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SFMTA and HOPE Outline Phased Rollout, Outreach and Support Options for Large Vehicle Parking Restrictions
Summary
SFMTA and the Mayor’s Office of HOPE told supervisors they will phase in the Large Vehicle Restriction Ordinance with targeted pilot areas, signage, outreach and a three-month before-and-after evaluation; advocates and people living in vehicles warned the policy risks criminalizing already marginalized residents.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) and the Mayor’s Office of Housing Opportunity Partnerships and Engagement (HOPE) presented an update on outreach and implementation planning for the Large Vehicle Restriction Ordinance, emphasizing a phased rollout, public hearings for each signed block face and service alternatives for people living in vehicles.
SFMTA presenter Ban Yi said a pre-legislation sample of about 450 large vehicles found 42% were motorhomes and more than half were trucks, buses or trailers; 60% of sampled vehicles were registered to San Francisco addresses and only 20% were parked within a quarter-mile of their registration address. Yi said the agency will select two large pilot areas for an initial rollout, develop clear signage and conduct a before-and-after evaluation roughly three months after implementation.
Bevan Dufty of HOPE discussed the city’s January homeless count and outreach. He said the count identified more than 500 individuals dispersed across the city and a focused effort to identify vehicles that appeared to be used for habitation is underway; a third-party contractor is verifying the data. Dufty and Jason Albertson of the Department of Public Health’s SF HOT outreach team described a package of supports under development, including plans for additional stabilization beds and an agreement to store vehicles on Treasure Island for people who agree to case management.
Jason Albertson reported that two days of targeted flyering and direct outreach led to four individuals contacting outreach staff; three of those were employed but could not afford housing in San Francisco. Albertson warned that enforcement could push some people from vehicles to visible street homelessness even as it connects others to services.
Public commenters urged more shelter and affordable housing instead of enforcement. Nick, a District 1 resident, called the ordinance a criminalization effort that could lead to seizure of vehicles of people unable to pay fines. Multiple speakers asked for alternatives such as designated lots, storage, improved sanitation and deeper community conversations before enforcement.
SFMTA emphasized that restrictions will be location-specific and that each block face to be signed requires MTA Board approval following public hearings. The agencies said implementation will be delayed from an initial March date to allow additional outreach and coordination with supervisors and neighborhood stakeholders. After the presentation and public comment, the committee voted to file the update.
