Voelpel: City Lacks A Parking Strategy (15. October 2006, 15:09 by Derek Young) ~ We Love Parking
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Dan Voelpel’s column today focuses on one of our favorite topics, Parking! Parking permits. Time limits on street parking. City owned parking garages. Specifically, he explores the lack of a cohesive city strategy for parking and compares it to Portland. Ahh… Portland. His description of our city’s strategy as parking management by ‘squeaky wheel.’ The city makes a policy change. Somebody then complains and the policy changes again. As I think about it, this seems to be how we manage a lot of things around here? I’m curious, with regard to parking, are we doing anything right or will we be flogging this topic for a while?
Link to The News Tribune |
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I’m curious, with regard to parking, are we doing anything right or will we be flogging this topic for a while?
The parking issue is going to be around for at least a couple more years.
His description of our city’s strategy as parking management by ‘squeaky wheel.’
Voelpel might have a point that the overall parking mangement is disjointed, but in the end, I think it is working fairly well right now.
The increased traffic enforcement has moved many employees who work downtown into parking garages which was the intended effect which frees up space on the street for visitors. That is a very good result.
Right now there is apparently only a 60 percent occupancy of parking spaces downtown which shows that we probably cannot implment pay stations or even meters in many areas.
Until there is a much greater demand for parking downtown, I think the current approach, while not perfect, is overall pretty good.
My greatest concern is the current parking garages on Pacific which need to be fixed to have workable retail on the first level.
Better to have a ‘parking problem’ than be fighting to have people downtown at all. Still, Tacomans seem very reluctant to embrace public transportation, even if it’s less expensive and less of a hassle. I’m surprised that many people would rather park six blocks away from their office in a one or two hour space and use up all their break time walking through the rain to repark somewhere else to avoid getting a ticket—rather than simply parking further away and taking the train, which stops half a block away.
Also, Tacoma has more surface parking lots than most cities its size. And large portions of the neighborhoods—including the area around St. Joseph’s, north Commerce Street, and pretty much all of Market Street from 9th St. south—are giant parking areas.
I’m surprised that this is such a major issue in Tacoma.
2 | Posted by drizell | Oct 15, 08:35 PM
Dan makes some good points, but misses a few others.
There is a broad based committee that has been working in this for a few years. www.tacomabia.org
The Downtown Merchants Group had been advocating for hand held electronic enforcement for many years before Portland implemented them, as a means to end “chain parking.†Dan says it as bad fewer people now get parking tickets there for less revenue for the city. On the other side; happier shoppers and visitors and higher garage occupancies, which is more revenue for the city. Moving from 1 hour to 90 minute and 2 hour parking comes from two sources. A known out come of electronic enforcement that had been advocated by the merchants for many years, and a drop in the on street occupancy rates connected with the enforcement. January 2005 on street occupancy rates 65% garages at 60%. August 2006 on street occupancy rates at 60% garage occupancy at 85%. A working parking system has street occupancies of 85%. Tacoma needs near that point before is can consider Pay Stations.
We need to look bigger than a parking plan, we need a Transportation System Management plan.
Here is some additional reading the urban planners will love:
www.walkablestreets.com/downpark.htm
www.atlantadowntown.com/ParkingPlan
I think the reason it is a major issue is because many urban planners understand great cities are built on great transportation systems.
3 | Posted by Marty | Oct 15, 09:16 PM
Actually, with 40 percent vacany still on the Tacoma city streets, there does not appear to be any “problem” for the city to solve until there is alot more demand for people to park downtown.
Before suggesting solutions, we need to determine first the outcome of we are trying to accomplish with the parking strategy. Is it to maximize revenue collection alone or is to primarily support the revitalization of downtown?
(By the way Marty, take a look at the Textile Help link below to be able to submit links. Place the linked text in quotes followed by a colon and then the url to link such sites such as the BIA)
I think one of the problems regarding parking is one of perception.
When I go to Seattle, I glance left and right and do my usual circle the block to see if there is a parkable spot for me. But I always know that unless I just get lucky, I’m headed for a parking garage.
The weird thing is, my mottled brain tells me that when I visit Tacoma I should be able to park for free or at a grossly discounted price. After all (I say to myslef) I’m doing the city a favor by going there aren’t I?
It’s just perception you see. When in Seattle, I subconsciously think the onus is on me to buck up and pay the piper. In Tacoma on the other hand, I might be tempted to think the burden is on the city or it’s merchants to provide me with parking at the snap of my fingers.
