On May 6, 2011, a proposal to restrict commercial vehicles with nine or more seats from using the following streets was approved at an SFMTA public hearing:
 

Mason, Powell and Stockton streets between Lombard and Francisco streets; and
 

Lombard, Chestnut and Francisco streets between Mason and Stockton streets.

This matter will be heard again at the SFMTA Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at 1 PM in City Hall, Room 400.  The item will appear on the consent calendar.  This means it will not be discussed unless a member of the public requests a discussion about the item.  The full agenda for this meeting can be viewed at:  http://www.sfmta.com/cms/cmta/mtaindx.htm#minagendas   a few days before June 7.

It is very unlikely that any amount of new testimony is going to change this ruling. The one alternate street, designed for buses, is Columbus Street and is designed to handle heavy traffic. Make sure your drivers are aware of this since the final ruling and signage will likely be completed before July.
 

The next hot topic where bus drivers and tour guides seem to just roll down residential neighborhoods in big numbers is 8th Ave. Drivers have started to use 8th Ave. as a route to get from the Golden Gate Bridge to Golden Gate Park. The neighbors in this stretch from Geary to Fulton are UP IN ARMS and already have headed to Supervisor Maher’s office complaining about tour buses using 8th Ave. UNLESS WE START RE-ROUTING TO MAIN THOROUGHFARES, YOU CAN BET THAT THIS WILL BECOME ANOTHER “NO TOUR BUSES ALLOWED” STREET.
The link below shows the preferred routing.

If you have any questions, please contact Mike Waters at Coach America. 415-500-3945

 
Map showing preferred routing from the Golden Gate Bridge to Golden Gate Park.