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CARPOOL
A carpool consists of two or more occupants (one driver and at least one
occupant) sharing a ride in the same vehicle. Generally, specified rules and
arrangements are made between the ridesharing individuals prior to carpooling.
Carpools pay a reduced bridge toll with FasTrak® and may use the High
Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes to bypass traffic congestion during commute
hours.
511 Ridematch Service
Free service to find carpool partners in the Bay Area who share similar travel
routes and patterns using the 511 Ridematch Service program
(925) 969-0841
www.511contracosta.org
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What is FasTrak®?
FasTrak® is an electronic toll collection system that allows registered vehicles to
pass through bridge toll plazas and access Express Lanes (HOV toll lanes) without
stopping in the Bay Area. Toll lanes in Orange, Riverside and San Diego Counties
in Southern California also use the FasTrak system.
The toll is deducted from the prepaid FasTrak account balance by reading the
toll tag placed strategically on or near the windshield of the vehicle. During
commute hours, carpools pay a reduced bridge toll with a registered FasTrak
vehicle. Non-qualified HOV vehicles on Express Lanes during commute hours pay
tolls based upon congestion/dynamic pricing.
When opened with a credit card, FasTrak accounts are reloaded automatically
when the balance falls below a calculated amount based on usage. Accounts can
also be opened anonymously but cannot be automatically reloaded.
FasTrak tags can be purchased at many Bay Area retail locations. However, they
must be registered after purchase within seven business days or be considered
inactive.
For additional information, visit www.bayareafastrak.org.
CASUAL CARPOOL
A casual carpool is an informal carpool that forms when a driver picks up one or
more passengers at designated locations without prior arrangement. Casual
carpools share the same benefits as regular carpools with reduced bridge tolls
and use of HOV lanes. Passengers line up and are picked up by drivers on a first
come first serve basis.
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CARPOOL
CASUAL CARPOOL (continued)
Usually, casual carpoolers traveling from Contra Costa County and the East Bay
are dropped off in downtown San Francisco at Fremont and Mission Streets in
the mornings and take public transit returning home in the afternoons/
evenings. Although not as popular, evening casual carpool locations are located
on Beale Street between Howard and Folsom in San Francisco for the return trip
back to the East Bay.
Locations
511 Contra Costa assumes no responsibility or liability for the content or
accuracy of the sites below. Locations can change at any time. Visit
www.ridenow.org/carpool for additional information and/or updates.
Warning: Adhere to all parking rules and signage. Do not park at BART stations
or nearby shopping centers or risk being towed and/or ticketed!
Alameda
Northwest corner of Encinal and Park Ave near the AC Transit OX stop
Northeast corner of Webster St and Santa Clear Ave
Albany
Pierce St south of Central Ave across from the Pacific Far East
shopping mall
Berkeley
Sacramento St east of the North Berkeley BART station entrance
El Cerrito
Eastshore Blvd south of Orchard Supply Hardware store
Emeryville
Christie Ave south of 63rd St in front of Pacific Park Plaza
Powell St between Admiral and Commodore Drs
Fairfield
Corner of Cadenasso Dr and Magellan Rd near the Fairfield
Transportation Center
Hercules
In the Hercules Transit Center on Willow Ave near the I-80 off ramp
Lafayette
Deer Hill Rd near the Lafayette BART station parking lot
Moraga
North side of Moraga Way and east of School St
Oakland
Under the I-580 parking lot between Lakeshore and Grand Aves
Perkins St corner of Grand Ave outside the gas station
Corner of Claremont and College Aves in front of Safeway
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CARPOOL
CASUAL CARPOOL (continued)
Oakland
(continued)
Park Blvd between Trestle Glen Rd and Hollywood Ave
adjacent to the AC Transit Transbay stops
Near the AC Transit Transbay stop on Park Blvd and Hampel St
North of the Park & Ride lot on Montana and Flagg Aves
Under Hwy 24 on Hudson St before Claremont Ave
Oakland and Monte Vista Aves
Front of 4247 MacArthur Blvd
Oakland and Hillside Aves
Orinda
In the alley on the north side of Theater Square
Richmond
Richmond Pkwy near the Richmond Pkwy Park & Ride
San Francisco
Beale St between Howard and Folsom Sts
Vallejo
In the Curtola Park & Ride at Curtola Pkwy and Lemon St
HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE (HOV) LANES
Otherwise known as carpool or diamond lanes, these specially marked lanes
located on certain sections of freeways and bridge toll plazas may be used by
carpools, vanpools, public transit buses and motorcycles to travel during
designated weekday commute hours. Currently, single occupant compressed
natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicles with white Clean Air Vehicle stickers are
permitted to travel on these lanes also. The lanes revert back to general traffic
use during non-commute hours.
