SFMTA proposes higher parking meter rates for revenue

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is looking at new ways to raise money due to a projected budget deficit of $320 million by July 2026. One idea is to increase parking meter rates, which have not changed in over seven years. The agency wants to raise the current minimum rate to $1 an hour. Some drivers are worried about these changes. Mike Maurer, a local driver, says that higher parking rates might push people away from the city. He believes that downtown should offer free parking to attract visitors. John Busch, another driver, argues that everything is becoming more expensive, so parking rates should reflect that. The SFMTA also mentioned a significant drop in revenue from parking garages since the pandemic. To help with this, they are considering turning the rooftop at 5th and Mission into a pickleball and tennis club. However, not everyone supports this idea. Busch thinks it's a passing trend and prefers to focus on more essential services. In addition to parking changes, SFMTA plans to introduce a $0.10 convenience fee for mobile payment transactions, which some drivers, like Ray Pitchford, are criticizing as unnecessary. Transportation advocate Luke Bornheimer believes SFMTA should do more. He suggests charging for street parking on Sundays and evenings to help local businesses. Bornheimer claims that charging appropriate rates will increase turnover of parking spaces and benefit shops. Other residents are concerned about the impact of these proposals. Pitchford argues that such changes could force people out of the city, leading to fewer jobs and hurting local businesses. Currently, SFMTA is not voting on these ideas. The discussion is an early part of the proposal process, which also includes considering extending weekend parking enforcement.