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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5031 RESOLUTION NO. 5031 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON, ADOPTING THE COMPREHENSIVE DOWNTOWN PARKING MANAGEMENT PLAN (CDPMP) FOR PARKING POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION IN DOWNTOWN AUBURN WHEREAS, the City of Auburn on May 21, 2001 adopted the Auburn Downtown Plan as a subarea plan of the City of Auburn's Comprehensive Plan; and WHEREAS, the Auburn Downtown Plan enumerates a vision of continuous revitalization of downtown Auburn as the physical and cultural heart of the Auburn community and development of a mixed-use district; and WHEREAS, parking is an essential component in facilitating the Auburn Downtown Plan's vision; and WHEREAS, the City of Auburn identified an increasing need to balance competing parking user demands, anticipated redevelopment of the Auburn Junction blocks and other redevelopment activity in downtown Auburn, and anticipated expansion of Sounder commuter train services; and WHEREAS, the previous comprehensive parking plan entitled the Downtown Parking Plan was adopted by the City of Auburn in 1996 by Resolution 2826, and WHEREAS, the Planning and Community Development Committee of City Council adopted the Draft Work Plan for the Comprehensive Downtown Parking Management Plan ('CDPMP') on July 11, 2011 to develop and adopt a new comprehensive parking plan to supersede the 1996 Downtown Parking Plan, and ---------------------------------- Resolution No. 5031 January 29, 2014 Page 1 of 4 WHEREAS, City of Auburn staff commenced work on the CDPMP in August 2011, and WHEREAS, the draft Downtown Urban Center (DUC) On-Street and Off-Street Parking Supply and Demand Analysis was presented to and discussed by the Planning and Community Development Committee of City Council on October 24, 2011; and WHEREAS, the draft Downtown Urban Center (DUC) On-Street and Off-Street Parking Supply and Demand Analysis was revised in December 2011; and WHEREAS, public participation in the development of the CDPMP was solicited from Auburn citizens at-large, downtown Auburn business and property owners, and a diverse cross-section of stakeholders through the Downtown Parking Survey conducted in May 2012; and WHEREAS, the Downtown Parking Survey Report was presented to and discussed by the Planning and Community Development Committee of City Council on July 9, 2012, and WHEREAS, the scope of the CDPMP was presented to and discussed by the Planning and Community Development Committee of City Council on October 8, 2012; and WHEREAS, the draft CDPMP was presented to and discussed by the Planning and Community Development Committee of City Council on August 26, 2013 and further discussed by Planning and Community Development Committee of City Council on November 25, 2013; and Resolution No 5031 January 29, 2014 Page 2 of 4 WHEREAS, the Planning and Community Development Committee of City Council recommended approval of the draft CDPMP to the full Auburn City Council on January 13, 2014; and WHEREAS, the Public Works Committee of City Council concurred with the recommendation of Planning and Community Development Committee on January 21, 2014; and WHEREAS, upon the recommendation of staff, City Council determines that adoption of the CDPMP will facilitate the Auburn Downtown Plan's vision and is therefore in the best interest of the City; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN, AS FOLLOWS- Section 1. Adoption. The Comprehensive Downtown Parking Management Plan (`CDPMP'), comprised of the following documents: (1) "Comprehensive Downtown Parking Management Plan (CDPMP)" dated January 29, 2014 and (2) "Comprehensive Downtown Parking Management Plan (CDPMP) — Appendix A" dated January 29, 2014, all of which are marked as "Exhibit A" with the original resolution and on file with the Auburn City Clerk, is hereby adopted and approved by reference as if fully set forth herein as a guidance document for parking policy development and implementation in downtown Auburn. It is herewith directed that all of the documents listed which comprise the CDPMP be available at the City Clerk's Office for public inspection. Section 2. The Downtown Parking Plan, adopted by the City of Auburn by Resolution 2826 is hereby supplanted by the CDPMP In the event of any conflict, the CDPMP shall control. ---------------------------------- Resolution No. 5031 January 29, 2014 Page 3 of 4 Section 3. Implementation. The Mayor is hereby authorized to implement such administrative procedures as may be necessary