Will travel rates into San Francisco ever return to pre-pandemic levels?

Traffic rates have been lagging despite California's reopening last month.
Traffic rates have been lagging despite California's reopening last month. Photo credit Getty Images

Despite California reopening more than a month ago, San Francisco travel in and out of the city has been lagging.

When compared to pre-pandemic levels, traffic by bus and ferry over and under the Golden Gate Bridge is down 20%, Transportation District Public Affairs Manager Paolo Cosulich-Schwartz told KCBS Radio.

“We expect some change in the future,” said Cosulich-Schwartz, "but traffic may never return to the rates we observed pre-pandemic."

Much of the current traffic due to weekend and off-peak travel, when people visit the city for day trips or to attend Giants games, as weekday commuter levels are still low ranging at 40%.

Even though revenue has been down, Cosulich-Schwartz was happy to tell KCBS Radio that no jobs have been impacted.

The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District is a recipient of a federal assistance coronavirus relief bill that supplemented employees' payroll to preserve bridge maintenance.

"These service jobs are necessary and highly important," said Cosulich-Schwartz.

It will be interesting to see how public transportation rates change once San Francisco companies and businesses fully return to in-person work.

Featured Image Photo Credit: Getty Images