That’s absolutely wrong thinking of course, but real none the less. And I would guess I’m not alone in my twisted psychology.
I think the perception of the overall city’s worth is what makes the difference in percieved value. Whereas Seattle and Portland have long ago “arrived” as cities of destination, Tacoma is still “on the road” so to speak, considered rather a city of destiny.
When Tacoma “arrives”, no price will be too high to pay to work or play in the city. But for the time being the battle of perception will have to continue to be fought in the minds of workers, residents and visitors alike.
Great article by Dan Voelpel though. Very good investigative reporting.
It makes me wonder is there is such a thing as a Parking Czar in other cities… someone we might be able to per$uede to join us and take command of the situation? Someone who can get a grip on the whole puzzle, align the pieces correctly and convince us it’s for our own good?
And hey, while he’s at it, I wonder if that Czar knows anything about creating pedestrian friendly walkways? hint hint :)
5 | Posted by Steve Hurley | Oct 15, 09:48 PM
I think one of the problems regarding parking is one of perception.
This is so true! The current parking “problem” is simply the growing pain of a little success. We’re not used to it! For too long, Tacoma has been dead and now that it’s coming back to life we’re not sure how to handle it. We have a LONG way to go before we reach the point of having a true parking “problem” – in my opinion.
Try this: during a weekday, walk from one end of downtown to the other- say from 9th to 21st along Commerce. Look around. Notice all the surface parking lots sitting nearly vacant? Notice all the under utilized parking garages?
The key to Portland’s strategy is to make parking pay for mass transit – streetcars. Sound Transit has a start in the right direction with the Dome District garage- only they aren’t charging anything to park there. I’m sure if they charged even just $3 a day it would be filled to capacity AND they would be making money to expand the downtown LINK up to the Stadium District. If they were urged to do so…
Quick comment…I can’t believe that some whining downtown workers actually managed to get City Hall to restore free parking on Dock Street when 2 hour signs were added. WTF? (That said, I’m not sure its fair for Voelpel to single out Russell as having some of the offending employees…)
7 | Posted by jamie from thriceallamerican | Oct 16, 09:25 AM
Marty—is that a hint of sarcasm? You should have said “most urban planners” instead of “many urban planners”—then I’d really feel insulted.
Thank you to all the people that actually LIVE in Tacoma for opening my eyes…..
8 | Posted by drizell | Oct 16, 11:02 AM
Agree with Steve that we should have a “parking czar” or, more precisely, some sort of responsibility center for parking and transit access like Seattle, Spokane and Portland already do…
Marty and I were also on the Portland trip. Portland Commissionerer Sam Adams told us that gathering broad stakeholder input, informed by strong analysis of current trends, should lead to development of a strategic plan that can guide not just planning but overall resource development and allocation. “Give people alternatives,” he urged, “not out of political correctness, but because it really is the best way to go…”
Like Sam Adams, Rick Williams (executive director for the Lloyd District Transportation Management Association) stressed the need to look at transportation assets as key pieces of a city’s economic development toolbox—a tool, not just a “nice to” part of the urban landscape. In the Lloyd District, Williams has been able to offer capacity to new development through better use of existing facilities instead of having to raise money to build new parking complexes, many of which will stand empty or underutilized in off-peak hours.
There’s more in depth on the BIA Blog (http://tacomadowntown.blogspot.com/).
9 | Posted by Paul Ellis | Oct 16, 12:47 PM
A reality is that parking is still a major fixation downtown. I continue to wonder why we don’t add an impact fee onto parking rate for both public and private surface parking lots. The proceeds could help with additions to the Sound Transit parking structures and to offset the continued environmental effects of impervious surface runoff. Parking is still too cheap downtown and until it climbs, structed parking will not make enconomic sense.
Too bad surface parking lots are profitable enough that older commercial buildings with only ground level tenants are viewed as more practical development sites. If you stand at the corner of Market and 11th, the most likely corner for a new building is the NE where a three story brick structure is standing.
It will be a measure of progress when surface parking lots are the accepted best target for new construction downtown.
10 | Posted by Michael | Oct 16, 05:23 PM
It will be a measure of progress when surface parking lots are the accepted best target for new construction downtown.
There are a number of parking lots on Pacific Avenue which are prime building areas. It sure would be nice to see buildings go up on them with parking underground.
There are also a few parking structures on Pacific Ave. that need to be torn down and not just have a makeover.
12 | Posted by Jake | Oct 16, 09:22 PM
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