to carry out the directions of this legislation. Section 4. Effective date. This resolution shall be in full force and effect upon passage and signatures hereon. DATED AND SIGNED this-3d-day of February, 2014. CITY OF AUBURN 4NCY BACKUS MAYOR ATTEST Danielle E. Daskam, City Clerk APPROVED A TO FOR I'/n D ie aid, ity Attorney Resolution No. 5031 January 29, 2014 Page 4 of 4 Comprehensive Downtown Parking Management January CITY )WOO i ' - - - - - - - _� , � � � � � � � � � •• r_• � � �, � � � r_•^ins -I �, � - ,.tip - III I Mayor Nancy Backus City Councilmembers Rich Wagner, Deputy Mayor Claude DaCorsi John Holman Wayne Osborne Bill Peloza Yolanda Trout Largo Wales Prepared by: Planning and Community Development Department Jeff Tate, Interim Planning Director Elizabeth Chamberlain, Planning Services Manager Gary Yao, Planner CITYOf_ �C� Ally WASHINGTON Executive Summary 1 1. Introduction 3 1.1 - Purpose and Approach 3 1.2 - Plan Components 4 1.3 - Plan Area and Applicability 5 1.4 - 7 Simple Rules of Planning for Parking 7 2. The Parking System 8 2.1 - Existing Parking Infrastructure, Resources, and Usage 8 2.2 - Future Parking Infrastructure, Resources, and Usage 14 2.3 - Parking Organization, Management, Planning, and Investment 32 2.4 - Parking Operations, Maintenance, and Marketing and Communications 35 3. Parking Case Studies 38 3.1 - Parking Organization, Management, Planning, and Investment 38 3.2 - Parking Operations, Maintenance, and Marketing and Communications 43 4. The Parking Best Practices Toolbox 51 4.1 - How to Use the Toolbox 51 Figure 4.1.1 -The Toolbox 52 5. The Parking Action Plan 54 5.1 - Near-Term Recommendations 54 5.2 - Short-Term Recommendations (1-5 Years) 56 5.3 - Long-Term Recommendations (6-10 Years) 61 Appendix A Executive Summary The Cotnprehensive Downtown Parking Managetnent Plan(CDPhIP), which primarilv addresses parking policy within the Downtown Urban Center(DUC) zoning district, begins with an overview of the plan's purpose and approach: • To manage existing parking assets, assess current parking demand, forecast future parking needs, and develop a first-rate downtown parking system as an additional amenity that keeps up with existing businesses, projects underway, and future development; and • To balance business, residential, visitor, and commuter parking needs in light of redevelopment and increased transit service. The CDPMP is also guided by the 7 Simple Rules of Planning for parking: • Pinpoint the Parking • Strike a Balance • Crown the Customer King • Provide `Free" Parking • Reduce the "Last Mile" • Clarify the Code • Change It Up The plan then moves into an overview of the Citv's parking system, including existing and future parking infrastructure and resources available and existing and future usage: • Of the approximately 4,879 parking spaces available inventoried as of December 2011, parking areas that experience particularly vexing problems of high occupancy are limited to Wayland Arms (King County Housing Authority) block and Multicare Auburn Medical Center blocks for on-street parking and (on weekdays)the Auburn Transit Center garage and surface parking lot blocks for off-street parking. • In the short term (5 years) there is an anticipated increase in parking demand of approximateiv 1,483 spaces and increase in parking supply of approximately 806 spaces. At peak hour, considering existing public on- and off-street parking spaces available in the entire DUC, a 243-space deficit is anticipated. • In the long term (10 years) there is an anticipated cumulative increase in parking demand of approximately 1,873 spaces and cumulative increase in parking supply of approximately 80G spaces. At peak hour, considering existing public on- and off-street parking spaces available in the entire DUC, a 633-space deficit is anticipated. Other components of the City's parking system are the existing organizational and management structure, planning efforts, investment strategies, operations, and maintenance. Opportunities for improvement highlighted include: • Increase in coordination between City departments and divisions with regards to the parking system's various components (on-street, off-street, citations, marketing, etc.); • Increase in regularity of planning for parking; • Increase in planning for parking impacts on special event days; • Continued coordination with police and potentially increase parking enforcement; and • Refinement of marketing and communications for the parking system. 