Golden Gate Bridge looks to cut toll-takers, raise fees to get ...

top heavy bueracracy protecting its own
deck hands will open up to you if you get to know them on the long run
they once told me they have a 9 person HR department
why?

i did some sub contract work on the GGB and believe me they can cut alot of excess.

They can start with that so called spokesperson Currie. When I was there she did more complaiing about her perks and coworkers rather than worrying about her job as spokesperson.
They can start walking through those trailers in the back and seeing who does what...

I would pay $50 to go under the bridge then up on top of one of the towers. But not much more then that. I would also not pay if I did not get to go up to one of the towers. Who cares about under the bridge

I'm sure the reporter just forgot to mention the pay cuts and benefit reduction that upper management is taking.

That must be why they keep cutting buses from Novato. They want us to get in our cars and drive because it costs $6 to cross the bridge to drive and "only" $4.58 to take the bus. What they dont get is you also pay $4.58 to come back home to Marin.

Hey Marin Commuter...you took the words right out of my mouth. I thought the whole idea was to get people out of their cars. Oops now we are over budget. Beauracracy (sp) rules!!!

The Board should consider the outrageous union contracts that have prevailed unchanged for years. Operators are spiking their pensions with grossly abusive overtime. The overly generous pensions/health benefits need to be reconsidered instead of continually gouging toll payers and cutting bus service to those who are often without alternatives.

Furthermore, an Oyster card with prepaid charges for bus/ferry customers like on London Transport (used on Tube, buses, and private trains) is long overdue.

Better coordination with SF Muni and Bart should be considered.

Finally differential tolls for peak weekend hours for drivers who clutter the bridge with vehicles without Fastrak should be considered.$10 toll on Sunday from 2 pm to 8 pm for San Francisco drivers who clutter the bridge and delay traffic is long overdue.

DBT wrote:

I'm sure the reporter just forgot to mention the pay cuts and benefit reduction that upper management is taking.

Are you OUT OF YOUR MIND! They don't know how to cut salaries & Pensions!( At least thats what they pretend) We can just get ready for the RATE INCREASES, as Colonel Sanders watches over us chickens.
Pobre Mio

How much have these idiots wasted on the suicide barrier?
Still no head on collision barrier for motorists?
Will the State please take this cash cow over by immanent domain?

Sounds like the MMWD plan to raise water rates because people are conserving too much water!

I don't have all the facts--but aren't the facts such that the GGB is self-suuficient; and the reason for the constant budget deficits is that the tolls are subsidizing the ferry and bus sytems? The reporter for the IJ doesn't present the facts.
If the above is correct--I think that they should eliminate the ferry system--as all it does is carry a small number of people; but again, I would have to look over the financials. Does anyone know if my thoughts are correct?

Get rid of anyone making more than $100,000. The toll takers need to go--sorry.

Nigel Claritan wrote:

i did some sub contract work on the GGB and believe me they can cut alot of excess.
They can start with that so called spokesperson Currie. When I was there she did more complaiing about her perks and coworkers rather than worrying about her job as spokesperson.
They can start walking through those trailers in the back and seeing who does what...

I find her beyond irritating. I don't think public entities should legally be able to
waste tax money on "Yackers". Civil Service needs to go back to Civil service tests.
I really feel most of these cushy jobs are nepotistic?

CitizenX wrote:

How much have these idiots wasted on the suicide barrier?
Still no head on collision barrier for motorists?
Will the State please take this cash cow over by immanent domain?

Yes!!!

The B*st*rds

I want to see a complete payroll database.

Try tasteful advertising. Stop gouging those who depend on the bridge to earn a living.

Wow, what next... Corporate Naming Rights?? Like the "Oracle Golden Gate Bridge" ?

Fall into the staid and comfortable mantra of bureaucracies: tolls have to be raised (regretfully as "we have no choice"), but we are doing "our" part by reducing costs -- i.e., cutting jobs. Of course, cutting jobs means start reducing at the bottom because there are more of them and it looks like you are "doing" something to deal with the situation. Don't say anything about the fact these workers are actually "productive" (although not necessarily efficient for many reasons) while protecting jobs that do not contribute directly to running/maintaining/earning revenue for the bridge like spokespeople and managers at all levels. Give me a break. Re-organize without mercy from top down.

Charge the walkers and bikers $1 for access to the bridge. Add the bridge tours. I don't think it's outrageous to pay a $1 to take visiting relatives and friends for a walk on the bridge. They'd also enjoy and be glad to pay for the tour. As for bikers, I also don't think $1 is outrageous - after all maintenance is involved in keeping up the bike path on the west side.
Don't cut the ferry service! Many locals use this.

Easy to raise revenue and actually lower the toll fee for cars - simply charge a toll for BOTH DIRECTIONS of vehicle travel! The toll booths are all the way across the bridge already, but they would need to hire more toll collectors, no problem because revenue would double.

Jonny