Solving Scarce Parking With 'Benefit Districts'

The low price of parking permits is being attacked as a cause for parking deficiencies in the city, as it can cost just pennies a day for permit holders to keep their cars on the streets.

"The idea is to raise money for the city, make it easier for people to park in front of their house, and also reduce pollution by encouraging transit use, said San Francisco County Transit Authority planner Jesse Koehler, who presented his three-year report Tuesday to the authority's plans and programs committee.

The study is a planning document only; any parking changes would need legislative approval and potential changes to the City Charter."