7A - Discussion, Parking Requirements

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Parking Management.Strategies, Evaluation and Planning Victoria Transport Policy Institute Downtown-Addressing Parking Problems A growing downtown is experiencing parking problems.Most downtown parking is unprced,with 2-hour limits for on-street parking. During peak periods 90%of core-area parking spaces are occupied, although there is virtually always parking available a few blocks away, and many of the core spaces are used by commuters or long-term visitors, who moved their vehicles every two hours to avoid citations. Local businesses asked the city to build a$5 million parking structure,which would either require about$500,000 in annual subsidies or would require user charges. Experience in similar downtowns indicates that if most public parking is unpriced, few motorists will pay for parking so the structure would be underutilized and do little to alleviate parking problems. Local officials decide to first implement a management program,to defer or avoid the need for a parking structure. Parking surveys are performed regularly to track utilization and turnover rates,in order to identify problems. The program's objectives are to encourage efficient use of parking facilities,insure that parking is convenient for priority uses (deliveries, customers and short errands), and maintain parking utilization at about 85%. It includes the following strategies: • Increase enforcement of regulations,particularly during busy periods,but insure that enforcement is friendly and fair. • Reduce on-street time limits(e.g.,2-hours to 90 minutes)where needed to increase turnover. • Expand core area boundaries to increase the number of spaces managed for short-term use. • Encourage businesses to share parking,so for example,a restaurant allows its parking spaces to be used by an office building during the weekdays in exchange for using the office parking during evenings and weekends. • Encourage use of alternative modes. The city may partner with the downtown business organization to support commute trip reduction programs and downtown shuttle service. • Develop special regulations as needed,such as for disabled access,delivery and loading areas,or to accommodate other particular land uses. • Implement a residential parking permit program if needed to address spillover problems in nearby residential areas,but accommodate non-residential users as much as possible. • Provide signs and maps showing motorists where they may park. • Have an overflow parking plan for occasionally special events that attract large crowds. • Establish high standards for parking facility design,including aesthetic and safety features,to enhance the downtown environment. • Price parking,using convenient pricing methods.Apply the following principles: • Adjust rates as needed to maintain optional utilization(i.e., 85%peak occupancy). • Structure rates to favor short-term uses in core areas and encourage longer-term parkers to shift to other locations. • Provide special rates to serve appropriate uses,such as for evening and weekend events. • Use revenues to improve enforcement,security,facility maintenance,marketing,and mobility management programs that encourage use of alternative modes. 6