Procedures for Implementing Parking and Traffic Controls. | |
Notice of Public Hearing. | |
Final SFMTA Decision; Request for Review. | |
Delegation to the Director of Transportation or Designee to Restrict the Stopping, Parking, or Standing of Vehicles and Close the Parking Space Portion of a Street for Curbside Shared Spaces Activities. | |
Delegation of Authority to the Interdepartmental Staff Committee on Traffic and Transportation (ISCOTT) to Temporarily Close the Traffic Lane Portion of a Street for Roadway Shared Spaces Activities. | |
SFMTA Board Approval of Longer-Term Closure of the Traffic Lane Portion of a Street for Roadway Shared Spaces Activities. | |
Slow Streets Program. |
(a) Office of City Traffic Engineer. The position of City Traffic Engineer is established. The City Traffic Engineer shall be an employee of the SFMTA licensed with the State of California as a Civil or Traffic Engineer and designated by the Director of Transportation to exercise the powers and perform the duties of City Traffic Engineer established by this Code. The City Traffic Engineer shall have the authority to:
(1) Identify, study and implement measures to improve traffic conditions and increase the safety of vehicles and pedestrians in furtherance of the City's Transit First Policy.
(2) Review and investigate requests to install, modify, or remove Traffic Control Devices.
(3) Install color curb markings, including painting red zones not to exceed 20 (continuous) feet in length where needed to ensure public safety, proper Parking Meter spacing, or vehicular access to private or public driveways and Streets.
(4) Design, install, operate, and maintain Traffic Control Devices as necessary to guide, warn, and control moving vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
(5) Install or remove any temporary Traffic Control Devices on any Street for the purpose of controlling Parking or traffic during emergencies, special conditions or events, construction work, short-term testing, or when necessary for the protection of public health and safety. Such temporary Traffic Control Devices shall be removed when they are no longer required following the emergency, condition, or event.
(6) Implement Parking and traffic control measures approved by the SFMTA Board of Directors.
(7) Determine the hours and days during which any Traffic Control Device shall be in operation except where such hours or days are established by law or by resolution of the SFMTA Board of Directors.
(8) Conduct engineering and traffic surveys necessary to establish and maintain appropriate speed limits.
(9) Regulate or prohibit obstructions on Streets and grant or deny Special Traffic Permits.
(10) Mark center lines, lane lines, crosswalks, the boundaries of Parking Spaces associated with Parking Meters, and other distinctive markings upon the surface of any Street, or place any signs to indicate the course to be traveled by vehicles or pedestrians.
(11) Take other actions to regulate Parking and traffic or prohibit Obstructions to Traffic which do not require public hearing or approval of the SFMTA Board of Directors as described in subsections (b) and (c) of this Section 201.
(12) To remove without notice any unauthorized Traffic Control Device, including color curb markings or other markings that regulate Parking and traffic.
(13) Indicate by signs or red curb markings where Parking is prohibited by five feet on each side of any low pressure fire hydrant, and by seven and one-half feet on each side of any high pressure fire hydrant.
(14) Carry out all functions of the City Traffic Engineer consistent with all laws, regulations, generally accepted traffic engineering standards, and SFMTA policies.
(15) Install signs giving notice of the days and hours that Parking is prohibited in order to allow street cleaning as requested by the Department of Public Works.
(b) Public Hearings. The following Parking and traffic measures may be implemented following a Public Hearing by the City Traffic Engineer or, if a project includes actions in this subsection and subsection (c), the City Traffic Engineer may recommend a hearing at the SFMTA Board of Directors:
(1) Locate and install Traffic Calming Devices.
(2) Designate the location of Stands, the types of vehicles authorized to use such Stands, and the days and hours in which Parking restrictions shall be enforced at any Stand.
(3) Determine the locations for Parking restrictions designated by painted curb colors in accordance with Vehicle Code Section 21458 and the times that Parking is prohibited in such locations.
