Latest news with #GoldenGateBridge
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Travel + Leisure
21-07-2025
- Travel + Leisure
This City Was Just Named California's Most Expensive Tourist Destination—but Here's How to Visit on a Budget
San Francisco has long enchanted visitors with its historic cable cars, fog-draped Golden Gate Bridge, and pastel-painted Victorian homes—but now it holds a new, less flattering distinction: the most expensive tourist destination in California. According to a recent GOBankingRates study, the City by the Bay is the most expensive tourist destination in California, surpassing cities like Laguna Beach and Malibu. San Francisco had an overall cost of living index of 245.5, which is more than double the national average baseline of 100 and accounts for the cost of things like groceries, healthcare, housing, utilities, and transportation. But while San Francisco's soaring prices might send budget-conscious travelers into sticker shock, there are plenty of ways to soak up the city's charm without emptying your wallet. From free live music to the sweeping views from Twin Peaks, the city remains, at its core, a world-class destination—on any budget. Most of the city's most iconic sights, from the Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Park to Fisherman's Wharf and the Painted Ladies (the pastel homes) are free to visit and explore. (If you go to the wharf, don't miss a visit to Pier 39, which overlooks colonies of California sea lions.) It doesn't cost a cent to walk around the Mission District and see the neighborhood's famous murals and street art or cruise through Chinatown and North Beach, which are known for their Chinese and Italian heritage, respectively. If you want a dose of nature, head to Lands End and walk the scenic Coastal Trail or hike to the top of Twin Peaks, which offers panoramic views of the city and the surrounding bay area. Beyond exploring neighborhoods and surrounding nature, many of the city's best museums are either free or have free admission days. On the first Tuesday of every month, admission is free to the fine art museums of de Young and Legion of Honor, and on the first Sunday of every month, entrance to the Asian Art Museum is free. Other museums, like the kid-friendly Randall Museum, which offers free, hands-on science and arts exhibits, and the Cable Car Museum are always free. The MoMA is free for visitors ages 18 and under and has 45,000 square feet of art-filled public spaces that are always free and open to the public. In addition, there are plenty of annual festivals that are free and open to the public—including the music of People in Plazas, which runs through the summer, and the Stern Grove Festival, which offers free concerts every Sunday from mid-June through mid-August. There is also free Shakespeare in the Park theater in August and September. In addition to free to-dos spread across the city, there are a few activities that are so affordable it's hard to complain. For example, you can hop aboard one of the city's iconic cable cars, which are National Historic Landmarks, for just $8. While exploring Chinatown, you can pick up a selection of dim sum or pastries for well under $15, or visit a North Beach cafe or retro-Italian bar for a quick (and affordable) espresso or negroni. With so many low-cost experiences woven into every corner of the city, you don't need a big budget to enjoy California's most expensive tourist destination.
CBS News
01-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Golden Gate Bridge toll increase, Bay Area transit fare hikes take effect
The cost of commuting on several Bay Area transit agencies, along with driving on the Golden Gate Bridge, has gone up on Tuesday as a series of fare and toll increases take effect. Here's what's to know about the changes, which are being implemented on July 1, 2025: Golden Gate Bridge Tolls All tolls on the Golden Gate Bridge are going up on July 1, as part of a multi-year toll increase program approved by the bridge's Board of Directors. For most drivers who use FasTrak, which include 2-axle vehicles and motorcycles, the toll has increased from $9.25 to $9.75. License plate accounts and one-time payment tolls are now $10, while invoice tolls are $10.75. Tolls for carpools have also increased from $7.25 to $7.75. Golden Gate Transit Buses and Ferries The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District has also raised transit fares for bus and ferry service, with most increases up to $0.25. Discount fare programs will remain in effect. Officials said local bus fares in Marin and Sonoma County, along with Giants ferry fares would not increase. Caltrain Base fares on the rail system have increased by 25 cents. Muni According to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, an adult single rider using Clipper or MuniMobile has increased from $2.75 to $2.85, the second increase in less than a year. Riding Muni remains free for all youth 18 and younger, regardless of housing income or residency. AC Transit Adult cash fares have gone up by $0.25, from $2.50 to $2.75, while the Transbay cash fare has increased to $6.00 to $6.50, the first fare increase since January 2020. The agency, which covers the western parts of Alameda and Contra Costa counties, said a second 25 cent increase would take effect in July 2026.
Gizmodo
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Gizmodo
San Francisco May De-Wokify the Golden Gate Bridge to Appease Trump
Out of fear that the Trump administration may drastically scale back its federal funding, the public agency that runs the Golden Gate Bridge—the Bay Area's iconic overpass—plans to do away with a number of diversity and equity programs. 'Federal funds are vital for what we do, and we have an obligation to protect the bridge for future generations,' Denis Mulligan, CEO of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, told The San Francisco Standard this week. 'So, we're taking this action out of an abundance of caution.' In a recently circulated memo, Mulligan announced potential policy changes at the agency that runs the bridge. The memo states that, due to a recently introduced federal policy that could rescind federal funds to programs that promote DEI initiatives, the Golden Gate agency may nix some of them itself. This may all seem kinda silly since the Golden Gate Bridge is just, well, a bridge, and therefore doesn't really have a lot of substantial policies or programs that deal with social issues. However, Mulligan's memo may signal that the agency's CEO plans to pull back from the limited DEI-adjacent policies it does have. The memo mentions potentially scrubbing 'DEI language' from the agency's 2024 strategic plan, as well as rescinding a previous resolution to consider 'social equity' during agency procurements. Additionally, As the San Francisco Standard notes that Mulligan's memo suggests potentially 'rescinding a July 2020 resolution that 'condemned racism' and committed to a workplace 'safe and free of discrimination.'' The resolution was passed not long after the death of George Floyd. Mulligan has made it pretty clear that this is all to avoid having federal funds yanked out of the agency's coffers—something Trump could hypothetically do anyway, just for spite. Mulligan told the Standard: 'The values of the organization have not changed, but what we are doing is protecting the certainty of federal funds that we rely upon for the bridge, as well as our buses and ferries.' Gizmodo reached out to the office for more information. It's truly a sad day when government offices preemptively gouge their own eyes out in the hopes of avoiding a similar fate at the hands of the government. Fear is one of the big tools in Trump's toolbox and, as the holder of the purse strings that disburse funding throughout the land, Trump has obviously scared a lot of people into believing that they're going to be defunded. As such, his anti-DEI agenda—which has been targeted at schools and government offices—seems to be working phenomenally well.
