RHN has been working with affect neighbors, other organizations, and the City to resolve the severe impact on our neighborhood of the Lombard “crooked street.” These impacts include traffic congestion on Lombard Street stretching from Hyde Street, west to Van Ness Avenue and beyond. The result is not only traffic impacts and reduced access for residents on Lombard Street, but the virtual isolation of Russian Hill from the Golden Gate Bridge and Van Ness Avenue, given that left turns are no longer permitted on Van Ness from Lombard to Broadway and it is proposed that Broadway’s lanes be narrowed and constricted.
The City is currently studying a plan whereby non-residents will be permitted to drive down Lombard Street only if they have a reservation for a particular window of time. Reservations would be obtainable, for a reasonable fee, only up to a number that can be accommodated without producing adverse impacts. Those who try to drive down the street without a reservation would be subject to a fine. Enforcement would be via a camera-reading technology similar to that used on the Golden Gate Bridge. This technique would require special state legislation, which the City’s representatives are pursuing.
Even if this provision is effective in limiting the number of cars lining up and driving down the “crooked street”, RHN recognizes that there are other impacts, including tourists who illegally park their cars and congregate at the top and bottom of the “crooked street” and often engage in anti-social actions. Attention needs to be given to these problems as well.
Supervisor Stefani has been instrumental in getting the MTA’s attention and keeping the efforts on track. We hope to be able to report substantial progress in the near future.
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