Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Travel Study topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Downtown travel study: trips down 46% since 2019; auto mode share rises, telecommuting stays elevated
Summary
A TA study found downtown trips fell about 46% between 2019 and 2023, auto mode share increased while transit and walking/biking declined, and telecommuting among downtown workers remains high—trends the board said must inform transit and land-use policy.
The Transportation Authority presented findings from a downtown travel study showing a 46% decline in trips to, from and within downtown between 2019 and 2023, and substantial shifts in mode choice and trip purpose.
Presenter Chen Ho Chao said the decline was driven roughly half by fewer intra‑downtown trips and half by fewer trips to or from other parts of San Francisco and the Bay Area. While total trips fell across modes, auto trips declined less than other modes and consequently increased their mode share in downtown from about 24% to 37% across purposes. Transit and walk/bike shares declined, and the study found telecommuting among downtown workers rose from about 14% pre‑COVID to about 63% telecommuting two or more days per week.
The presenter noted downtown weekend and neighborhood ridership have recovered at different rates and that downtown station weekday ridership recovered to about 36% of 2019 levels by 2024 (weekends 54%). The report attributed 83% of the city's overall sales-tax revenue decline to core downtown neighborhoods (Financial District, South Beach, SOMA and Tenderloin).
Commissioners said the study offers data to guide transit-first policy and downtown recovery planning. Community groups including the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition urged investing in walking, biking and transit to concentrate foot traffic and revive downtown economic activity.
