1. Central Subway Extension. It now appears that the subway extension to North Beach and Fisherman’s Wharf is proceeding into the planning phase, as evidenced by the attached posting on the SFMTA web site:
2. Congestion Pricing Proposal. I have been in discussions with the MTA regarding a plan to create a “congestion pricing” system. This involves designating a large part of the northeast portion of San Francisco as a “Congestion pricing zone.” Under this scheme, anyone entering the zone during certain designated times (e.g., morning and evening rush hour) would be required to pay a fee. The fee would be payable via the “Fastrak” system (the same system that collects bridge tolls, either via the Fastrak transponder or the license plate. Presumably, there would be transponders and cameras at each intersection around the perimeter of the zone. Each time someone enters the zone, they would be charge a fee. Currently, the proposal has all of the Northeast of the city in the zone (including South of Market, Financial District, Union Square, Nob Hill, Russian Hill, Telegraph Hill, North Beach and Fisherman’s Wharf. As currently proposed, residents would be given some amount of discount, but would still need to pay a fee to access their homes at those times that the congestion pricing is in effect. Residents would be given a large (around 90%) discount on the fee. Here is a link: https://www.sfcta.org/downtown.
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