San Fran looks at congestion tax

[puggit]

And Red Ken goes on a jolly to help out (I can guess who paid :mad:)

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/04/440.asp

San Francisco Looks at Congestion Tax
London's mayor comes to San Francisco to sell the congestion charging concept to the city.

Mayor Gavin NewsomSan Francisco officials heard yesterday from London Mayor Ken Livingston about how the city could profit from the congestion charging system that he established in the English capital in 2003. Under his system, motorists will pay $14.50 to enter the city after a tax hike goes into effect July 1. Livingstone was in town for the World Environment Day conference.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is exploring the plan with a $1.3 million federally funded study that would look at issues such as how to spend the money such a system would generate. London's system directs money from drivers to projects that benefit other residents. The city's bus system, for instance, is currently receiving a $220 million upgrade so that central planners can track their location.

In the only public vote on the congestion charge issue, Edinburgh, Scotland residents rejected the concept by a 3-to-1 margin, forcing many UK cities to drop plans to impose the charge.

[mybrainhurts]

Hope he falls off the bloody bridge.....

[hedders]

Tony Bennett said:

If you're going to San Francisco, Be sure to leave some camera's in the air.

[cnh1990]

SF exploring the plan? It makes sense that SF would be the US city to look into something like that. A good portion of the SF male population are used to taking it up the rear on regular basis anyway.

[The Wiz]

I've been to SF a few times and never found it really congested at all. Its far cleaner and more pleasant than London .. perhaps Ken can import those ideas.

[cotty]

The Wiz said:

I've been to SF a few times and never found it really congested at all. Its far cleaner and more pleasant than London .. perhaps Ken can import those ideas.

Does this include dodging dodge chargers

[simpo two]

puggit said:

about how the city could profit

Well there you have it. Profit.
I don't like the idea of politicians having to 'sell' anything. It usually means that the idea sucks, and they need to disguise it to get it approved.

[cnh1990]

The Wiz said:

I've been to SF a few times and never found it really congested at all. Its far cleaner and more pleasant than London .. perhaps Ken can import those ideas.

SF has nothing to worry about. It cost less to drive there with less congestion than many smaller cities.
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/invest/extra/P116330.asp?GT1=6583

[vetteheadracer]

SF is very small and insignificant compared with London. It also has very narrow streets for an american city and the traffic is bad, but congestion charging will not stop the traffic as the public transport in SF is not very good as the town is relatively small.