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| Quality of Life |
VEHICLE REGISTRATION
New residents have 20 days to register their vehicle to avoid any fees and penalties. Newcomers to California that have not properly settled in San Francisco have a bit more leeway when it comes to vehicle registration. They can be considered nonresidents until they accept gainful employment in the city, rent or lease a residence, enroll in a college or university, claim a homeowners tax exemption or acquire a California driver’s license.
To register a nonresident vehicle, an applicant must fill out the Application for Title or Registration (REG 343). The application must be signed by all of the registered owners of the vehicle. Applicants need to provide the out-of-state title issued previously, but this is not required if a California title is not being requested or there will be no change of registered owner. A California title cannot be issued if the out-of-state title is not presented to the DMV. If only registration is needed, the last issued registration certificate will be requested.
The vehicle must undergo inspection at a DMV of the applicant’s choosing by a DMV employee that is certified in the process. A law-enforcement officer or a licensed-vehicle verifier also can perform the inspection. Appointments are strongly recommended for faster service.
If applicable, smog and weight certifications need to be obtained. A Permanent Trailer Identification (PTI) Application Certificate is also needed for any trailer vehicles new residents plan on using in California.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
— AIRPORTS
San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the largest airport in the Bay Area and the second largest airport in California. SFO ranks among the world’s 30 busiest airway systems, with nearly 50 major airlines departing from the airport every day and more than 43 million passengers logged in 2012. SFO is also noted for its emphasis on passenger comfort and high customer service. Passengers can enjoy the benefits of a consolidated rental-car center, a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station and the AirTrain automated people mover. Automated and integrated baggage screening ensures that passengers have some of the shortest wait times in the country.
In 2011, SFO completed a $383-million renovation project of Terminal 2 (T2) to accommodate the airport’s growth in passenger traffic and an increasing demand for more usable gates. T2 features 14 gates for narrow-body aircraft and 640,000 square feet of interior space filled with comfortable seating, a local-food marketplace with offerings from celebrity chefs, works by local and international artists, a children’s play area and a pedestrian crossing to the AirTrain. T2 is also the first airport terminal to achieve LEED® Gold certification for sustainability. For more information, visit www.flysfo.com.
Mineta San José International Airport
Located 60 miles south of San Francisco and only two miles from downtown San Jose, the Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) is a self-supporting system that accommodated more than 8.3 million passengers in 2012. As a result of the airport improvement plan, passengers have enjoyed more efficient parking and a more comprehensive rental car system. According to the website, SJC averages 120 commercial and 87 general aviation flights per day, making the airport a viable option for meeting planners who are hosting events throughout the region.
Oakland International Airport
Elsewhere in the Bay Area, the Oakland International Airport (OAK) supported the travel of more than 10 million passengers in 2012. Only 25 minutes from downtown San Francisco, it’s a great option for visitors who will be staying in accommodations on the periphery of the city. The Airport Development Program is an ongoing program to help make OAK a top-tier airport system and one that is the first choice of travelers to the Bay Area. Recent enhancement projects have included improvements to terminal and curbside areas, the construction of additional gates and connections to outlying businesses and residential districts. Visit www.flyoakland.com for more information.
— GROUND TRANPORTATION
Bay Area Rapid Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is a major component of San Francisco’s public transportation system and is the fifth busiest heavy rail system in the country. BART is a rapid-transit railway with five operational lines across 104 miles of track, including 44 stations in four different counties.
Much of the underground railway system includes the area previously serviced by the city’s electric streetcar network. BART’s five routes are Fremont to Lake Merritt (A line), Pittsburg/Bay Point to Rockridge (C line), Dublin/Pleasanton to Bay Fair (L line), Oakland to Millbrae (M, W and Y line) and Richmond to MacArthur (R line). Passengers have access to Oakland through all routes except for Richmond to MacArthur.
Many residents are heavily dependent on BART, making San Francisco less susceptible than other cities in California to the congestion of daily traffic on freeways. As a result of the popularity of BART, train cars and stations are in a constant state of refurbishment to make daily use more enjoyable. BART consistently has proven to be a user-friendly transportation system, especially when it comes to accommodating the business needs of its riders. The system was the first in the nation to offer cell phone communities to passengers of all carriers and has increased its weekend and nighttime schedules to provide easy and effective use no matter what time of day. For more information or schedules, visit www.bart.gov.
