!
Some express lanes operate all day, while others operate during commute hours only.
Overhead electronic signs display the toll rates. As traffic increases, tolls increase. And as traffic decreases, tolls decrease.
Visit our Plans + Projects pages to learn more about MTC's Express Lane projects or the Bay Area Express Lanes website for more details about the planned regional network!
Bay Area Express Lanes improve mobility and enhance travel options by:
- Making use of available space in existing carpool lanes to move more people;
- Improving operations in existing carpool lanes through better enforcement and strategies to prevent lane slowdowns;
- Giving everyone the choice to carpool for free or pay for a more reliable trip when it really matters; and
- Filling gaps in the carpool lane system to encourage more carpools, vanpools and buses.
The Bay Area Express Lanes network already includes:
- I-580 through Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore
- I-680 south from Sunol to Milpitas
- State Route 237 in Milpitas and San Jose
Upcoming additions to the network include:
- I-680 between San Ramon and Walnut Creek
- I-880 between Oakland and Milpitas
- I-680 north from Milpitas to Sunol
- State Route 85 between Mountain View and south San Jose
Learn more when you visit the Find-a-Lane page on the Bay Area Express Lanes website!
Development of the Bay Area Express Lanes network is a cooperative effort. Bay Area Express Lanes are operated by:
- MTC
- Alameda County Transportation Commission
- Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)
Additional partners helping to develop, implement and operate Bay Area Express Lanes include:
- FasTrak
- California Highway Patrol
- California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
- Contra Costa Transportation Authority
- Solano Transportation Authority