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What are Clean Air Vehicle stickers?
Vehicles that meet specific emission standards may be issued Clean Air Vehicle
stickers by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for single
occupancy travel on HOV lanes. Two types of stickers have been issued with a
third sticker pending.
White Clean Air Stickers are available to vehicles that meet California’s Super
Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) and federal Inherently Low Emission Vehicle
(ILEV) standards. These vehicles are typically pure zero emission vehicles such as
battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell and compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles.
Yellow Clean Air Stickers were issued on a limited basis to hybrid or alternative
fuel vehicles that met California’s Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission
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CARPOOL
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HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE (HOV) LANES (continued)
Yellow Clean Air Stickers (continued)
Vehicle (AT PZEV) standards and had 45 miles per gallon or more fuel economy.
Single occupant vehicles with these tags are no longer allowed on HOV lanes
effective July 1, 2011.
Green Clean Air Vehicle Stickers are pending federal approval for plug-in hybrid
and hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles that meet California’s
enhanced Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (enhanced AT
PZEV) standards. These stickers will be available on a limited basis beginning
January 1, 2012.
For additional information, visit www.dmv.ca.gov and/or www.arb.ca.gov.
Locations
Unless otherwise indicated, HOV lanes require two or more occupants per
vehicle except for two-seater vehicles, motorcycles and vehicles with qualified
Clean Air Vehicle stickers during posted weekday commute hours.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Hwy 4
Westbound
Eastbound
Loveridge Rd in Pittsburg to Port Chicago Hwy in Concord
Hours: 5-9am
Port Chicago Hwy in Concord to Loveridge Rd in Pittsburg
Hours: 3-7pm
I-80*
Westbound
Eastbound
Carquinez Bridge to the Bay Bridge
Hours: 5-10am and 3-7pm
Powell St in Emeryville to the Carquinez Bridge
Hours: 5-10am and 3-7pm
I-680
Northbound
Southbound
Hwy 242 to the Marina Vista Ave interchange in Martinez
Hours: 5-9am and 3-7pm
Marina Vista Ave interchange to North Main St in Walnut Creek
Hours: 5-9am and 3-7pm
I-680
Northbound
Southbound
Alcosta Blvd in San Ramon to Livorna Rd in Alamo
Hours: 5-9am and 3-7pm
Rudgear Rd in Walnut Creek to the Alameda County border
Hours: 5-9am and 3-7pm
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CARPOOL
EAST BAY
Route 84
Westbound
Route 92
Westbound
Newark Blvd in Newark to Dumbarton Bridge
Hours: 5-10am and 3-6pm
Hesperian Blvd in Hayward to San Mateo Bridge
Hours: 5-10am and 3-6pm
I-580 (Express Lane slated for 2013)
Eastbound
Hacienda Dr in Pleasanton to Greenville Rd in Livermore
Hours: 5-9am and 3-7pm
I-680 Express Lane
Southbound
Between the intersections of Route 84 and Route 237
Hours: 5am-8pm
I-880 (Partial Express Lane slated for Spring 2012)
Both Directions Between I-880/237 connector in Milpitas and Marina Blvd in
San Leandro
