The landscape of downtown San Francisco's travel has been reshaped in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, findings from a new Downtown Travel Study suggest. The study, conducted by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, showcased a stark contrast in how the city moves now versus how it did circa 2019. Data points to a significant shift towards private vehicle usage and e-commerce deliveries, with regional travel and transit use declining.
Despite a hastened return to freeway congestion, with the I-80 reaching pre-COVID levels, office attendance in the downtown area lingers below 50% of what it used to be. Public transportation is on a gradual comeback, with Muni, BART, and Caltrain displaying varying degrees of ridership rebound as they navigate the new normal. "We must continue to make our public transit safer and more inviting for all users, reduce traffic congestion and bolster transit funding in order to achieve a more sustainable and resilient city and region," said the Transportation Authority's Chair, Myrna Melgar, as per the San Francisco County Transportation Authority.
Trips to, from, and within Downtown plummeted by an eyebrow-raising 46% between 2019 and 2023, equating to a reduction of 748,000 trips. A sizeable 69% of this drop is attributed not to work-related travel but to a decline in leisure activities such as shopping and dining. Conversely, the study documented a hike in residents receiving deliveries, jumping from 26% to 40% on an average weekday.
Outlining performance metrics, the Transportation Authority reported Muni spearheading Bay Area transit operators regarding ridership recovery. BART's ridership made more significant strides outside the Downtown core, particularly on weekends, whereas Caltrain touted a 37% year-on-year surge in ridership since electrifying its service. With an evolving transit landscape, updates on transportation conditions and management strategies are set to continue under the Authority's Congestion Management Program.
