Brainstorming Park and Rides

"Financial Feasibility of Development Analysis," a report by Center for Transit-Oriented Development (CTOD) for the City of Saint Paul looks at the impact of light rail on land values and economic activity. I asked panelists at a forum given today about the economic activity generated by park and rides. The response was that other uses gave more economic impact than "no charge" park and rides and that this rail line was not designed to be a commuter line. A second concern was that park and rides are very popular and develop a constituency, and they fill up, so overflow parking can be a problem. A third point is that North-South connecting bus lines every one half mile may be constructed.

Not to quibble with the analysis, but, if our goal is to have more people using transit, and park and rides fill up, that is a good thing. Why not eliminate all parking spaces, and roads too, and that will prevent people from getting in their cars at all? Negative approaches likely impact economic activity in a negative way.

Making parking spaces rare for transit users is the status quo as Midway Center patrols their lots to prevent transit users from parking there. Neighboring streets are "permit parking only," 12-4, in part because of demand from transit users. Residents who live in streets that are not "permit parking only" assume it will happen once the rail is in place, and are not pleased by the prospect. How many people do not use the buses because of parking issues?

Why not encourage transit use rather than discourage car use?

Some "park and ride" or "park and shop" parking could easily be made available at Midway Center today, as the lot between Office Max and I-94 is typically vacant, and this lot was made available for the State Fair park and ride. Also, a more limited number of parking spots between the liquor store and American Bank would seem to be available for transit users, if a deal with Midway Center is negotiated. (Plan for, but do not necessarily build a larger park and ride until the rail causes the need.)

What might parking priorities be?

a) handicap users parking
b) parking for University Avenue businesses impacted by light rail (validation?)
c) parking for Saint Paul residents with residential parking permits (nearby zones, or perhaps all zones)
d) parking for all transit users, non-peak hours (with transit pass?)
e) shared cars and/or electric cars
f) motorcycles, bicycles, two seat cars

I will leave it to others to rank this list. Most of these priorities would seem to justify subsidies or free parking.

I believe I agree with those who would charge for parking to commuters from outside the city limits, as the preference would be to offer park and rides closer to the user. Parking fees would be the management tool to prevent use beyond capacity, Details and enforcement are non-trivial. A CTOD representative indicated that he can not point to a "best practice" park and ride.

Grid 8 Neighborhood Issues:Park and Ride Proposal

The case against Portland style development.

Update, 9/24/08:
An e-mail exchange between Sam Zimbabwe, COTD, and me.