Would You Pay To Walk Across Golden Gate Bridge?

Charging bicyclists and pedestrians for access to the Golden Gate Bridge’s sidewalk is among 45 initiatives the Bridge, Highway and Transportation District’s board of directors will consider approving when it meets Friday.

The initiatives are part of the District’s 2014 Strategic Financial Plan to eliminate its $142 million five-year deficit and significantly reduce a 10-year deficit projected to be $209.8 million.

Approving the 2014 proposed financial plan is not the approval of any one of the 45 initiatives, District official said.

That approval will require further analysis and approval by the board’s committee process before it goes to the full board for final approval.

Some of the initiatives will require public hearings, District officials said.

Charging pedestrians and bicyclists for sidewalk access are two separate initiatives in the financial plan that will be monitored and updated annually.

The plan begins in fiscal year 2015-2016 and ends on June 30, 2025.

Also included among the 45 initiatives is a multi-year bridge toll increase when the current phased-in toll increases end in 2018.

The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District’s board will review and discuss the plan Friday.

The board will then either alter the plan before taking any action and may defer approving the plan until Nov. 14.

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--Bay City News

--Image via Shutterstock