Mayor Edwin M. Lee today joined the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) to launch the PayByPhone parking payment service in San Francisco that allows drivers to pay for parking at meters with their cell phone. The rollout began with parking meters in the Castro neighborhood and will continue Citywide to other neighborhoods by Spring 2012.

PayByPhone will allow customers to pay for parking at meters by cell phone, receive a reminder text when time is almost up, add time without returning to the meter and receive receipts via e-mail. Read more.

Just One Year After Lifting of Court Injunction, City’s Expansion of Bike Network is Ahead of Schedule & Testing of Innovative Features Continues

Today Mayor Edwin M. Lee and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) announced the completed installation of 50 percent of the bike network expansion, including the completion of 17 bike lane projects, since last August when the four-year Superior Court injunction of the Bicycle Plan was lifted. Numerous innovative projects have been installed and planning continues to make San Francisco a world-class bicycling city.
 
“Whether commuting to work, running errands or taking a family outing, more and more San Franciscans are choosing to bicycle,” said Mayor Lee. “With more than 50 percent of the bike network expansion completed, I want to encourage those who have yet to try it to experience for themselves the benefits of this healthy, fun, low-cost transportation option.” Read more.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which operates the Municipal Railway (Muni), today announced that the cable car conductors are now using new handheld Clipper card readers that will allow conductors to deduct a fare from cash value loaded on a Clipper card as well as automatically load passes (and other products) purchased through clippercard.com or by phone onto a customer’s card. This solution was accomplished without altering the historic appearance or operation of the San Francisco icons.

“The new handheld readers will make commuting by cable car much easier and more convenient for our customers who pay their fare with a Clipper card,” said Debra Johnson, Acting SFMTA Executive Director/CEO. Read more.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which oversees all surface transportation in the City, including the Municipal Railway (Muni), today reminds customers that Muni fare increases of $1 to $2 will take effect July 1. This includes July passes and stickers purchased during the July pass sales period (June 17: Clipper sales; June 24: in-store sales). As of July 1 increases to parking fees and fines will also take effect.

“Our first priority is to improve the quality and value of services we provide for the City,” said Tom Nolan, Chairman of the SFMTA Board of Directors. “By taking proactive measures such as creating the Agency’s first financial reserve, identifying internal efficiencies and implementing moderate increases, we can serve this priority and plan for fiscal sustainability.” Read more.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which oversees all surface transportation including the Municipal Railway (Muni), today announced that it will begin applying the SFpark approach to setting parking rates at City-owned garages participating in the SFpark project, the SFMTA’s two-year federally funded pilot of new parking management technologies and approaches.

As part of the improved pricing approach, the Agency also announced specific rate changes to be implemented this month at the first two garages to receive new SFpark rates: the Moscone Center and Lombard garages. Along with signage, paint, and lighting upgrades, demand-responsive pricing will make parking in City garages in the SFpark pilot areas more appealing, and make rate setting at garages more transparent. All rate changes will be posted on SFpark.org one week prior to the change. Customers who wish to be notified directly may sign up for an e-mail alert at http://sfpark.org/contact-us/
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