(4) Determine the locations of Truck Loading Zones and the times that Parking is prohibited in that Zone.
(5) Designate motorcycle Parking Spaces.
(6) Designate on-street bicycle Parking Spaces for the installation and use of Bicycle Racks and Bicycle Sharing Stations, or to grant a permit for a Stationless Bicycle Share Program. In the event that a temporary relocation of a bicycle parking space, bicycle rack, or bicycle sharing station is necessary to improve safety or traffic operations, or to accommodate construction or roadway maintenance, the Director of Transportation has the authority to temporarily relocate a bicycle parking space, bicycle rack, or bicycle sharing station prior to holding a public hearing. If the bicycle parking space, bicycle rack, or bicycle sharing station will be temporarily relocated for less than ninety days, no public hearing is required. If the temporary relocation is for ninety days or longer, a public hearing must be held within ninety days following the temporary relocation.
(7) Designate intersections at which right, left, or U turns are prohibited.
(8) Designate intersections at which turns against a red or stop signal are prohibited.
(9) Establish multiple turn lanes where vehicles can make right or left turns from more than one lane.
(10) Designate intersections at which one direction of traffic shall be required to yield to the other.
(11) Designate intersections at which traffic shall be required to stop, or where a required stop is eliminated.
(12) Re-classify existing Class II bike lanes or bikeways to Class IV cycle tracks or bikeway based upon a determination of public convenience and necessity including, but not limited to, the alleviation of traffic congestion and public safety.
(13) Designate Temporary Transit-only Areas and create associated tow-away zones, as authorized in Section 602 of the Transportation Code.
(14) Determine the locations for Longer-Term Closure of Parking Spaces for purposes of issuing a permit for a Curbside Shared Space as defined by Administrative Code Chapter 94A.
(c) SFMTA Board of Directors' Action Required. The following Parking and traffic measures may not be implemented without prior approval of the SFMTA Board of Directors, taking into consideration the recommendation of the City Traffic Engineer:
(1) Designate Parking Meter Zones and Streets on which Parking Meters are to be installed in each Parking Meter Zone.
(2) Establish, modify, or eliminate preferential Parking programs in accordance with Vehicle Code §§ 22507 and 22507.1, including the applicable geographical area(s) and the days and hours of applicable Parking restrictions.
(3) Install or remove bicycle lanes. The City Traffic Engineer shall have the authority to re-classify existing Class II bike lanes or bikeways to Class IV cycle tracks or bikeways, following a public hearing, based upon a determination of public convenience and necessity including, but not limited to, the alleviation of traffic congestion and public safety.
(4) Designate one-way Streets.
(5) Designate the location of all bus zones for the use of public transit vehicles.
(7) Establish or close a crosswalk.
(8) Establish a tow-away zone, except as specified under the authority granted to the City Traffic Engineer in subsection (b)(13) above.
(9) Designate the angle or direction in which vehicles are required to Park on the Street.
(10) Designate locations where Parking by vehicles over 6 feet high is restricted within 100 feet of an intersection.
(11) Establish bus, truck, and weight restrictions on Streets.
(12) Establish transit only lane regulations, except as specified under the authority granted to the City Traffic Engineer in subsection (b)(13) above.
(13) Establish speed limits on Streets.
(14) Establish on-street Car Share Vehicle Parking Spaces.
(15) Designate locations where Parking by vehicles over twenty-two feet in length or seven feet in height, or camp trailers, fifth-wheel travel trailers, house cars, trailer coaches, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, or semi-trailers are prohibited from parking between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.
(17) Addition, removal, or modification of a street to the Slow Streets Program as set forth in Section 207. To add a street to the Slow Streets Program, the Board of Directors must make the findings required by California Vehicle Code Section 21101(f).
(18) Designate stalls or spaces on a public street for the exclusive purpose of charging and parking a vehicle that is connected for electric charging purposes.
(SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 08-151, Ad. 8/19/2008; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 09-172, Ad. 9/15/2009; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 11-028, Ad. 3/1/2011; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 11-108, Ad. 8/2/2011, Eff. 9/2/2011; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 13-005
, Ad. 1/15/2013, Eff. 2/15/2013; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 15-031
, Ad. 3/3/2015, Eff. 4/3/2015; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 170321-035, Ad. 3/21/2017, Eff. 4/21/2017; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 190115-03, Ad. 1/15/2019, Eff. 2/15/2019; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 190604-063, Ad. 6/4/2019, Eff. 7/5/2019; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 200630-062, Ad. 6/30/2020, Eff. 7/31/2020; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 210504-065, Ad. 5/4/2021, Eff. 6/4/2021, Oper. 8/28/2021; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 221115-109, Ad. 11/15/2022, Eff. 12/16/2022; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 221206-116, Ad. 12/6/2022, Eff. 1/6/2023; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 240521-052, Ad. 5/21/2024, Eff. 6/21/2024)
Except as otherwise provided in this Code, the City Traffic Engineer shall post localized notices of Public Hearings for changes implemented pursuant to subsections 201(b) or 201(c). Such notices shall be posted on at least two utility poles in the affected area for no less than 10 calendar days prior to the close of public comment period or the hearing. The notice of the Public Hearing shall also be posted on the SFMTA website.
(SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 08-151, Ad. 8/19/2008; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 210504-065, Ad. 5/4/2021, Eff. 6/4/2021, Oper. 8/28/2021; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 221115-109, Ad. 11/15/2022, Eff. 12/16/2022)
(a) Final SFMTA Decision. Any decision by (1) the SFMTA Board of Directors or Director of Transportation, or his or her designee, or (2) the City Traffic Engineer approving a request for a parking or traffic modification, which may be reviewed by the Board of Supervisors as set forth in Division I, Section 10.1 of this Code.
(b) City Traffic Engineer Decisions. Whenever the City Traffic Engineer declines a request for a parking or traffic modification which may be reviewed by the Board of Supervisors as set forth in Division I, Section 10.1, or declines a request from the public to recommend to the SFMTA Board a parking or traffic modification which may be reviewed by the Board of Supervisors as set forth in Division I, Section 10.1, notice of such decision shall be mailed or emailed to the requestor at the address or email address provided by the requestor and shall include the date and action taken by the City Traffic Engineer. If the request was made by petition, notice shall be mailed or emailed to the primary contact for the petition.
(c) Request for Review. Any person may submit by mail or email to an address indicated on the SFMTA’s website, a written and signed request for review of any decision made by the City Traffic Engineer declining a request for a parking or traffic modification pursuant to subsection (b) to the Director of Transportation or his or her designee. The request for review shall specify the grounds for review of the decision and the name and mailing address, or email address, of the person submitting the request. Such request must be received by the SFMTA on or before the 30th day following the date that the notice of decision is posted on the SFMTA website or is mailed or emailed, whichever date is later.
(d) Director of Transportation’s Determination. Within 30 calendar days of receiving a request for review, the Director of Transportation or his or her designee shall determine whether to affirm the decision of the City Traffic Engineer or reverse that decision. Whether the Director of Transportation or his or her designee affirms or reverses the determination of the City Traffic Engineer, that decision becomes a Final SFMTA Decision. Notice of the Final SFMTA Decision shall be mailed or emailed to the requestor at the address provided by the requestor and shall include the date of the decision and describe the decision or action taken by the SFMTA. If the request was made by petition, notice shall be mailed or emailed to the primary contact for the petition.
(SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 08-151, Ad. 8/19/2008; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 09-172, Ad. 9/15/2009; SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 190115-03, Ad. 1/15/2019, Eff. 2/15/2019)
(a) Authority to Restrict Parking and Close a Parking Space. The Director of Transportation or the Director’s designee (“designee”) is authorized to issue rules and regulations to restrict parking and close Parking Spaces that are consistent with this subsection (a). Pursuant to California Vehicle Code Sections 21101 and 22507, the Director of Transportation or designee is authorized to restrict the stopping, parking, or standing of vehicles and close a Parking Space portion of any Street, based upon a determination of public convenience and necessity that includes, but is not limited to, meeting the following criteria following any required public hearing held prior to implementation of the closure:
(1) does not occupy or significantly interfere with a traffic lane;
(2) does not significantly interfere with or delay public transit service, or impede transit maintenance, operations, or access, including any specific requirements regarding the operation of Municipal Railway buses, light rail vehicles, historic streetcars, or cable cars, based on whether vehicles are in revenue service, the type of transit stop involved, or other factors or considerations;
(3) does not displace a transit stop or a disabled parking space;
(4) does not significantly interfere with the movements of pedestrians or bicyclists, or create potentially hazardous conditions for pedestrians or bicyclists;
(5) does not significantly impact vehicular loading;
(6) does not significantly impact paratransit or ADA accessible loading or access;
(7) does not significantly impact existing infrastructure or installations near Parking Spaces including bikeshare stations, existing parklets, expanded sidewalks, and public showers; and
(8) is located on any Street, under the jurisdiction of the SFMTA, within any of the following zoning districts, as defined by the Planning Code: Neighborhood Commercial Districts, Neighborhood Commercial Transit Districts, Commercial Districts, Chinatown Mixed Use Districts, and Eastern Neighborhood Mixed Use Districts; Mixed Residential Districts, Residential-Commercial Combined Districts, Residential Transit Oriented Districts, and Downtown Residential Districts; Production, Distribution, and Repair (“PDR”) 1-B, PDR 1-D, and PDR 1-G.
(b) Determination to Restrict Parking and Close a Parking Space. In determining whether to restrict the stopping, parking, or standing of vehicles and close a Parking Space portion of any Street, the Director of Transportation or designee shall uphold the priorities identified in the agency’s Curb Management Strategy in order to optimize use, ensure public access, and support equitable allocation of Parking Spaces among users and businesses. In addition, the Director of Transportation or designee may consult with other relevant City departments, including, but not limited to, the Department of Public Works, Police Department, Department of Public Health, the Public Utilities Commission, the Entertainment Commission, and the Fire Department. Further, the Director of Transportation or designee shall, after considering the impact of the street closure on transportation and on the security, health, and safety of the public as well as the values and commitments set forth in the Transit First Policy, Vision Zero Action Strategy, Climate Action Strategy, and Curb Management Strategy that have been adopted by the SFMTA Board, determine that the closure is necessary for the safety and protection of the public using the street during the closure and may impose additional requirements or conditions necessary to protect the public interest. If a determination is made not to restrict the stopping, parking, or standing of vehicles and close a Parking Space, neither Public Works nor any other City agency shall have the authority to issue a permit for occupancy of the Parking Space. The Director or designee’s determination to restrict and close a Parking Space shall not grant any rights to occupy the Parking Space. Consistent with the Shared Spaces program as set forth in Administrative Code Chapter 94A, Public Works may issue a Curbside Shared Space permit to occupy the Parking Space.
(c) Posting and Public Hearing Requirements. The posting and public hearing requirements set forth in Sections 201 and 202 shall apply to any proposed Longer-Term Closure of a Parking Space for purposes of issuing a Curbside Shared Space permit; provided, however, that notices shall be posted for seven calendar days prior to the hearing instead of ten.
(d) Decision. After any required public hearing is held as set forth in subsection (c), the Director of Transportation or designee may restrict the stopping, parking, or standing of vehicles in, and close, a Parking Space portion of any Street.
(1) The decision of the Director of Transportation or designee with respect to any proposed Parking restriction and Temporary Closure of a Parking Space shall be final.
(2) The decision of the Director of Transportation or designee with respect to any proposed Longer-Term Closure of a Parking Space shall be subject to the review process set forth in subsection (e).