1 Case studies follow the review of these parking system components. Parking best practices, including those from the aforementioned case studies, are then summarized and collected into the Best Practices Toolbox (table), based on feedback from the parking surveys received from Downtown businesses and citizens and staff's research and experience related to parking. Not all best practices are applicable to Downtown Auburn at this time. As such, the recommended actions for each best practice are identified as follows: continuation, modification, implementation, or no action. See Chapter 4 of the CDPMP for the entirety of the best practices toolbox. The CDPMP closes with a detailed action plan of existing best practices that the City can draw from for modification or implementation.The action plan includes proposed near-term recommendations(up to 1 year), short-term recommendations (1-5 years), and long-term recommendations (6-10 years), as follows: Near-Term (up to 1 year) • Revise timed parking limits to 3 hours throughout the DUC • Clarify existing code and implement a parking inventory database • Update the City's website to make more useful for parking seekers • Design and install updated signs for on-street parking identifying availability and rules Short-Term (1-5 Years) • Expand and modify the residential parking zone beyond D ST NW per demand • Plan for spillover areas on the fringe of downtown • Designate one department or division that is the single point of contact for all parking-related matters, despite whatever organizational structure exists behind-the-scenes • Regularly readjust current parking practices at least every 5th year • Regularly reevaluate peak parking supply and demand every year • Evaluate funding options and implement a multi-faceted plan to finance additional public parking for anticipated parking deficits • Establish a parking ambassador program • Require organizers to better plan for special events • Develop and implement a 3-strikes parking enforcement policy • Design and install easy-to-read off-street parking signs • Create alerts for parking availability-impacting maintenance and construction activity • Design and install trailblazer signs to direct drivers to available off-street public parking Long Term (6-10 Years) • Increase transit access, citywide/regionally • Revise timed parking limits, as needed • Continue to plan for spillover areas on the fringe of downtown Increase transit access, around downtown 2 1. Introduction 1.1 - Purpose and Approach The Con preliensive Downtown Parking Management Plan(CDPMP)serves the same vision enumerated for downtown in the City's Auburn Downtown Plan and Comprehensive Plan: to support the continuous revitalization of downtown Auburn as the physical and cultural heart of the Auburn community and development of a mixed-use district. To facilitate that vision, the CDPAfP is a concerted effort to manage existing parking assets, assess current parking demand, forecast future parking needs, and develop a first-rate downtown parking system as an additional amenity that keeps up with existing businesses, projects underway, and future development. initiative for developing the CDPMP emerged in a downtown Auburn at the crossroads of: • Balancing business, residential, visitor, and commuter parking needs in downtown; • Evolving parking demands in downtown, including a new sushi restaurant and gym on E Main ST and additional anticipated redevelopment in the Auburn Junction blocks south of City Hall, the fruits of various downtown public art programs and multi-million dollar investments in streetscape and infrastructure improvements; and • Expansion of Sounder commuter train services. The first step towards the CDPMP were taken with the approval of the Draft Work Plan by the Planning and Communitv Development Committee in July 2011. It has since progressed as follows: • October 2011 - Downtown Urban Center On-and Off-Street Parking Supply and Detnand Analysis was completed. The analysis inventoried all of the parking spaces available within downtown, whether public or privately owned, and their occupancies throughout the day. • December 2011 - Downtown Urban Center On-and Off-Street Parking Supply and Demand Analysis was revised to reflect changes to the user-type for City-owned and/or -operated surface parking lots. • July 2012 - Citizens Survey/Business and Property Owners Survey/Stakeholder Interviews gauged people's perceptions of parking in downtown, the anecdotal statistics of the parking experience. • August 2013 - Comprehensive Downtown Parking Management Plan(CDPMP)draft is completed. The CDPMP combines the previously gathered numerical and anecdotal statistics of parking in downtown with professional staff insight and experiences of other jurisdictions. • January 2014 - CDPMP is presented to the Planning and Community Development Committee for finalization and adoption of an administrative framework for staff to implement a first-rate parking system in downtown. • Future date - Public open houses will be conducted for further refinement of the CDPMP in future iterations. 