Its streets were clogged mornings and afternoons with record levels of congestion. Public transit buses sat idly in gridlock too dense to overcome, ev

S.F. is considering downtown 'congestion pricing.' Here's how much it would cost

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2021-07-26 14:00:03

Its streets were clogged mornings and afternoons with record levels of congestion. Public transit buses sat idly in gridlock too dense to overcome, even with the benefit of dedicated red-painted lanes meant to hasten passengers’ commutes. Ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft brought more vehicles into the area, worsening the problem.

So in 2019, before the pandemic emptied out downtown, San Francisco once again revived a controversial, decades-long debate about whether to charge drivers a fee to enter the city’s densest portions. And even though congestion isn’t the problem it was pre-pandemic, this added cost is still being considered by the city.

Congestion pricing is still three to five years from potentially arriving to the city, according to a spokesperson for the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, which is leading the city’s study. But details on what a congestion pricing plan could look like in San Francisco have emerged, and the effort will reach a critical point at the end of this year when the Board of Supervisors will decide whether to move forward on the issue.

• There would be a base fee of $6.50 to enter the congestion pricing zone with eligible discounts based on income level. If you make more than $100,000 a year, you’d pay the full amount. Commuters who make less than $46,000 would not pay a fee.