Speak Out: SFMTA Board Could Scrap Sunday Parking Meters Tomorrow

Correction: The SFMTA Board meeting begins at 2 p.m., not 1 p.m. as previously stated. Depending on the number of speakers, the meeting could last hours. You can view the meeting live on SFGovTV 2.

Tomorrow is your chance to speak out about the SFMTA's proposal to repeal Sunday parking metering, as the agency's Board of Directors will vote on a new budget that eliminates the $9.6 million in annual revenue that the meters bring in. It's up to the board to stand up to Mayor Ed Lee, who has sought to reverse one of the smartest transportation policies to begin under his administration with unfounded claims of a popular revolt against Sunday meters.

Although SFMTA Director Ed Reiskin proposed compromises, such as re-directing parking enforcement away from Sunday meters, or only enforcing four-hour time limits, the proposal on the board's agenda calls for a complete reversal of the policy. Lee's office reiterated to CBS just last week that the mayor is unwilling to accept anything less than free parking on Sundays. Reiskin and the SFMTA Board, all mayoral appointees, appear poised to undo the hard-fought policy success, even though it has cut cruising times for parking in half and has increased parking turnover near businesses by at least 20 percent.

"It's highly disturbing that SFMTA staff is presenting a proposal that is straight from the mayor's office," said transit advocate Mario Tanev, who called the proposal a "complete betrayal of transit-first, SF businesses, shoppers and common sense."

"This will set a really bad precedent. SFMTA and progressive transportation policy will be severely damaged by this reversal. It will feed into the narrative that parking meters are somehow a failure that nobody wants."

Even though the push against paying for Sunday parking appears to be coming from church leaders, Mayor Lee claims it will win voter support for three transportation funding measures proposed for November's ballot. Yet it's not clear that will win over many votes, given strong support behind Sunday meters: The Chamber of Commerce, the SF Bicycle Coalition, and even former Mayor Willie Brown all declared their support in two Chronicle op-eds published last week.

Brown's support is especially surprising, considering that his views on transportation policy are usually more car-centric. Then again, Sunday meters benefit drivers by making it easier to find a spot, and even Brown recognizes the pro-business side of it.

"Free parking on Sundays is a throwback to 40 years ago when stores were closed that day," Brown wrote in his column Saturday. "Now it is 'open for business' seven days a week, and stores can't afford to have cars camped outside for hours when there are potential customers circling."

The SFMTA Board meeting starts tomorrow at 2 p.m. at City Hall, room 400. If you can't make it to speak during public comment, you can email the board at MTABoard@sfmta.com.