3 1.2- Plan Components The CDPMP is organized into four components. the Parking System (Chapter 2), Parking Case Studies (Chapter 3), Parking Best Practices Toolbox (Chapter 4), and Parking Action Plan (Chapter 4). Chapter 2 examines the existing parking system, with a focus on City-owned and Citv-run parking in terms of physical parking resources, administration and planning, operations, and marketing. The chapter is divided into the following sections: Existing and Future Infrastructure, Resources, and Usage • How many and where are parking spaces located? • Where are the most vexing parking issues? • What are occupancy trends in downtown overall? How will parking demand change over time? • How many parking spaces are expected to be added? Organization, Management, Planning, and investment Who in the City is responsible for what? • How has the City planned for parking in the past? How does the City plan for parking in the future? • How and when does the City invest in additional parking spaces? Maintenance and Operations • How does the City's parking operate on a daily basis? • How are parking regulations enforced? • How are permit fees and violation fines paid? • How are the City's parking resources maintained? Marketing and Communications • How does the City get word out about parking options for businesses, residents, visitors, and commuters? • How does the City show where parking is located? Chapter 3 presents case studies of how the above-referenced parking system components are operated in other jurisdictions and institutions. Some policies and practices presented are intended to be best practices (whose applicability to the City is analyzed in Chapter 4) while others serve as cautions. Chapter 4, following review of the City's existing parking system and case studies, presents the various best practices employed in the provision of parking, parking demand management, and operations of a parking system. Not all policies and practices listed in the toolbox are intended to be applicable for the City in this iteration of the CDPMP; instead, it is a collection of tools that should be considered whenever the City is looking to fine-tune its parking system. Chapter 5, the final part of the CDPMP, assembles a recommended action plan of near-term (up to I year implementation), short-term (1-5 year implementation), and long-term (6-10 year implementation) changes to the City's parking system. 4 1.3 - Plan Area and Applicability The CDPMP, in terms of geographic implementation, primarily addresses parking policy within the Downtown Urban Center(DUC)zoning district, which includes the Auburn Junction blocks where development activity of significant scale is expected (Figure 1.3.1). ■■M■ �® PA ONE Legend ■ r4taga .n.11..g...u.y.�.n.....n.n y.nnn uv.nn.1"!!�1^.1'1::"..::::' "�W:"J:L•lll."!�Y_P....__i.. Figure 1.3.1- Map of Downtown Urban Center(DUC)and Auburn Junction The physical effects of parking policies applicable to the DUC, however,may not be necessarily quarantined within the politically defined boundaries of the DUC. In response to that potential, staff have identified 5 Potential Parking Spillover Areas(PPSAs) (Appendix A) where impacts of DUC parking policies may warrant extension of DUC parking policies into those areas (or at the very least, consideration of toolbox best practices in Chapter 4)to diffuse the impacts. PPSAs were identified based on the following criteria: • Areas within '/4-mile from the DUC and Downtown Business Improvement Area (BIA), whose boundaries include areas not otherwise included within the DUC; and • Where availability of on-street public parking is potentially impacted by spillover parking demand generated from the DUC and BIA and/or large businesses, institutions, public gathering places, and other high parking demand uses within the PPSAs themselves. Operationally speaking, the CDPAIFs recommended action plan in Chapter 5 primarily focuses on City- owned and City-run parking resources. Many best practices identified in the toolbox in Chapter 4, especially those applicable to parking in private development, have already been adopted as part of the development regulations applicable to the DUC contained in Auburn City Code(ACC) Chapter 18.29 or in the Downtown Urban Center Design Standards. 