Posted on 02/15/2005 2:06:00 PM PST by Alissa
San Francisco would become the first city in the nation to charge drivers just for driving in its chronically congested downtown under a sure-to-be controversial proposal being aired today.
Supervisor Jake McGoldrick, chair of the San Francisco Transportation Authority, will ask the agency to study a downtown toll zone -- whereby drivers would need to purchase a daily pass to drive in The City's most congested streets -- as a potential solution to the Municipal Transportation Agency's woeful budget problems.
"The key issue here is if we can kill three birds with one stone -- relieve congestion, clean up the air, and give money to Muni -- we would have hit a home run," McGoldrick said.
Modeled on similar "congestion charging" zones in London, cameras would record license plates and tickets would be issued for motorists who failed to purchase a pass. The intent is for drivers to pick other routes, avoid coming downtown or switch to Muni, which would travel more efficiently in the faster flowing streets.
"When you have a situation where traffic is not moving, Muni is not moving," McGoldrick said. "If we are ever going to get Muni to move, we are going to have to get those cars out of there."
Traffic in downtown San Francisco streets has been an intractable problem since the day the Bay Bridge opened in 1936. Several downtown streets are consistently rated "F" by the Department of Parking and Traffic for low travel speeds at rush hour.
The study would determine the size of the toll zone, how much money it would generate and how much congestion it could eliminate.
McGoldrick's proposal comes at a politically opportune time, with Muni considering a controversial 25 cent raise in fares, and transit activists mounting an increasingly vocal campaign to shift Muni's budget difficulties away from the people who ride the buses.
Several long-term solutions to Muni's budget deficit have also been floated over the past few months, including the creation of a downtown "assessment district," which would essentially impose an additional tax on property owners. But that would have to be approved by two-thirds of the voters in that district and, if it were to pass, the money would not be seen for at least a year.
Additional longer term options include other taxes -- including an environmental impact fee for vehicles driving in The City; a local vehicle registration fee; an increase in the parking tax; a special parcel tax on properties within The City; and a local gas tax. All of those options would require approval by San Francisco voters, the Board of Supervisors or the California Legislature.
Sean Comey, spokesman for the American Automobile Association in San Francisco, said a downtown toll zone would unfairly punish commuters who can't take public transit. "I don't think its going to get too much further than concept," he said.
Lee Blitch, president of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, worried the extra expense and hassle to get to downtown could hurt business.
"We are trying to get out of the recession, but go back into it," Blitch said.
Ah, the "trifecta" of the Socialist-Left: simultaneously dis-empower the people (restrict freedom of mobility and access), advance a false and disingenuous agenda to disguise true motives ("it's for the environment", "it's for the children", "it's for the homeless", etc.), and rape people of their earnings to line the pockets of the greedy politburo (under the guise of providing social services).
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Well stated -- and the useful idiots just keep feeding the kitty....fools.
I support toll roads in general. It's an efficient use of taxing the user, rather than taxing someone who never drives in SF.
For example, how about, "toll passes put too much additional stress on those with AIDS taking drug cocktails." There will be a toll tag exception for anyone who claims to have AIDS or who might ever transport some one with AIDS or any material that might ever be used for/by some one with AIDS. Toll tags, by definition, must be unfair to minorities. The mayor and key city employees MUST be able to move freely around the city so all city employees will be exempt from toll tags. This would be a key issue in negotiations with the union who represent ccity employees at the next extortion session. I gotta believe that the homeless who live in different shelters every night and have to drive in to Market Street to harrass the tourists should be exempt.
No, the toll tag concept probably is a great idea. It is the corruption of that concept by the neocommunists who run the city that will give normal people the biggest laughs.
I lived there in the 70's and the hot (straight, conservative) spots were almost invisible. It seems like it's gone in a downward spiral ever since. In those days I lived in Pacific Heights, the Castro District, Japan Center, and between Polk and Ghirardelli Sq. Those were my neighborhood. Also, I worked in the Gold Coast area, 2 blocks south of Broadway around the corner from Melvin Belli's office.
What about tourist make a few wrong turns, and ouch you could have a nice big bill. Or for that matter, local folks that only go to the city once in a blue moon. And there are many....
I avoid 'the city' like the plague. If I do go, I take public transport.
Perhaps the suburban areas should charge tolls on
San Francisco residents when they venture out of
their insane-asylum of a city. In addition, San
Francisco should be forced to pay any suburb or
outlying area all the costs incurred by any crime
their residents commit outside of the city --- court costs, legal fees, reparations to victims, police costs, incarceration costs. I'm sure San Francisco would
only think this fair.
I'm thinking that a municipal abattoir for registered Democrats and members of the Socialist, Communist, and Green Parties
Ah, the abattoir, the cause of and solution to, all of life's problems. Still, with the terrain, weather and "target rich environment", I think San Francisco should open itself up to urban hunting. Anyone with dreadlocks, earth-shoes, pierced face, tribal tattoos, "buck fush" T-shirts, or rainbow flags would be fair game to any Red Stater who purchased a license.
Plus, with the large immigrant populace on hand, they might be able to lend a hand with some recipes for "long pig".
Owl_Eagle”Guns Before Butter.”
"I never go into SF anyway. It's good with me:-)"
Agreed, I avoid the City every chance I get. I won't cross any of the bridges either unless I absolutely have to. Let the poor socialist suckers pay the toll or the companies can relocate to an area where the cost of doing business isn't so high. The socialists don't get it and will happily kill the goose laying the golden eggs (the capitalists).
Well, Mrs Drango puts a death grip on my arm everytime we get off Bart at Civic Center and walk up to Van Ness. Let's be honest...It isn't safe to do at night.
Would we be allowed to use the .50 cal sniper rifle that the Dims are all a'twitter about? And, of course, the Chinese restaurants would have to be off-limits.
Tolls, tolls and more tolls! As long as they're just taxing themselves, I say more power to them.
Keep driving up the costs of doing business in SF. I sure won't care.
Would we be allowed to use the .50 cal sniper rifle that the Dims are all a'twitter about?
Absolutely! Especially with an extra large clip, flash suppressor, and any other scary looking attachment that does little else besides scare bed-wetting liberals. Although fear tends to sour the taste of their meat.
Owl_Eagle”Guns Before Butter.”
How about taxing the homeless who pee and poop in public? Like, they have to give back an empty deposit bottle or two ...
Wow, where in the city do you live and work? I lived there from 1967 to 1974. Moved out but went back to work there from 1980 to 1983. In that time I was subject to one attempted mugging (guy had a knife and I outran him). In the 80-83 period I worked at Montgomery and California and used to walk the area at lunch and was accosted almost daily by various former mental patients and homeless types. In my younger days (67 - 74) I was apparently quite attractive to homosexual men as I was approached three times in that period not to mention being subjected to whistles and catcalls (I worked near the Tenderloin and used to walk through there to Market to catch the bus). When I lived there I lived out in Ingleside (near SF State), the Haight, Filmore and Knob Hill near Grace Cathedral.
No toll booths, just cameras to snap the plates. They'll probably up on poles to get them away from the enthusiastic public.
Nope. Partially from the fact that we don't go in that often and partially from the fact that when we do...every hair stands on end and my spider sense tingles like a three alarm fire.
Bart out to Walnut Creek. The beer is wet and you can relax. I'll buy.
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