Back in April, Hoodline looked at potential residential permit parking (RPP) programs for the Dogpatch and Bernal Heights neighborhoods. The programs divided neighbors who argued both for and against the programs.

Now, courtesy of Hoodline content partner Bernalwood, here's an update on the Bernal Heights RPP program:

The process has been long, contentious, and marred by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s obfuscation and incompetence, but the latest news is that the proposal to create a new Residential Parking Permit area in northwest Bernal Heights is moving ahead.

In an email some Bernal residents received yesterday, SFMTA wrote:

Residential Permit Parking Coming to Northwest Bernal Heights

Thank you for your continued interest in parking in northwest Bernal Heights.

The Voting Results Are In

• Nearly 1,230 residents responded to the SFMTA’s survey regarding residential permit parking (RPP) for northwest Bernal Heights.
• As a result, 14 blocks voted to establish an RPP area, viewable on this map [PDF].
• For those 14 blocks, 624 votes were tallied with 360 (58%) of the households voting for RPP on their block.
• This spreadsheet [PDF] provides a full breakdown of how each block voted.

How Residential Permit Parking Came to Northwest Bernal Heights

The creation of the RPP area was driven by interest from neighbors in establishing an RPP area, community conversations that started in the spring of 2015, and the SFMTA’s RPP Evaluation and Reform Project, which is an effort to improve the city’s outdated RPP regulations.

Northwest Bernal Heights Community Engagement and Voting Timeline

• June/July 2015 – SFMTA staff attend two community-organized meetings to provide general information about the RPP program and process.
• Fall 2015 – The SFMTA creates and hosts an online survey where residents can vote for or against RPP on their street.
• December 2016 – The SFMTA hosts a public meeting to share findings on parking in the neighborhood and possible next steps for the community.
• April 2017 – The SFMTA hosts a community meeting and presents RPP recommendations to neighbors with details about next steps and opportunities to vote again on RPP.
• May 1, 2017 – Residents vote for or against RPP, including two pilot measures, resulting from the RPP Reform Project. Voting took place through an online ballot, as well as through direct contact with SFMTA staff. Voting closed on May 17.
• May 30, 2017- the SFMTA sends out results of the community vote.

This map [PDF] shows the blocks where 50% or more residents voted for inclusion in the RPP pilot program, with the following RPP regulations:

• One parking permit per driver
• Two parking permits per household
• Two-hour parking limit for non-permit holders Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Next Steps

An SFMTA public hearing will be scheduled within the next several months. When the hearing is scheduled, the date, time and place will be broadly announced.

If your block was not included in the RPP area, but you are interested in being included, visit the SFMTA’s RPP area expansion website to learn about the process to expand an existing permit area.