Issue 188, Summer 2009 - Telegraph Hill Dwellers

PARKING & TRAFFIC REPORTby Gail and Paul SwitzerThe restricted weekend parking trial at CoitTower began June 6 and ends September 27.Near the half-way point our most importantgoal is being met—lines to park at Coit Tower onweekends are small or non-existent and the 39 bus is nolonger delayed by Telegraph Hill weekend traffic jams.And at last report ridership on the 39 bus has increasedsubstantially. The trial was planned and implementedby a city/neighborhood Coordinating Committee withsignificant participation from THD. Please continue toshow your support for our bus by riding it often.We are learning much from the trial. Disseminationof information about the weekend parking restrictionsand the bus alternative was not easy. An attractiveand informative brochure was distributed to wharfhotels and visitor information locations althoughproduction of the brochure took longer than expected.The City issued a press release regarding the weekendparking restriction at Coit Tower although thiswas not produced until after the start of the trial. Theparking lot still attracts illegally parked visitor cars onweekends, albeit in fewer numbers, and enforcementof parking restrictions has been spotty at best.Further efforts are planned to increase ridershipon the 39 bus, particularly aimed at visitors toCoit Tower. These include possible rebate incentiveprograms in connection with parking garages, productionof posters for placement at visitor locationsand on buses and trams, and a stronger 39-friendlyweb presence [check the Wikipedia article for CoitTower]. Also, look for a route change for the 39 busat Fisherman’s Wharf that will put a new stop rightat Pier 39. The route change shouldbe effective later in the fall.30 Issue #188 • Summer 2009