New poll shows broad support for raising Bay Area bridge tolls

Details of a regional ballot measure that would raise tolls to pay for billions in Bay Area transportation improvements are beginning to fall into place after results of a new poll show that the measure has sufficient support to pass.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission took no official action Wednesday afternoon, but after a two-hour discussion it was evident that officials are ready to ask voters in nine Bay Area counties in June to approve a $3 toll increase on the region’s seven state-owned toll bridges, phased in a dollar at a time over as many as eight years.

The decision on whether to go to the ballot in June, and the details of Regional Measure 3, will be made at a Jan. 24 meeting.