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3SMART PARKINGSMART PARKING

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IntroductionThis is one of seven Transit Oriented Development training modules developed by the Regional Plan Association, the Project for Public Spaces and Reconnecting America under contract to the New York State Department of Transportation in collaboration with the New York State Thruway Authority and MTA/Metro-North Railroad. The modules were presented and tested in one-day training sessions in two counties and two-day training sessions in eight municipalities, all in the lower Hudson Valley. Each module is, largely, the culmination of the versions used in the training sessions. The seven modules are as follow.

Module 1: Building Quality communities Around TransitModule 2: Changing Street Design to Support Liveable DevelopmentModule 3: Smart ParkingModule 4: Creating Great Places Around TransitModule 5: Regulations and Financing Tools for TODModule 6: Building Mixed Income Communities Around TransitModule 7: Station Area Planning

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Goals for Smart ParkingGoals for Smart Parking

• Balance parking supply and demand.

• Consider innovative parking management policies.

• Locate parking with sensitivity to context.

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Key Concepts and Key Concepts and DefinitionsDefinitions

• There is no such thing as free parking.

• Parking costs $5k-$40k per space.

• Costs are passed along to the consumer.

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Key Concepts and Key Concepts and DefinitionsDefinitions

• TOD requires less parking because households near transit own fewer cars.

• Residents and workers near transit ride transit more.

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Key Concepts and Key Concepts and DefinitionsDefinitions

• Short-term vs. Long-term Parking

• Short-term: Convenience retail oriented, generally on-street

• Long-term: Generally off-street with a mix of uses

• Regional vs. local parking

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ChallengesChallenges Most cities have a one-size-fits-all

parking requirement that covers the entire city.

Parking requirements do not change with density and transit availability, which add costs to TOD.

Managing parking effectively requires an investment of resources.

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Types of Parking and Types of Parking and Parking ToolsParking Tools

• Park-and-Ride• Shared Parking• Bicycle Parking• “Unbundled”

Parking• Car Sharing

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Park-and-RidePark-and-Ride• Parking is located near

transit stations for transit riders.

• User fees are sometimes charged.

• Parking usually located on publicly owned land.

• Parking does not need to be immediately adjacent to transit station.

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Shared ParkingShared Parking

• Parking is shared among multiple uses.

• It takes advantage of different peak usage hours for parking.

• It can be used in residential and employment environments.

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Do opportunities exist Do opportunities exist to share parking?to share parking?

6 Noon 6

Office

Restaurant

Entertainment

TOTAL SPACES

5 1/2 – 6 per 1,000 sf

EMPTY6 Noon 6

Shared ParkingExclusive Parking

TOTAL SPACES

2 1/2 – 3 per 1,000 sf

Office

Entertainment

Restaurant

Empty

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Bicycle ParkingBicycle Parking• Types of Bicycle Parking:

Indoor ParkingBicycle LockersBicycle Racks

• Approximately 10 bikes can fit in 1 car parking space.

• Weather protection and security are critical for use.

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““Unbundled” ParkingUnbundled” Parking

Parking is physically or economically separated from its associated use.

It affects the sizing, design, site and construction of parking.

It promotes the efficient use of parking resources.

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Car SharingCar Sharing• It gives access to

centrally owned and maintained vehicles.

• It is near homes, workplaces or transit hubs.

• It helps lower household auto ownership rates.

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3 Strategies for Smart 3 Strategies for Smart ParkingParking

1. Regulatory Tools for Smart Parking

2. District Parking Tools

3. Smart Parking Design

Parking garage at Kansas City Library

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Strategy 1: Regulatory Strategy 1: Regulatory ToolsTools

Reduce or eliminate minimum parking requirement.

Create parking maximums.

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Reduce or Eliminate Reduce or Eliminate Minimum Parking Minimum Parking

Requirements Requirements • Tailor requirements

to usage.

• Allow for shared parking.

• Let the market determine parking levels.

• Require viable transportation alternatives. Hunts Point, WA

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Create Parking MaximumsCreate Parking Maximums

• Set limits or “caps” on the quantity of parking that can be provided.

• Promote more efficient use of land.

• Encourage the use of alternative modes.

Most places overbuild parking

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Strategy 2: Strategy 2: District-Wide Parking District-Wide Parking

ToolsTools

• Parking Assessment• Parking Pricing• District Parking

Financing

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Parking AssessmentParking Assessment

Evaluate current utilization of public and private parking resources.

Recommend appropriate tools to maximize parking assets and potentially to generate additional revenue.

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Parking PricingParking Pricing

It can affect parking occupancy, induce greater turnover, increase parking availability and generate revenue.

Effective pricing can impact the amount of commuter parking and increase customer access to short-term parking supplies.

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District Parking FinancingDistrict Parking Financing

• Tools and methods are available to finance district parking.

• They can also finance related transportation improvements. New York towns have existing

on-street parking assets

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District Parking FinancingDistrict Parking Financing• There are many

different types of financing tools.

• Parking districts are used for funding:

• Local transit (bus/streetcar)

• Street improvements• Public and private

development

New York towns have existing on-street parking assets

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Strategy 3: Smart Parking Strategy 3: Smart Parking DesignDesign

• Use on-street parking to calm traffic.

• Hide parking from street.

• Activate ground floor of structure parking.

• Provide pedestrian amenities and security.

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Use On-Street Parking Use On-Street Parking to Calm Trafficto Calm Traffic

• Provide a buffer for traffic.

• Provide a short-term parking reservoir.

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Hide Parking from the StreetHide Parking from the Street

• Off-street parking should be located behind buildings, not in front.

• Trees or other landscape barriers can screen parking areas.

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Provide Pedestrian Provide Pedestrian Amenities Amenities

and Securityand Security• Lighting and safety

are important features of off-street parking.

• Landscaping and clear pathways improves pedestrian access.

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Activate the Ground Floor of Activate the Ground Floor of Structured ParkingStructured Parking

• Ground floor retail or other uses can be added to off-street garages.

• Entries to garages should be located in side streets or alleys.

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Case Study: Cranford, NJ

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3QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?COMMENTS?COMMENTS?