Taking someone out to the ballgame just got more expensive—if you drive a car to San Francisco.
Parking near San Francisco's AT&T Park will be pricier in the evenings and during events at the ballpark starting next month, transit officials announced Tuesday.
Beginning March 4, meters will remain operating until 10 p.m. from Mondays through Saturdays in the area close to the ballpark at Third and King streets.
The meters will also cost more during days of San Francisco Giants games or other events there, according to the city's Municipal Transportation Agency. The changes are meant to increase parking availability in the area and reduce congestion caused by vehicles circling around to look for a parking spot where they can stay for three or more hours, agency officials said.
Between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on non-event days, the meters will cost $0.25 per hour, while they will cost up to $7 an hour on event days. This bring on-street parking closer in cost to the lot prices of about $20.
For Burlingame and Hillsborough residents, particularly those traveling singly, that may mean Caltrain would get more attractive. Residents board at the Burlingame station, in Zone 2. The cost is $5 for one-way, and $10 for a day pass.
The first event with the increased meter rates will be the World Baseball Classic, which runs at AT&T Park from March 17-19.
"Appropriately priced parking on our public streets makes sense and supports the city's Transit First policy, especially in this growing neighborhood that is home to AT&T Park and many special events," SFMTA director of transportation Ed Reiskin said in a statement.
The new policy was developed with the input of neighborhood residents and business owners, according to agency officials, who also plan to canvass the neighborhood in the coming weeks to publicize the plan. Special signs will be posted on meters in the area, which includes streets as far north as Harrison Street, as far east as The Embarcadero, as far south as Mariposa Street and as far west as Seventh Street.
Extended hours for metered street parking is not new, as anyone who has ever attempted to take out-of-town visitors to Fisherman's Wharf by car knows. There, meters operate seven days a week, including Sundays and holidays.
More information about the program can be found online at www.sfpark.org/events.
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Additional reporting by Los Altos Patch Editor L.A. Chung
