"Excitement" about dumb Treasure Island plan
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| San Francisco Chronicle |
From the SF Examiner:
“I think I need a little more understanding in terms of tolls,” Supervisor Norman Yee asked [SFCTA's Eric]Cordoba. Yee is vice chair of the TIMMA committee. Imagine, he asked, if San Francisco tolled drivers entering other neighborhoods? SFCTA Executive Director Tilly Chang told Yee the tolls were approved in 2011 along with Treasure Island’s new development. “It’s a unique situation,” Chang said. “And the legislature recognized it as a pilot approach.”
I laughed when I read this, since obviously Tilly Chang could easily "imagine" charging motorists a toll when they drive anywhere in the city. She's spent a good part of her career pushing congestion pricing on a reluctant San Francisco. Like other so-called pilot/trial projects in the city, this too will be permanent.
More from the Examiner:
New development on Treasure Island will bring roughly 20,000 new residents to that tiny speck on the Bay in the next decades. To help those new residents — and the existing ones — get around, The City will offer new ferry service directly between Treasure Island and San Francisco starting 2021, a move officials announced Tuesday. That’s a leap ahead of the expected launch of 2025.
But to fund those ferries, and other transportation improvements, a toll will be imposed on autos entering and leaving the island. While those tolls are slated to begin in 2021, the San Francisco County Transportation Authority has yet to set an amount...
The problem with all public transportation: covering the cost to operate the ferry project. Muni fares in the city itself now only cover 25% of the cost to operate the system.
And if you're stupid enough to allow 20,000 residents on an island next to an already-congested Bay Bridge and downtown San Francisco, you better try something to mitigate the resulting traffic gridlock.
How much can the city charge people to leave their own neighborhood? Supervisor Kim---Treasure Island is in her district---apparently isn't worried about it:
The ferries are “very exciting,” said Supervisor Jane Kim, who represents Treasure Island. “Currently the only way to get on and off the island is by vehicle, like cars and Muni buses. Being able to take advantage of a new mode of transportation is huge for residents.”
Sorry to see Kim revert to the birdbrain mode she had when she first took office, but this begs the question: how "huge" will be the toll on people in that neighborhood?
More:
“I’m really excited because we’ve been in a bit of a holding pattern,” Cordoba told the board. “This is the start of us moving forward with final planning, engineering and implementation.” Transportation authority staff expect to bring recommendations for toll levels and hours to the TIMMA Board this fall, Miller said. One early report pegged the tolls at $5 during peak times, and officials are considering charging them only during the hours when the ferries operate.
Cordoba had better like the project, since Tilly "Congestion Pricing" Chang is his boss.
Alas, there's more:
Alas, there's more:
Becky Hogue, a Treasure Island resident who leads and is a member of several community groups, said “we’re not so thrilled by having to pay to get on and off the island.” But, Hogue said, the transportation authority has demonstrated a willingness to listen to the community’s needs, including a potential discount on tolls for people with low incomes.
Also, she said, the ferries will be “immensely wonderful. You’ll be able to go places without having to drive your car,” she said. “On a day when the bridge might be crowded, the ferry will get you to The City in no time flat.”
The assumption by everyone involved seems to be that residents will be going to San Francisco, but of course they'll be charged every time they drive anywhere off the island.
"People with low incomes"? There won't be many left to worry about, since we learned months ago that the city is already evicting them to get Treasure Island ready for gentrification.
One wonders how well Hogue represents the Treasure Island "community." There are surely some who don't see the project "as immensely wonderful."
Sounds like she too was excited. That must have been a thrilling committee meeting.
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| An earlier Congestion Pricing proposal |
Labels: Anti-Car, Bay Area, City Government, Congestion Pricing, Examiner, Housing in the City, Jane Kim, Language, Neighborhoods, Planning Dept., SFCTA, Tilly Chang, Traffic in SF, Treasure Island
posted by Rob Anderson @ 3:37 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
$2-$6 per auto.
It cost them $1.25 million in tax payer money. to evic and relocate residents last year. While publicaly preaching against evictions and making huge deals about affordable housing.
35,000 new residences.
New shopping mall/area. Hotels and offices.
Sf transportation plan and vision zero(zero emissions) is all based on climate change. Sea level is going rise. If this were true why send all those people to their supposed death? If we're true why would the banks fund billions for this knowing their money would be lost?
Here's a study of the sea level issue done for the developers. There's a discussion of that starting on page 12.
The ferries are “very exciting,” said Supervisor Jane Kim
The one and ONLY thing remotely exciting for me is that Jane Kim hopefully gets the hint after losing for state senate and mayor...that it is time for her to leave politics and hopefully the city and state. She is a dim bulb, carpetbagger who needs to move back to New York and continue doing her nothingness there.
BS study to push their agenda. Some funding will be from developers while the rest will be coming from bus fares, bus passes, parking and congestion pricing. Close to $300 million will be coming from housing bonds and measures passed not to long ago. But that won't be enough as it is a $6 billion project. People have paid enough taxes for these stupid projects.
The safety scam. "People are dying all over the streets" we need funding for a billion more bike lanes help save lives.
Treasure island scenario:
You are going to die. Buried under water. We must raise your property taxes to save the bay from sea level rise the port of Oakland will be under 30 feet of water. A study by the state states it's ok to develop treasure island with one requirement.... building water drains all over treasure island as to keep the island safe. $6billion.
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