Those annoyed by a recent proposal to charge sightseers to travel down the crooked part of Lombard Street have still another reason to be ticked today, as a new report reveals a remarkable amount of money and manpower spent to get to the toll road suggestion.

As previously reported, Supervisor Mark Farrell has since 2014 been trying to find a way to quell Lombard Street's popularity, as "the quality of life for residents, not only on the crooked street itself but the vast surrounding neighborhoods, has deteriorated to the point where the city has to step in and make a difference."

It was a report released by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority this month that sent Farrell over the edge, backing the report's suggestion that the city "use an electronic system to manage reservations for and price access to the Crooked Street."

One might wonder how much work it took to get to what's, with all due respect, kind of an obvious way to reduce the use of the street. And now we know, thanks to the Chron's Matier and Ross, who report this study cost $110,000 "and kept nine city staffers and two outside consulting firms busy for more than a year."

If you haven't already read the full report that proposed the toll model, get ready for the biggest bummer of all: Nowhere in its 76 pages does it explain exactly how a toll system might actually work. You know what that means? We need another study to figure that out! I am serious! M&R quote Farrell as saying "I’ve asked for another study to look into" how tolls on Lombard might work.

Plus there are those pesky pedestrians! According to the Chron, "in addition to a study on tolls, Farrell wants the Transportation Authority to suggest ways to handle walkers" as "residents were just as upset about the hordes of pedestrians who make noise, stomp on people’s flowers, drop food wrappers and other litter, and stand in the street."

"A lot of the problem could be eliminated if we just enforced the traffic laws,” Farrell told the Chron, and it seems like enforcing litter laws might help with some of the pedestrian issues, too. But why do that when you can just spend more on studies?

Previously: Supervisor Farrell Proposes FasTrak System, Reservations For Famous Lombard Street Block
Officials Consider Requiring Purchased Tickets To Drive Crooked Part Of Lombard Street