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Section of 101 San Mateo Express Lanes Now Open

March 2, 2023

Section of 101 San Mateo Express Lanes Now Open

New north and southbound express lanes are now operating on Highway 101 in San Mateo County between Whipple Avenue in Redwood City to I-380 in South San Francisco. These new lanes connect with the existing express lanes at Whipple Avenue to complete the 22 miles of 101 San Mateo Express Lanes running from the San Mateo County/ Santa Clara County Line to I-380 in South San Francisco in each direction.

Here are rules for the new express lanes:

  • All vehicles must have a FasTrak® toll tag to use the express lanes;
  • Three-person carpools, vanpools, buses, two-seat vehicles carrying two people and motorcycles with a FasTrak Flex or FasTrak CAV toll tag set to the 3+ position travel toll free;
  • Two-person carpools with a FasTrak Flex or FasTrak CAV toll tag set to the 2+ position pay half-price tolls;
  • Solo drivers of eligible clean-air vehicles (CAVs) with a FasTrak CAV toll tag set in the 1 position pay half-price tolls. Eligible CAVs are those with light green, yellow, blue and orange decals. Drivers can apply for a FasTrak CAV toll tag here; and
  • Other solo drivers pay the full toll to use the express lanes with either a standard FasTrak toll tag or a FasTrak Flex tag set to the 1 position.

Operating hours for express lanes are weekdays from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Toll prices adjust dynamically depending on real-time traffic levels (rise as traffic increases and fall as traffic declines). Digital signs over the roadway display the toll rates for various destinations. Customers always pay the toll displayed when they enter the express lane, even if toll rates change during their trip. Toll-paying customers pay for each toll zone they enter.

Express lanes are designed to keep traffic moving reliably without congestion, and to encourage travelers to carpool or use transit to get a faster trip. Learn more about using the express lanes at https://www.bayareafastrak.org/en/tolls/toll-locations.shtml. Learn how to find a carpool match at 511.org.

Category: Express Lanes