Here's how San Francisco's new Sunset supervisor is pushing for more parking

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A proposal to convert some street space into additional parking in San Francisco's District 4 could move forward as residents weigh potential benefits against safety concerns.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency says converting streets to angled or 90-degree parking requires residents to first submit a petition. Similar efforts in other neighborhoods have been rejected in the past, but District 4 Supervisor Alan Wong said interest has grown as parking availability has worsened.

Wong pointed to California's daylighting law and new transit infrastructure as contributors to reduced parking.

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He said residents and business owners in District 4 have raised concerns, with some residents walking multiple blocks from where they park to reach their homes. Wong also said limited parking is hurting small businesses.

"It's so congested, and this opportunity allows us to increase parking in a way that's a win-win situation," Wong said.

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Residents in the area expressed mixed reactions.

Some said they are fully supportive of the plan, while others said they are open to adding parking but worry about safety issues tied to angled and 90-degree spaces. Those concerns include visibility and sight lines, especially following a traffic death at the intersection of 24th and Santiago in 2022.

"We need to be really protective of our sight lines," said Sunset resident George Quick. "And you can see with these cars right here, it's really hard to see the cars coming up the street."

SFMTA said safety criteria, including sight lines, are taken into account when evaluating whether parking can be added. In a statement, the agency said, "As we shared in our January response to the Supervisor's office, adding parking depends on street width, neighborhood interest, and community outreach. We have provided guidance on developing a neighbor petition and identified streets where adding parking may be possible. We will continue working with the Supervisor's office to evaluate next steps."

Wong said Friday that his office is providing residents with information on how to submit a petition. A valid petition would trigger an SFMTA review and a public hearing at a board meeting, where the proposal would need approval.

That process could take about three months, followed by several additional months before any changes are implemented on the street.