San Francisco congestion pricing

[8][9] The SFBS decided to exclude the Southern Gateway scenario and authorized SFCTA to seek federal financing to continue further planning for the two Northeast Cordon options.

[10][11] Another plan was drafted in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic and the exodus of businesses from the downtown core put the congestion pricing proposal on indefinite hold.

[1] Under a separate initiative congestion pricing tolls were implemented at the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge in July 2010 before that was also suspended indefinitely in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic.

[15] San Francisco's first evaluation of a congestion pricing project was the proposal to implement such a scheme at Doyle Drive, a major approach to the Golden Gate Bridge.

This new system will allow drivers to find available parking spots by checking variable message signs, phoning a 511 service, or via the internet.

[1][18] In 2006, San Francisco authorities began a feasibility study to evaluate how congestion pricing fits to resolve the city's problems.

This study was financed with a US$1 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration's Value Pricing Program, with matching funds from local sources.

[14][19] San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom endorsed the concept, and said in early 2008, "a sensible congestion pricing plan is the single greatest step we can take to protect our environment and improve our quality of life.

According to a study contracted to the University of California, Berkeley, commute delays in the first six months have dropped by an average of 15 percent compared with 2009.

The UC Berkeley study also provides evidence that some people are using BART to get to work in San Francisco instead of paying the higher tolls on the Bay Bridge during rush hour.

The following are the main alternatives: However, there are concerns among the planner participating in the study that charging at the city's gateways would reduce traffic from outside San Francisco and encouraging more driving among city residents, while the downtown zone might be too small, thus potentially causing problems in adjacent neighborhoods by drivers bypassing the downtown charge zone.

[26] The study established as a goal that the system has to be self-funded, meaning that revenues from the congestion pricing fees should pay for the costs of maintenance and operation, and other necessary improvements.

[26] The study will explore alternative sources to finance the initial start up costs, including up to US$1 billion recently made available by the federal government for these type of programs.

[8][9] The SFBS decided to exclude the Southern Gateway scenario and authorized SFCTA to seek federal funding to continue further planning for the two Northeast Cordon options and to enter into environmental review.

[28] As such private and ride-hailing vehicles continued to increase into downtown, another proposal was drafted in 2019:[12] In 2018 Assemblymember Richard Bloom and state senator Scott Wiener proposed a bill to allow congestion pricing tolls in San Francisco and other California cities by removing legal barriers at the state level.

[32] This plan uses two tactics to limit traffic: creating a financial incentive to not enter the crowded areas of the city, and using the toll revenue transit system to improve public transportation.

[33] There were several negative reactions, concerns and criticisms as a result of the December 2008 public meetings and online hearing where the preliminary findings of the MAPS (Mobility, Access and Pricing Study) were discussed.

Others claim that congestion pricing is a regressive tax imposing a greater burden on those without a good option to ride public transit and on low-income commuters.

Another major concern is the lack of reliability and capacity of San Francisco's existing network of transit services, limiting commuters' ability to switch to public transport once the congestion pricing is implemented.

[7][20][21] A telephone poll, conducted by the Chamber of Commerce by late January 2009, showed that 61% of the voters opposed the congestion fee for driving downtown.