Tolling Resumes on I-680 Sunol Express Lanes with New Policies

March 31, 2023

On March 31, 2023, the Interstate 680 Sunol Express Lanes will return to operating as express lanes with new tolling policies in effect. This ends the temporary policy enacted in August 2020, when the I-680 Sunol Express Lanes were restricted to HOV lanes. The I-680 Sunol Express Lanes run northbound from north of Mission Boulevard/State Route (SR) 262 to SR-84/Vallecitos Road, and southbound between SR-84/Calaveras Road and SR-237/Calaveras Boulevard.

As express lanes, all drivers can choose to use the lanes and bypass traffic congestion for a more reliable trip. FasTrak is required for all express lanes users. Solo drivers pay the full toll posted on overhead signs; all carpools, clean air vehicles (CAVs) and other eligible vehicles must use a FasTrak Flex or FasTrak CAV (clean air vehicle) toll tag to drive in the express lanes for free or half-price.

The tolling policies for using the I-680 Sunol Express Lanes have been adjusted to align with the other Bay Area Express Lanes. The changes include:

• All vehicles must use a FasTrak Flex or FasTrak CAV toll tag to receive toll discounts or toll-free travel.
• Solo drivers of eligible clean air vehicles now pay a toll to use the lane. Vehicles using a FasTrak CAV toll tag will receive a 50% discount off the posted toll. Eligible CAVs are those with light green, yellow, blue and orange decals. Drivers can apply for a FasTrak CAV toll tag here.
• Carpools of two or more occupants, vanpools, buses, and motorcycles with a FasTrak Flex or FasTrak CAV toll tag set to the 2 or 3+ position travel toll free; 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 decreases). 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.