SAN FRANCISCO—State legislators in Sacramento approved a plan on Thursday, May 2 to test out a system requiring reservations and a toll for people to drive down San Francisco’s famous Lombard Street. The legislation proposed by Assemblymember Phil Ting in AB 1605 passed in the State Assembly by a vote of 51-18 late Thursday morning.
“Great momentum… the Assembly approved my bill, #AB1605, to allow San Francisco to pilot a reservation & pricing system on Lombard St. to better manage the crowds & traffic congestion,” said Ting in a tweet on Thursday. “On to the Senate!”
AB 1605 gives the City and County of San Francisco the right to charge drivers who are seeking to experience the unique hairpin turns that attract more than two million visitors a year.
“It has become increasingly difficult to manage the crowds and traffic congestion at the Crooked Street,” said Ting in a press release. “Neither the presence of parking enforcement officers, nor the closure of the crooked segment has changed the current situation. AB 1605 offers a solution worth trying to improve public safety and the quality of life for residents.”
The San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) concluded in its 2017 study that managing access to the popular attraction has become necessary and recommended a Reservation and Pricing System. This strategy would regulate flow at the entrance, while decreasing the number of cars in queue.
“We thank Assemblymember Ting and his colleagues in the Assembly for their support of a reservation system to improve safety and congestion on Lombard Street,” said Tilly Chang, Executive Director of SFCTA. “The Transportation Authority looks forward to the next steps to enabling San Francisco to pilot this project in the near future.”
Ting’s proposal now moves to the Senate for consideration. This year’s deadline for all bills to reach Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk is September 13.