(e) Review Process. The decision of the Director of Transportation or designee with respect to any proposed Longer-Term Closure of a Parking Space may be reviewed by the SFMTA Board of Directors.
(1) Such review shall be initiated by filing a request for review with the Secretary to the SFMTA Board of Directors on a form provided by the Secretary within five working days of the decision. The SFMTA Board of Directors may establish a fee to be imposed upon the filing of any such request for review.
(2) Upon receipt of the request for review, the Secretary shall set a time and place for hearing for the SFMTA Board of Directors’ review, within 30 days, provided that all applicable public notice and environmental review requirements and standards are satisfied.
(3) At the review hearing, the appellant and the Director of Transportation or designee shall have the opportunity to present oral testimony and written materials in support of their positions.
(4) The SFMTA Board of Directors, in determining whether the request for a Longer-Term Closure of a Parking Space should be granted, shall conduct its review de novo using the same criteria set forth in subsections (a) and (b) and shall (A) consider the impact of the closure of a Parking Space on transportation and on the security, health, and safety of the public, (B) determine the transportation, security, health, and safety requirements of the proposed closure, and (C) evaluate the measures proposed by the appellant to satisfy those requirements.
(5) After the review hearing and any further investigation requested by the SFMTA Board of Directors, the SFMTA Board of Directors may uphold the Director of Transportation’s decision, or modify or disapprove such decision, in whole or in part, and may impose additional conditions or requirements.
(6) The decision of the SFMTA Board of Directors shall be final, and the Secretary shall transmit copies of the decision to the appellant and the Director of Transportation or designee.
(f) Upon the expiration or revocation of any Curbside Shared Space permit under the Shared Spaces Program as set forth in Administrative Code Chapter 94A, any restriction related to the stopping, parking, or standing of vehicles and to closure of a Parking Space shall be rescinded and the closed portion of the Street shall be reopened within seven days. If the closed portion of the Street is not reopened within seven days, the Curbside Shared Spaces permittee shall be subject to fines and administrative penalties, and any structures placed in the Parking Lane may be seized, removed, or demolished, as provided under Administrative Code Chapter 94A.
(Added by SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 210504-065, Ad. 5/4/2021, Eff. 6/4/2021, Oper. 8/28/2021)
(a) Pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 21101, the Interdepartmental Staff Committee on Traffic and Transportation (ISCOTT) is authorized to approve a Temporary Closure of the Traffic Lane portion of a Street, under the jurisdiction of the SFMTA, subject to the requirements set forth below. This authorization is solely for the purpose of issuing an ISCOTT permit as authorized by Transportation Code, Division I, Section 6.16, which shall be limited to a one-year or less period of time. ISCOTT is authorized to renew the permit for up to one additional year for a maximum period of two years.
(b) In determining whether to approve a Temporary Closure of the Traffic Lane portion of any Street, ISCOTT may consult with other relevant City departments. If an application is disapproved by ISCOTT, the applicant may follow the appeals process set forth in Section 6.2. If a determination is made not to approve a Temporary Closure of the Traffic Lane, neither Public Works nor any other City agency shall have the authority to issue a permit for occupancy of the Traffic Lane.
(c) ISCOTT shall follow the procedures set forth in Transportation Code, Division I, Section 6.16, to temporarily close the Traffic Lane portion of any Street.
(d) Upon the expiration or revocation of any Roadway Shared Spaces permit pursuant to the Shared Spaces Program as set forth in Administrative Code Chapter 94A, any restriction related to the Temporary Closure of the Traffic Lane shall be rescinded and the closed portion of the Street shall be reopened within seven days. If the closed portion of the Street is not reopened within seven days, the Roadway Shared Spaces permittee shall be subject to fines and administrative penalties, and any structures placed in the Traffic Lane may be seized, removed, or demolished, as provided under Administrative Code Chapter 94A.
(Added by SFMTA Bd. Res. No. 210504-065, Ad. 5/4/2021, Eff. 6/4/2021, Oper. 8/28/2021)
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