Express lanes on Interstate Highway 80 in Solano County will begin charging tolls on Dec. 16 under plans by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
The tolls will operate daily, including weekends, from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. in both directions through Fairfield and Vacaville, the commission said Friday in a press release.
Tolls will vary, rising and falling as traffic increases and decreases on the 18-mile stretch of I-80 between Red Top Road in Fairfield and Interstate Highway 505 in Vacaville.
Rates for various destinations will be displayed on digital signs over the roadway. There are four toll zones in each direction.
“Customers always pay the toll displayed when they enter the Express Lane, even if toll rates change during their trip,” the commission said.
All vehicles using the Express Lanes will be required to have a FasTrak toll tag, according to the commission.
Carpools with three or more people, and vanpools, buses and motorcycles will travel toll-free with a FasTrak Flex toll tag set to the “3+” position. Two-person carpools pay half-price with a FasTrak Flex tag set to “2”.
“Solo drivers may 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,” the commission said.
The targeted opening of Dec.16 may be revised due to inclement weather or late technical issues, the commission said.
Drivers can find information on Bay Area Express Lanes, how to find a carpool match and how to sign up for FasTrak at 511.org.