Starting October 2, the occupancy requirement for toll-free travel in the SR 237 Express Lanes will change from two to three occupants. Vehicles with two occupants will be eligible for a 50% toll discount with FasTrak Flex toll tag, while solo drivers will continue to pay the listed toll price.

This change stems from an effort to maintain regional consistency in express lane corridors that “ring the bay" along I-880, SR 237 and US 101. The new high occupancy vehicle (HOV) requirements on SR 237 coincide with the October 2 opening of the I-880 Express Lanes in Alameda County, where drivers will also be charged the 50% toll when carrying one passenger (HOV2) and be free for three or more occupants (HOV3+).

Two-person carpools in two-seater vehicles can travel toll-free in the I-880 and SR 237 Express Lanes and must set their FasTrak Flex toll tag in the 3+ position.

Caltrans, not VTA or other regional agencies, designates vehicle occupancy requirements for carpool and express lanes in the Bay Area. The provision that allows vehicles with two riders to receive a 50% toll discount, should the lane transition to an HOV3+ occupancy requirement, was included in the Express Lane toll ordinance adopted by the VTA Board of Directors in December 2018.

Since November 2019, drivers with eligible clean air vehicle (CAV) decals have been able to receive a 50% toll discount on the SR 237 Express Lanes with a specially registered CAV toll tag. When the lane transitions to HOV3+, clean air vehicles with two riders will not receive an additional 50% discount.

A FasTrak Flex toll tag is required of all vehicles to use in the express lane. Get yours at bayareafastrak.org before using the Express Lanes to avoid penalties.