Santa Rosa Downtown Progressive Parking Strategy & Railroad Square Parking Plan Presented by: Lauren Mattern October 2016
Today s Agenda Project Overview Current System Highlights Community Outreach Feedback Policy Options Progressive Pricing Rate Adjustments Employee Parking Programs Railroad Square Additional Options Q & A Input Next Steps Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 2
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Purpose To address the following issues in Santa Rosa: Need for more availability of spaces in prime retail areas Underutilized off-street parking Parking spillover into residential areas New SMART station Need for cheap parking options for employees Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 4
Goals 1. Create more open parking spaces across downtown and Railroad Square 2. Reduce circling for parking in busy areas 3. Ensure customers can easily access local businesses during busy hours 4. Reduce congestion and spillover parking into residential areas 6. Use parking resources efficiently 7. Encourage people to spend time downtown 8. Ensure there is enough parking to accommodate future growth 9. Provide incentives for employees away from retail streets, in a safe, accessible area 10. Keep parking regulations easy to understand 11. Ensure parking investments and policies anticipate changes in vehicle technology and travel behavior Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 5
Policy Options Progressive Pricing Meter Adjustments Employee Parking Programs Railroad Square Supply Parking Benefit District User Information & Marketing More Efficient Parking Technologies Shared Parking Flexible Parking Requirements Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 6
Project Status Project Initiation Existing Conditions (research & analysis) RR Square Demand Assessment Best Practices Review Strategy Development Draft & Final Plan Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 7
EXISTING PARKING CONDITIONS
Hours of Operation Parking Lots & Meters 8 AM 6 PM Monday through Saturday Free on Sundays Parking Structures 24 hours/day Monday through Sunday Railroad Square Public Parking Inventory Type of Parking # of Spaces % of Spaces On-street parking 619 70% Parking structures (4) - - Parking lots (5) 266 30% Total 885 100% Downtown Public Parking Inventory Type of Parking # of Spaces % of Spaces On-street parking 570 19% Parking structures (4) 2,033 67% Parking lots (5) 444 15% Total 3,047 100%
Downtown Peak Parking Occupancy Weekday Early PM Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 10
Railroad Square Peak Weekday Occupancy 12-1pm Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 11
Railroad Square Peak Weekend Occupancy 8-9 pm Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 12
COMMUNITY OUTREACH FEEDBACK
Survey results Question Top Answers How do you choose your mode of travel? What would make you visit/shop in Downtown Santa Rosa more often? What influences where you park? Where do employees park? Convenience: 57% Cost: 17% Time: 15% More parking availability: 50% More public space/parks: 44% More retail stores and restaurants: 39% Better bicycle access: 28% Proximity to destination: 80% Cost: 39% Security of car: 35% Personal safety: 31% Private lot/garage: 32% Public on-street unmetered space: 25% Public garage: 21% Public on-street metered space: 14% Public lot: 8% Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 14
What Makes Parking Difficult for you? Parking Challenge # of Votes Parking is located in areas that don t feel safe 16 Worried about getting a ticket 12 Parking too far from destination 6 Unsure where garages are located 6 Confusing / lack of information 5 Disabled placard abuse 5 Can t find a space 3 Other challenges 3 Parking isn t difficult 2 Parking costs too much 1 Parking in areas that leave car susceptible to theft 1 Spaces are too small / difficult to park in 1 Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 15
POLICY OPTIONS
Progressive Pricing Price parking according to the level of convenience and demand Gradual and periodic changes to match demand and find the lowest possible prices Benefits Easier for drivers to find parking spaces Supports Santa Rosa s economic vitality Reduces illegal parking/double parking Improves safety for all road users Reduces congestion and improved flow Better air quality Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 17
Progressive Pricing Best Practices Simple (Ventura) Complex (SF) Medium (Berkeley) Source: City of Ventura Source: City of Berkeley Source: Sfpark.org Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 18
Progressive Pricing - Best Practices Program Strategy Results Downtown Parking District (Ventura) SeaPark (Seattle) Varies by parking area Target occupancy: 85% Varies by parking area Target occupancy: 70-85% Varies by block Target occupancy: 65-85% Varies by block, time of day, and day of week Target occupancy: 60-80% 16 new businesses opened since 2010 29% in crime in first year (downtown) Average hourly rate stayed the same in 47% of neighborhoods in occupancy where average rate increased 8% in availability 41% in visitor satisfaction $0.11 in average hourly rate 43% in amount of time to find a space 22% in availability during peak Key lessons Change the perception that no parking is available Make parking clear and simple Adopt policies and technology gradually Integrate parking policies with TDM measures Facilitate adaptive reuse Return revenues to where they are generated Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 19
Progressive Pricing - Recommendation 1 2 Discount Value Premium TARGET 85% 15% occupancy per block availability per block Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 20
Progressive Pricing - Recommendation Simple zones Premium and Value Higher in Premium, Lower in Value For example $1.50 in Premium $1 in Value Zones (and their rates, time limits, hours of operation) simply, clearly communicated via signage in those areas Source: goberkeley.info Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 21
Progressive Pricing Identifying potential zones Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 22
Parking Meter Adjustments Rate Adjustment Protocols Program Schedule Rate Adjustment SeaPark (Seattle) goberkeley (Berkeley) SFpark (SF) Adjusted annually Varies by paid parking area Varies by time of day only in Pioneer Square Adjusted annually since program launch in 2013 Varies by blockface Does not vary by time of day No more than once per month Varies by blockface, time of day, by day of week By $0.50 increments Price: $1 - $4/hr Based on manual counts for Annual Paid Parking Study By $0.25 or $0.50 increments Premium Price: $2 - $3.25/hr Value Price: $2/hr Based on meter transaction software data and License Plate Recognition surveys By $0.25 or $0.50 increments Price: $0.50 - $6.25/hr Based on continuous parking sensor data Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 23