Hours: 5-9am and 3-7pm
I-880*
Westbound
Cypress freeway at Martin Luther King Way to the Bay Bridge
Hours: 5-10am and 3:30-7pm
NORTH BAY
I-80
Both Directions Between Air Base Pkwy and Red Top Rd in Fairfield
Hours: 5-10am and 3-7pm
Hwy 101
Both Directions Between W ilfred Ave in Rohnert Park and W indsor River Rd
in W indsor
Hours: 7-9am and 3-6:30pm
Hwy 101
Northbound
Southbound
Richardson Bay Bridge in Marin to Route 37 in Novato
Hours: 4:30-7pm
Route 37 in Novato to Richardson Bay Bridge in Marin
Hours: 6:30-8:30am
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CARPOOL
9
SAN FRANCISCO/PENINSULA
I-80 On ramp*
Eastbound
Sterling St on ramp to the Bay Bridge off Bryant St
Hours: 3:30pm-7pm
Hwy 101
Both Directions Between Whipple Ave in Redwood City and Cochrane Rd in
Morgan Hill
Hours: 5-9am and 3-7pm
SOUTH BAY
Hwy 85
Both Directions Between Route 85 and Hwy 101 in San Jose
Hours: 5-9am and 3-7pm
Hwy 87
Both Directions Between Hwy 101/85 connector and Hwy 101 near Bernal
Rd in San Jose
Hours: 5-9am and 3-7pm
Route 237 (Partial Express Lane slated for Spring 2012)
Westbound
Eastbound
McCarthy Blvd on ramp in Milpitas to Mathilda Ave in Sunnyvale
Hours: 5-9am and 3-7pm
Mathilda Ave in Sunnyvale to I-880/237 connector in Milpitas
Hours: 5-9am and 3-7pm
I-280
Northbound
Southbound
Leland Ave in San Jose to Magdalena Ave in Los Altos
Hours: 5-9am and 3-7pm
Magdalena Ave in Los Altos to Meridian Ave in San Jose
Hours: 5-9am and 3-7pm
Capitol Expressway
Both Directions Between Silver Creek Rd and Capitol Ave in San Jose
Hours: 6-9am and 3-7pm
Central Expressway
Both Directions Between Bowers Ave and Scott Blvd in Sunnyvale
Hours: 6-9am and 3-7pm
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CARPOOL
SOUTH BAY (continued)
Lawrence Expressway
Both Directions Between Stevens Creek Blvd in Santa Clara and Route 237 in
Sunnyvale
Hours: 6-9am and 3-7pm
Montague Expressway
Westbound
Eastbound
Milpitas Blvd in Milpitas to Mission College Blvd in Santa Clara
Hours: 6-9am
Mission College Blvd in Santa Clara to Milpitas Blvd in Milpitas
Hours: 3-7pm
San Tomas Expressway
Northbound
Southbound
Budd Ave in Campbell to Scott Blvd in Santa Clara
Hours: 6-9am
Scott Blvd in Santa Clara to Budd Ave in Campbell
Hours: 3-7pm
BRIDGE TOLL PLAZAS
Antioch*
Bay Bridge*
Benicia*
Carquinez*
Dumbarton
Golden Gate*
Richmond-San Rafael*
San Mateo
Hours: 5-10am and 3-7pm
*Requires three or more occupants per vehicle
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What are Express Lanes?
Otherwise known as High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes, these HOV lanes with
designated entry and exit points allow single occupant vehicles to use the
carpool lanes by paying a toll with FasTrak®. The tolls are automatically collected
from an overhead FasTrak reader at specific entry points. Toll prices vary based
upon congestion/dynamic pricing with tolls increasing as traffic increases.
Carpools, vanpools, public transit buses and motorcycles are allowed to travel
on the Express Lanes without charge, including vehicles with white Clean Air
Vehicle stickers as long as FasTrak tags are not displayed on or near the
windshield of the vehicle.
For additional information, visit www.bayareafastrak.org.
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