San Francisco Chronicle
25-06-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Fearing action by Trump, Golden Gate Bridge operator considers removing DEI references
The latest Bay Area entity to consider backing away from diversity, equity and inclusion language amid President Donald Trump's attacks on DEI is the district that runs San Francisco's most famous asset: the Golden Gate Bridge. Denis Mulligan, general manager of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, noted in a Friday memo, first reported by the San Francisco Standard, that federal grant recipients found to be promoting DEI initiatives may face penalties or be forced to return their federal funding. Mulligan said in the memo he wants to remove a resolution the district board approved in 2020 that condemns racism and states that it should be 'safe and free of discrimination.' While he acknowledged that the resolution does not violate federal anti-discrimination law, he said the policy authorized 'anti-discrimination efforts focused on specific racial groups' and contained language that 'could be construed as inconsistent' with federal guidance. 'We're the Golden Gate Bridge. We're a symbol of our country so we'll be under scrutiny for our grants, arguably more so than the typical agency in the Bay Area,' Mulligan said in an interview Tuesday. But at least one board member said he is opposed to Mulligan's proposal. Board member and San Francisco Supervisor Joel Engardio said in a statement that 'rescinding resolutions that simply condemn racism and affirm dignity in the workplace would be deeply disappointing. 'These commitments aren't political — they're moral,' Engardio said. 'It should not be controversial to affirm that everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and free from discrimination. The Golden Gate Bridge is a symbol of connection. Let's not let it become a symbol of retreat.' The memo comes amid the Trump administration's recent targeting of DEI programs. Earlier this month, a federal judge blocked the president from threatening to withdraw federal funding to San Francisco public schools over diversity programs. Several local nonprofits have also shared similar fears, while Bay Area tech giants and universities look to scale back DEI programs over related concerns. In an interview, Mulligan told the Chronicle that the 2020 resolution explicitly commits the district to the inclusion of 'Black people, Indigenous people and people of color,' language that he believes may raise a red flag to the federal government, by spelling out certain ethnicities and not others. His memo also recommends rescinding a 2023 resolution allowing the district to consider social equity in its procurement processes, out of similar fears regarding DEI language. The recommendation only applies to a small number of procurements that are not funded by state or federal administrations, Mulligan added. On Friday, the district's 19-member board of directors plans to discuss the recommendations to rescind the two resolutions, as well as the memo's proposal to remove language like 'implicit bias' or 'equity' from the district's 2024 strategic plan. Mulligan believes the board will vote in favor of the recommendations, calling it 'the preferred path to go down' following conversations with legal counsel and staff. But Mulligan said that the bridge's symbolism is exactly what makes it a potential target for the Trump administration. In February, the White House announced plans to eliminate the Presidio Trust, the federal entity responsible for overseeing San Francisco's treasured national park. The executive order did not mention DEI-related reasons, but rather claimed the agency was 'unnecessary' and stated that the administration would eliminate the trust 'to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.' The trust, however, does not rely on federal funding for operations. Mulligan noted that the bridge district plans to sign a new $400 million grant agreement with the Federal Highway Administration, and has plans to sign several certifications and insurances with the Federal Transit Administration as early as next week. Under the Biden administration, the FHA announced it would award the $400 million grant to the district to fund improvements on the bridge's seismic resilience. The bridge district has not received any formal threat from the Trump administration regarding the language in the two resolutions or the strategic plan, according to Mulligan. These preemptive actions aim to ensure that grant allocations and subsequent construction plans proceed smoothly, he said, adding that the funding allocations will also create hundreds of jobs. Mulligan explained an alternative to removing DEI messaging could involve suing the Trump administration if funding were withheld, but that the option would create additional delays with appeals all the way up to the Supreme Court. 'If you have other options,' he said, 'I would recommend that you not bet $400 million on how the Supreme Court is going to rule.' 'Ultimately, it's a business decision — a business decision that doesn't change who we are,' Mulligan added.
Bloomberg
24-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Golden Gate Bridge Operator Weighs DEI Retreat on Federal Funding Worry
The head of the transit district that runs San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Bridge wants to scrap an anti-racism resolution and a policy promoting social equity in its contracting process, citing concerns that the measures could jeopardize $400 million in US funding under President Donald Trump. The bridge is too well known to 'lay low' and hope it could secure the money without its previously approved diversity, equity and inclusion language attracting notice, said Denis Mulligan, general manager of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District. He said he also considered suing but decided that was too risky and would delay the much-needed funding.
