Skip to main content

Updating Parking Meter Pricing and Reprioritizing Enforcement

Updating Parking Meter Pricing and Reprioritizing Enforcement
By Phillip Pierce

As the Bay Area enters the next phases of reopening, demand for on-street parking is continuing to increase, especially while transit service is limited under the Core Muni Service Plan and with physical distancing transit vehicle capacity restrictions in place. Parking meters are a key tool for making sure San Franciscans have access to our commercial corridors by making finding parking easier. For that reason, after temporarily suspending time limits and lowering meter prices at meters in response to the shelter-in-place order, starting on Monday, July 6 we will be restoring meter prices close to normal levels and reprioritizing enforcement. 

Parking Meter being sanitized by someone in a safety suit with visor
Deep Cleaning Parking Meters – Our parking meter crews now deep cleans each meter when they are out for collection or routine maintenance. 

Our data shows that in San Francisco, most people get to our commercial corridors by walking, biking, taking Muni, or getting dropped off. For those that chose to drive, it is important that parking is available, and that people stay only as long as they need to -- opening spots up for the next customer. Without priced parking and enforcement, folks who live or work in a neighborhood will park and leave their car all day, taking up space that could have been used by a customer of neighborhood businesses. This is what is happening now with the extremely low meter rates and limited enforcement. With many local businesses struggling due to the pandemic, we need to do all we can to support them. 

In response to the decrease of most economic activity and travel demand, on April 1, the SFMTA set all meter rates at $0.50/hour, down from an average of about $2.50/hour, and removed all meter time limits. In addition, many of our Parking Control Officers were reassigned to COVID-19-related emergency work like directing traffic near hospitals and COVID-19 testing sites. Now, we need to restore our meter programs and prioritize enforcement to keep San Francisco moving. 

Meter Policy Starting Monday, July 6 

  • Restore Meter Rates with a $0.50 discount. Meter rates vary throughout San Francisco, based on the demand for parking on the block and the time of day. We plan to restore meter prices back to pre-COVID-19 levels with a $0.50/hour decrease. The lowest any meter will be set is at $0.50 per hour. Motorcycle meters will be fully restored. 

  • Restore pre-COVID parking meter time limits. This ensures that people don’t leave their vehicles in one space all day, preventing others from accessing commercial corridors.  

  • Accelerate the demand-responsive pricing process. We typically adjust meter prices (up, down or stay flat) based on demand data every 3 months. These increases or decreases are in $0.25 increments to make sure our policy is reflective of how many people are using an area. With so many unknowns during the health crisis, we will look to adjust rates every 6 weeks so we can better reflect San Francisco’s changing needs. 

  • Reprioritize meter enforcement. SFMTA Parking Control Officers will begin regular enforcement on Monday, July 13th. 

As a reminder, we recently started enforcing street cleaning to help Public Works street sweepers get better access to the curb and keep our city clean. Residential Parking Permits and neighborhood time limits will not be enforced at this time to reduce the frequency with which residents need to move their cars. We will communicate any additional parking changes on our website via the comprehensive COVID-19 Responses page . Please refer to our holiday enforcement plans for information on the 4th of July weekend and other holidays.



Published July 01, 2020 at 03:43AM
https://ift.tt/31ug2JW
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

150 Years Ago Today – The Cable Car is Born

150 Years Ago Today – The Cable Car is Born By Kelley Trahan August 2, 2023, marks the 150th anniversary of the world’s first successful cable railway, born right here in San Francisco. To celebrate the occasion, we bring you the story of Andrew Hallidie and the very first cable car company, the Clay Street Hill Railroad.  Andrew Hallidie (1834-1900) was a pioneering inventor and entrepreneur who changed urban transportation. In 1852, at the age of 18, Hallidie emigrated with his father from the United Kingdom to San Francisco during the California Gold Rush. His father, an engineer and inventor, had a wire rope patent that played a crucial role in his son's future success.   Portrait of Andrew Smith Hallidie in 1890. Inspired by his father's wire rope business, Hallidie developed a steel cable mineral mine hauling system in 1857. About a decade later, he designed a wire rope aerial tramway for transporting materials over mountainous terrain. Then, after a stint in bridg...
Post a Comment
NEXT

Shared Spaces are Here to Stay. Permit Renewals are Due January 15, 2023.

Shared Spaces are Here to Stay. Permit Renewals are Due January 15, 2023. By Anne Yalon Shared Spaces, amongst many other benefits, allows our residents and families to enjoy safe and social outdoor dining. Seen here are the the owners of Tio Chilo’s Grill and their children in the restaurant’s parklet on 24th Street in the Mission.  San Francisco’s popular Shared Spaces program allows merchants, restaurants and arts and culture organizations to use the curbside, sidewalk and other public spaces to conduct local business activities and stay afloat. What emerged as an economic lifeline during the pandemic is making San Francisco’s streets more energized, engaged and activated. Many of the Shared Spaces parklets have become central gathering places for the local community. “ Our parklet makes me feel like when I go to Mexico, where outdoor seating is everywhere. People end up joining their friends in our parklet. It is a space for our customers and our community," said Liz V...
Post a Comment
NEXT

Tenderloin Streets Transform During COVID-19

Tenderloin Streets Transform During COVID-19 By Kimberly Leung COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted people who live and work in the Tenderloin. As a result, the SFMTA has been working closely with District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney’s office, other city departments, the Tenderloin Traffic Safety Task Force and community members to address the public health issues and unique challenges in the neighborhood through innovative interventions.    The Tenderloin is home to many of our most vulnerable communities including historically marginalized groups such as people with disabilities, residents of SROs and supportive housing and limited-English proficient communities. With every single street in the Tenderloin on the city’s High Injury Network -- the 13 percent of San Francisco streets that account for 75 percent of severe traffic injury collision and fatalities -- thi...
Post a Comment
NEXT