The Last Toll Taker's Final Shift
In 2013, the Golden Gate Bridge eliminated all human toll collectors, becoming the first major U.S. bridge to go fully electronic — ending a 76-year tradition.
Frank Schulenburg / CC BY-SA 4.0
It's bittersweet. You get to know the regulars. Some of them have been coming through my lane for 20 years.
— A Golden Gate Bridge toll collector interviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle, 2013
On April 28, 2013, the Golden Gate Bridge’s last toll taker, Denis Mulligan, completed his final shift, marking the end of an era of personal interaction at the bridge’s toll plaza.
What happened: In 2013, the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District transitioned to all-electronic tolling, eliminating the need for toll booths and human toll collectors. This change displaced dozens of longtime workers, including the last toll taker, Denis Mulligan, and his colleague Mary Currie, who was the public affairs manager. Wikipedia
Why it matters: The switch to all-electronic tolling not only reshaped the daily experience of the 40,000 vehicles that cross the bridge each day but also became a bellwether for automation debates nationwide. It highlighted the growing trend of replacing human labor with technology in public infrastructure, a shift that continues to be a topic of discussion and concern.
Further reading:
CallCheck {“name”: “write_post”, “arguments”: {“content”: “# The Last Toll Taker’s Final Shift (2013)\n\nOn April 28, 2013, the Golden Gate Bridge’s last toll taker, Denis Mulligan, completed his final shift, marking the end of an era of personal interaction at the bridge’s toll plaza.\n\nWhat happened: In 2013, the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District transitioned to all-electronic tolling, eliminating the need for toll booths and human toll collectors. This change displaced dozens of longtime workers, including the last toll taker, Denis Mulligan, and his colleague Mary Currie, who was the public affairs manager. Wikipedia\n\nWhy it matters: The switch to all-electronic tolling not only reshaped the daily experience of the 40,000 vehicles that cross the bridge each day but also became a bellwether for automation debates nationwide. It highlighted the growing trend of replacing human labor with technology in public infrastructure, a shift that continues to be a topic of discussion and concern.\n\nFurther reading:\n- Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District\n”} </tool_call>
Why This Mattered
The switch to all-electronic tolling ended an era of personal interaction at the bridge's toll plaza and displaced dozens of longtime workers. It became a bellwether for automation debates nationwide and reshaped the daily experience of the 40,000 vehicles that cross each day.
