Carpooling is a great way to beat traffic congestion on the way to work, reduce auto emissions and cut commute costs. 511 SF Bay offers carpool programs that assist thousands of Bay Area employers and their employees by offering free commute assistance and information on alternatives to driving alone. A variety of carpooling options and programs are available to those who commute to and from Hacienda. To ensure commuters are aware of the avaialble programs and updates to carpooling rules, and to encourage carpooling, the following updates and benefits are important for all commuters to know before they hit the road! 511 is your phone and web resource and transportation network for "Getting you around the Bay Area" offering traffic,  transit, carpool, vanpool, and bicycling information. 

2026 Carpooling and FasTrak Rules Update

Drivers throughout the Bay Area can use toll tags to take advantage of FasTrak’s easy-to-use electronic toll pay system on all Bay Area bridges and in express lanes on several major highways. Starting January 1, 2026,  the carpool requirements are changing on all Bay Area bridges except the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge. Carpools with 3 or more people, 2 people in a 2-seater and motorcycles must use a FasTrak Flex toll tag set to “3+” and drive in the marked carpool lanes to get the 50% toll discount during posted carpool hours. To find out how to get a FasTrak tag,  replace or your older tag or open a FasTrak account, visit ​www.GetFasTrak.org. Carpooling information for FasTrak is also available at www.bayareafastrak.org/en/home/get-fastrak.shtml. The following details are important to note:

• Vehicles using a standard FasTrak® tag or a FasTrak Flex set in positions “1” or “2” will be charged the full toll, even if they meet occupancy requirements.
• On the 6 bridges, vehicles with 2 people and a FasTrak Flex tag set to “2” can use the marked carpool lanes during posted carpool hours, but do not get a toll discount. On the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge, 2-person carpools are not permitted in the carpool lane.

511 Carpool Resources

The 511 SF Bay website offers information for a variety of carpool resources online at www.511.org/carpool. Information for the following carpool reosurces is available:

• Commute Rewards Carpool
• Express Lanes
• Park & Ride Lots
• Carpool to BART
• Casual Carpool
• Carpool Savings
• Guaranteed and Emergency Ride Home

Carpooling Benefits

511  has a great selection of casual carpool and vanpool services and can assist anyone who is looking to join an existing vanpool or interested in starting their own. You may join a carpool by simply registering at www.511.org/carpool. Carpooling with 511 is easy and works great whether you want to carpool every day, a day or two a week, or as needed. Once registered, you will receive a list of potential carpool partners who live and work nearby. When you carpool, you can save time, money and get the opportunity to meet new people. Joining the 511 community Carpool Program has many benefits including:

• The comfort of a car ride
• A faster trip in carpool or express lanes, using FasTrak® Flex(opens in a new window
• Free or half-price tolls in express lanes
• Earning carpool rewards
• Shared commute costs
• Shared rides with neighbors, co-workers, friends and new acquaintances

Additional Details

Additional details are available on ridesharing as well as the many other programs and services offered by 511. Please refer to the 511 RideMatch Program contact below for details.

Contact Information

Tracy Keough
Metropolitan Transportation Commission
375 Beale St Suite 800, San Francisco, CA 94105
(650) 207-40934 phone
tracy@keoughconsulting.com e-mail     www.511.org WWW

Hacienda Owners Association
4305 Hacienda Drive, Suite 330, Pleasanton, California  94588-2738
(925) 734-6500 phone     (925) 734-6501 fax
info@hacienda.org e-mail     www.hacienda.org WWW