Residential Parking Permits (RPP) stirs Heated Debate

"It used to be that the neighborhood was a quiet neighborhood with plenty of parking", comments one Mission Terrace neighbor.

With the growth of the population, the uptick of people driving to park to Mission Terrace to use public transportation, and the increase of adult children staying at home longer (among other reasons), those days of vast areas for street parking have fallen by the wayside.  Currently, there are several large-scale residential projects in the works; including a large development at the southeast (with limited parking included) and southwest (with zero parking included) corners of the neighborhood. [NOTE: NMTIA is working on getting a complete map of all proposed developments. A partial list can be found on our "Proposed Developments" page. Updates welcomed.]

However, there are other considerations which also impact people's lives in the neighborhood; this includes the cost of the annual permits (currently $136 per permit, and increasing rates for the 3rd or 4th vehicles per address), the concerns that people might try and use the alleyways for parking, the wishes that more people use their garages for parking (instead of for storage or living space), and the concerns with larger numbers of people living within single households. 

THE SFMTA PARKING PROGRAM

The methods and decision-making have varied for Residential Parking Permit (RPP). In some neighborhoods, local residents filed petitions, in others it was neighborhood councils that pushed for change, local businesses get into the action, and (as in our case) surveys may be collected. The end results also vary. Some neighborhoods have opted for parking meters, and if permits have been agreed upon the hours and length of time for each permit zone may also vary street by street.

In most parking-permit neighborhoods, two permits are issued per household at the base rate. Additional permits can be purchased at an increased rate. There are also programs to manage visitors, medical & childcare givers, business owners, active duty military persons, students, and more. Click HERE for further information.

DEADLINE LOOMING

While the survey was sent out to all District 11 residents, the collected information will be analyzed and (if warranted) decisions may be made on a smaller geographic basis. As just one example; if the majority of households in Excelsior proper opted in, and the majority in Mission Terrace opted out, then the Excelsior folks might get permits and the overflow cars might park in Mission Terrace... or the reverse could occur.

Deciding and implementing a parking program typically is a multi-year process.  Yet the deadline for residents to respond to the survey is soon (March 30th, 2019.)

Whatever residents want, the hope that enough neighbors turn in their mailed surveys or respond online (link HERE) so a deeper understanding of the wishes and desires of our neighborhood go into the final decisions.

If there are any questions about the survey, SFMTA requests that you reach out to them at InfoRPP@sfmta.com

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