Parking Meter Adjustments Best Practices Rate Adjustment Protocols goberkeley (Berkeley) Target occupancy: 65-85% Under 65%: Lower rates & extend time limits Over 85%: Increase rates & decrease time limits SeaPark (Seattle) Target occupancy: 70-85% Under 65%: Lower rates & extend time limits Over 90%: Increase rates & decrease time limits 65-70% and 85-90%: Place on watch list, adjust the following year if still outside target SFpark Target occupancy: 60-80% Under 50%: Decrease by $0.50 50 60%: Decrease by $0.25 60 80%: No Change Over 80%: Increase by $0.25 Source: Seattle Department of Transportation Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 24
Parking Meter Adjustments Adjust meter policies to match need for open spaces Relax time limits Tailor hours of operation to need Benefits Help manage parking demand Increase parking availability Reduce overall congestions by reducing circling Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 25
Parking Meter Adjustments Recommendation Rate Adjustment Protocol Depoliticize, delegate rate adjustments to the Parking Manager Transparent, data-driven decision making, pubic dashboard Annual or biannual data collection & adjustments Manual parking data primary source Routine manual parking occupancy data counts Study relationship with meter data to consider long-term model License Plate Recognition Increase/decrease rates by $0.25/hour or $0.50 based on demand Enable rate adjustment to occur starting 6 months to 1 year after establishment of Premium and Value zones Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 26
Relax Time Limits Relax time limits to allow drivers to stay longer Relax across the board E.g., Relax to 4 hours in Premium Zone, and no time limit in Value Zone Length of Stay Concept is that for 3 rd, 4 th hours and beyond, the hourly rates go up A way of focusing on turnover while still allowing longer stays Balancing simplicity and tailored approach Give us your feedback! Length of Stay Premium Price Value Price 1 st hour $1.50 $1 2 nd hour $1.50 $1 3 rd hour $3 $1.50 4 th hour $4 $2 Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 27
Tailor Hours of Operation Tailor hours of operation to need Charge for parking when and where it is needed to open up spaces for local businesses and reduce circling 100% 90% On-Street Occupancy 86% Hours of Operation Monday - Saturday 8 AM 6 PM Except Holidays 80% 84% 70% 60% Downtown Weekday Weekend % Occupied 50% 40% 49% 41% Railroad Square Weekday Weekend 30% 20% 10% 0% Early AM AM Midday Early PM PM Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 28
Tailor Hours of Operation Tailor hours of operation to need. Weekend PM Occupancy (8-9 PM) Weekday PM Occupancy (8-9 PM) Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 29
Tailor Hours (Options) Consistent hours of operation vs. slight variation in zones based on the actual need Can coordinate updated hours with the zones Premium Zone: 10 AM 9 PM Value Zone: 10 AM 6 PM Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 30
Off-Street Parking Management Vary rates based on demand similar to the Value and Premium on-street designations Adjust rates based on demand similar protocol as for meters Will likely result in off-street rates being slightly lower than onstreet rates Use underutilized garages for Employee Parking Program Invest in awareness and marketing of garages Explore partnerships for Railroad Square supply Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 31
Employee Parking Program Incentivize affordable parking options for low-wage downtown employees Benefits Designates employee parking areas in underutilized off-street facilities Frees up key retail spaces for customers Controls spillover parking into nearby residential areas Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 32
Employee Parking Program - Recommendation Identify underutilized off-street facilities for employee use Flexible locations: allow employee parking in different locations that are underutilized Adjust rates to reflect demand times and/or locations Daily discounted payments ideal not possible for now Encourages alternate modes of transportation Monthly/annual passes encourage people to drive more often Restaurant/ bar employees Administration City issues permit that qualifies people for discounted rate Employees or employers apply monthly, show proof of employment Hourly wage limits Qualifies for discount on daily payment Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 33
Railroad Square Parking Demand If need new supply, partnerships and location key Steps Avoiding disruption of urban/retail fabric Add pedestrians, not detract If related to station use, adjacency matters Use the adjustment of regulations in area to prepare Monitor SMART impact Key metrics: ridership, travel mode to/from station Revisit at 1 and 2 year mark to see where these trends are headed Work to bring down the drive alone rate to the station, and test circulator impact Explore private supply partnerships Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 34
Railroad Square - Recommendations Create Railroad Square Parking District Progressive pricing consistent with downtown Minor additions to metered area and addition of management on streets surrounding station Explore partnerships for new supply Key question: Are commuters welcome on any streets, or not? Two options for West End RPP: petition now or wait-and-see Must be petitioned for by citizens Some of the residential streets that are unregulated will become the most convenient for station parking. Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 35
Additional Policy Strategies Parking Benefit District User Information & Marketing Wayfinding, branding, communications More Efficient Parking Technologies Future proof parking codes Automated parking can reduce parking footprints by 40-80% Shared Parking Incentives Flexible Parking Requirements Parking maximums, density bonuses, unbundling Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 36
Next Steps Update/refine recommendations based on feedback Further financial analysis of rate options Publish final recommendations online City Council hearing to consider recommendation If approved, implementation could begin in 2017 Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 37
Q & A
We Need Your Input Parking Tradeoffs Weigh in on the key policy trade-offs that we are still working through Feedback on key strategies Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 39
Thank You! Lauren Mattern Follow the Project atsrcity.org/parkingplan NELSON\NYGAARD CONSULTING ASSOCIATES 2015