The San Francisco County Transportation Authority is working on two applications of congestion pricing for the city's downtown core and on a major road leading to the Golden Gate Bridge.
"Details of the congestion pricing initiatives under consideration in San Francisco have yet to be worked out.
But the goal is twofold: Reduce congestion by discouraging drivers from getting into their polluting cars and raise money for transit. City officials say Muni, for example, needs an extra $100 million a year to make significant service improvements. The money could also help promote biking and make streets safer for pedestrians."
"In addition to the grant for Doyle Drive, the federal government gave the city $1 million to study driving fees in San Francisco, particularly the downtown core and major arteries to and from the Bay Bridge."
"In San Francisco, the program could make use of the FasTrak electronic toll-collecting system," as opposed to utilizing the London technology, where "cameras snap photos of license plates, and drivers must pay the charge either before or on the day of travel. Such logistics have yet to be decided. The amount of the fee and how it would fluctuate according to the time or day and location also are unclear."
"On more than 60 percent of downtown streets, the average speed is less than 10 mph, according to local transportation planners, and the problem is expected to get worse with projected job growth and residential development over the next 25 years."
Both downtown cordon pricing and Doyle Drive projects need approval from city and state legislators.
"We think it's something that at least deserves consideration," said Tilly Chang, the San Francisco County Transportation Authority's deputy director for planning. "We wouldn't be looking at it if we didn't think it showed promise."
"The transportation authority's recommendations on fees are expected next summer."
"San Francisco Supervisor Jake McGoldrick, who chairs the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, said congestion pricing is a way to manage traffic and help fund transit. The idea fits well into San Francisco's "transit first" policy that tries to give high priority to the use of public transportation."
Thanks to Jennifer Alverson
FULL STORY: S.F. studying congestion pricing to ease traffic, promote transit
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.