San Francisco May Charge Drivers for Hitting the Streets
by Alex Smith, San Francisco, California 
on 11.26.08
Photo Credit: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle
City May Be the First in the US to Charge Drivers a Toll for Choosing Cars
Next Tuesday, San Francisco's Board of Supervisors will review plans to charge drivers on the city's roads to ease congestion and encourage car-free transportation. More on the emissions reducing tolls below the fold.
According to the SF Chronicle, a top city official said this week the plan to charge drivers who hit the city's roads is "totally doable." Schemes that will be presented at Tuesday's meeting include charging drivers at major bridges that enter the city and also upon entry into high traffic job zones like Downtown.
With a tough economy still keeping wallets less than full, the plans include waiving the tolls for low income and disabled drivers. The city hopes charging drivers a fee will keep them off the roads and on public transportation and their bikes. Ideally the toll money collected will go to pedestrian and bike projects and improvements to the city's public transit system. The model would be similar to those in London and Singapore. Though New York talked about implementing a similar toll system, the idea has yet to successfully pass through the legislative process.
The city is also implementing meter changes: fees will adjust to spot availability to prevent drivers from creating significant carbon footprints while looking for parking.
Via: The San Francisco Chronicle
More on Congestion Pricing:
LA Congestion Pricing
Hybrids Pay Less at the Tolls
Should All Cars Be Banned from Driving in London?
Did the Congestion Charge Drive Us to Cycling?
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The toll is a fair way to incentivize public transportation. Although it may rile the "No New Taxes" crowd, it is smarter than simply increasing taxes on fuel or motor vehicle registration fees, and since the toll isn't a "tax" per se, it's not a tax! Will the attempt to adjust the toll for income sensitivity stigmatize those who with low incomes?
I wish my city would have a toll at all and charge more for parking in order to increase funding for MUCH NEEDED improvements in public transportation. Are you listening Little Rock?
Here in Sweden we have had such charge now for 3 years to drive in to stockholm. I dont think it has discouraged drivers from entering the city by car, truck etc. It has on the other had generated another huge income stream for the swedish government.
no, just NO.
You get charged to go into SF as is, you get charged when you LEAVE SF too. You get charged so they can constantly repaint the golden gate too! And what does this do? You just sit in a big crowded area for the better part of 15 minutes while 100s of cars are just sitting there with you idling the entire time. (If they'd use the toll collection system used in the midwest, I think Illinois I'd be somewhat ok with it, but they don't!)
And in the middle of this economic state they want to levy more fees on people? Back off a little, yes the public transportation system there is incredible and when I actually used it I wanted to cry how easy and comforting it was and how I met some really nice sweet kick ass people to talk with but if someone wants to use their car don't punish them so heavily for it.
Car drivers are already taxed with gas tax and property tax. Adding another tax is just pointless and hurt those with lower incomes the most.