On the heels of a toll increase that makes travel to San Francisco from the north a little more pricey, an even bigger jump for the Bay Area's state-run bridges is being proposed, taking tolls as much as $3 higher... an increase pushed for by companies like Genentech, Facebook, and Google.

We first heard about this back in December, when the idea was proposed during a Metropolitan Transportation Commission "workshop" at the Hyatt in SF. According to the Chronicle, MTC members have since been in talks at the state Capitol regarding the proposed increase, which "could bring tolls on state-run spans to as much as $9 on the Bay Bridge, which has congestion pricing, and $8 on other bridges."

The additional revenue from the increase — estimated to be as much as $125 million per year — would go to traffic congestion-easing projects like additional BART cars as well as service to San Jose, work to build more high-occupancy vehicle lanes on Bay Area freeways, more ferry systems and express buses, and, the Chron writes, "the growing cost" of SF's new Transbay Transit Center.

It's the congestion management part of this plan that presumably attracted its high-profile supporters, many of which sport a workforce that commutes — per the Chron, "Two of the biggest players pushing for the toll increase are the Silicon Valley Leadership Group — whose members include such tech titans as Genentech, Facebook and Google —and the Bay Area Council, which represents some of the region’s biggest employers, including Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and UCSF."

“When you consider the huge amount of time that commuters waste in traffic every day," Bay Area Council spokesperson Jim Wunderman said in a statement supporting the possible increase, "adding a couple extra dollars to bridge tolls will help cut congestion and expand critical regional mass transit that benefits the entire Bay Area."

Ultimately, however, it's not up to lawmakers or these big companies, it's up to you: toll increases on state-run bridges (that's all of the bridges in the Bay Area sans the Golden Gate, tolls on which increased to as much as $7.75 today) must be agreed to by voters. And so far, voter support is looking good, as a recent poll performed by those high-powered corporate supporters say that "59 percent of those surveyed would support a $2 toll increase that paid for transit improvements, and 56 percent would back a $3 increase."

But we all know how reliable polls are these days, right? According to the Chron, supporters hope to get the increase vote on June primary election ballot. Failing that, expect to see it in November, at the general election.

Previously: Cash-Seeking Transit Officials Mull Proposal To Up Bay Area Bridge Tolls By $3

A total of 31 people plunged to their death off the Golden Gate Bridge in 2009, a number slighter lower than the grand total for 2008.

"The 31 suicides in 2009 were three fewer than 2008, but higher than historical annual totals, according to a new report released by Ken Holmes of the Marin County Coroner’s Office, the agency chiefly in charge of reporting the incidents," noted yesterday's SF Examiner." Since the bridge was built in 1937, more than 1,300 people have plunged to their death, which is about 18 a year."

But what about the prevention net under the bridge, you ask? Well, the $50 million steel net that would be located 20 feel below the bridge, has been stalled since "the bridge district specifically stipulated that no local money will be dedicated to the project." So, according to Paul Mueller of the Bridge Rail Foundation, they're looking to the federal government for help.

The report went on to state the obvious, explaining that "research has constantly shown that suicides can be reduced if easy access to lethal means is restricted."

Anyway, as far as we can tell, if you live in Marin and work in Contra Costa, or vice versa, you can't get home because

1) The Richmond Bridge is blocked by a semi
2) 101 is closed in both directions right where it intersects with 580
3) Park Presidio is closed at Lake because of falling trees
4) Doyle is flooded

Unless, of course, you take the windy Napa road. Might as well stock up on vending machine food, commuters! Be safe out there...