San Francisco's Two Attempts At Congestion Pricing

"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."