New residents have 20 days to register their vehicle to avoid any fees and penalties. Newcomers to California that have not properly settled in San Francisco have a bit more leeway when it comes to vehicle registration. They can be considered nonresidents until they accept gainful employment in the city, rent or lease a residence, enroll in a college or university, claim a homeowners tax exemption or acquire a California driver’s license.
To register a nonresident vehicle, an applicant must fill out the Application for Title or Registration (REG 343). The application must be signed by all of the registered owners of the vehicle. Applicants need to provide the out-of-state title issued previously, but this is not required if a California title is not being requested or there will be no change of registered owner. A California title cannot be issued if the out-of-state title is not presented to the DMV. If only registration is needed, the last issued registration certificate will be requested.
The vehicle must undergo inspection at a DMV of the applicant’s choosing by a DMV employee that is certified in the process. A law-enforcement officer or a licensed-vehicle verifier also can perform the inspection. Appointments are strongly recommended for faster service.
If applicable, smog and weight certifications need to be obtained. A Permanent Trailer Identification (PTI) Application Certificate is also needed for any trailer vehicles new residents plan on using in California.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
— AIRPORTS
San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the largest airport in the Bay Area and the second largest airport in California. SFO ranks among the world’s 30 busiest airway systems, with nearly 50 major airlines departing from the airport every day and more than 43 million passengers logged in 2012. SFO is also noted for its emphasis on passenger comfort and high customer service. Passengers can enjoy the benefits of a consolidated rental-car center, a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station and the AirTrain automated people mover. Automated and integrated baggage screening ensures that passengers have some of the shortest wait times in the country.
In 2011, SFO completed a $383-million renovation project of Terminal 2 (T2) to accommodate the airport’s growth in passenger traffic and an increasing demand for more usable gates. T2 features 14 gates for narrow-body aircraft and 640,000 square feet of interior space filled with comfortable seating, a local-food marketplace with offerings from celebrity chefs, works by local and international artists, a children’s play area and a pedestrian crossing to the AirTrain. T2 is also the first airport terminal to achieve LEED® Gold certification for sustainability. For more information, visit www.flysfo.com.
Mineta San José International Airport
Located 60 miles south of San Francisco and only two miles from downtown San Jose, the Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) is a self-supporting system that accommodated more than 8.3 million passengers in 2012. As a result of the airport improvement plan, passengers have enjoyed more efficient parking and a more comprehensive rental car system. According to the website, SJC averages 120 commercial and 87 general aviation flights per day, making the airport a viable option for meeting planners who are hosting events throughout the region.
Oakland International Airport
Elsewhere in the Bay Area, the Oakland International Airport (OAK) supported the travel of more than 10 million passengers in 2012. Only 25 minutes from downtown San Francisco, it’s a great option for visitors who will be staying in accommodations on the periphery of the city. The Airport Development Program is an ongoing program to help make OAK a top-tier airport system and one that is the first choice of travelers to the Bay Area. Recent enhancement projects have included improvements to terminal and curbside areas, the construction of additional gates and connections to outlying businesses and residential districts. Visit www.flyoakland.com for more information.
— GROUND TRANPORTATION
Bay Area Rapid Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is a major component of San Francisco’s public transportation system and is the fifth busiest heavy rail system in the country. BART is a rapid-transit railway with five operational lines across 104 miles of track, including 44 stations in four different counties.
Much of the underground railway system includes the area previously serviced by the city’s electric streetcar network. BART’s five routes are Fremont to Lake Merritt (A line), Pittsburg/Bay Point to Rockridge (C line), Dublin/Pleasanton to Bay Fair (L line), Oakland to Millbrae (M, W and Y line) and Richmond to MacArthur (R line). Passengers have access to Oakland through all routes except for Richmond to MacArthur.
Many residents are heavily dependent on BART, making San Francisco less susceptible than other cities in California to the congestion of daily traffic on freeways. As a result of the popularity of BART, train cars and stations are in a constant state of refurbishment to make daily use more enjoyable. BART consistently has proven to be a user-friendly transportation system, especially when it comes to accommodating the business needs of its riders. The system was the first in the nation to offer cell phone communities to passengers of all carriers and has increased its weekend and nighttime schedules to provide easy and effective use no matter what time of day. For more information or schedules, visit www.bart.gov.
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