COUNTYWIDE

Officials from the Foothill and Eastern toll roads agreed at a committee meeting Wednesday to support a $1 monthly charge for transponders, the devices that automatically deduct tolls from prearranged accounts. The position matches a similar one taken Tuesday by members of the board that oversees the San Joaquin Hills toll road. The issue is scheduled to be voted on by the full boards on June 10. If approved, the surcharge could be implemented as soon as mid-July.

Lisa Telles, a spokeswoman for the Transportation Corridor Agencies, said the fee would help to pay for replacing Fastrak transponders, which she said have a 7-year life span. The transponders are given free to motorists who open an account with the agencies. About 45,000 of the 230,000 that have been issued are not regularly used; toll road officials said they hope a fee would encourage infrequent users to turn them in.

Toll road officials are considering waiving the fee for regular drivers on the roads, but the threshold for such an exemption is still undetermined. The action would not affect transponders issued by the 91 Express Lanes, which require a $5 monthly minimum.