6 1.4- 7 Simple Rules of Planning for Parking The 7 Simple Rules of Planning for Parking serve as guiding principles for development of Auburn-specific parking policy in this iteration of the CDPAIP.They derive from the parking supply and demand realities observed in downtown Auburn, the feedback about downtown parking received', and staff analysis of parking approaches taken in other jurisdictions. 1. PINPOINT THE PARKING Direct people effectively and efficiently to available parking. There is not a parking supply problem everywhere, all the time. 2. STRIKE A BALANCE Address the needs of overlapping and/or competing parking interests. In downtown Auburn, these needs are broadly identified as those of residents, businesses, visitors, and commuters. 3. CROWN THE CUSTOMER KING Prioritize visitor parking. Make visitor parking as easy as possible in prime locations. 4. PROVIDE "FREE" PARKING Avoid paid parking, whenever possible. While parking is never truly without costs, visitors, residents, businesses, and commuters should shoulder part of those costs only as a last resort. 5. REDUCE THE "LAST MILE" Shorten the distance, perception-wise, between parking space and destination.The vibrantly urban, compact, and walkable mixed-use character that downtown Auburn continues to grow into is inherently incompatible with the provision of plentiful home-, office-, store-, and restaurant- front parking. 6. CLARIFY THE CODE Write code that streamlines the process of parking system organization, management, planning, maintenance, and operations. 7. CHANGE IT UP Reassess each component of the CDPMP to meet current needs, as parking system conditions change and new parking best practices emerge.The CDPMP is not intended to be static; it merely establishes the framework for fine-tuning the parking system at any given time. 'Besides specific problematic parking areas, responses from the Do«ntown Parking Survey conducted to July 2012 also identified the following parking concerns.the distance between parking space and destination,non-residents parking on residential streets,confusing and/or lack of parking signage,and the poor design of parking spaces. 7 2. The Parking System 2.1 - Existing Parking Infrastructure, Resources, and Usage EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESOURCES According to the Downtown Urban Center On-and Off-Street Parking Supply and Demand Analysis, which cross- referenced code-specified parking and available Public Works data with physical observations for on- street parking and cross-referenced the City's and Google Maps' aerial imagery and previous studies and reports with physical counts for off-street stalls, there were a total of 4,879' parking spaces in the DUC as of December 2011. The different types of parking available, along with the general locations of each type (Figures 2.1.1 and 2.1.2), are as follows: • On-street public parking(unlimited time, time-limited, permit only, and loading zones) Locations: almost all blocks in the DUC • Off-street public parking(time-limited) Locations: within one to two blocks from E/W Main ST,between the Auburn Justice Center and the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad tracks • Off-street permit parking' (unlimited time) Locations: within one to two blocks from E/W Main ST,between the Auburn Justice Center and the BNSF railroad tracks • Off-street private parking Locations: almost all blocks in the DUC All on-street and off-street public and permit parking spaces in the DUC are located within an approximately 1/4-mile walking distance' from Auburn Transit Center, Auburn Junction, and Multicare Auburn Medical Center blocks, where demand is currently and anticipated to be the highest(see 'EXISTING USAGE' under Chapter 2.1 and'FUTURE USAGE' under Chapter 2.2). This includes parking spaces located across C ST NW/SW and the BNSF railroad tracks to the west for Auburn Transit Center and Auburn Junction blocks and parking spaces located across Auburn Ave N/A ST SE and Auburn Way N/S to the east for Auburn Junction and Multicare Auburn Medical Center blocks(Figure 2.1.3). That being said, there is opportunity for improvement in east-west connections to parking spaces. ' Excluding on-and off-street public and private parking spaces inaccessible due to S Division ST Promenade construction, other off-street private parking spaces in lots inaccessible for data collection,and single-family off-street private garage and driveway parking;this underestimates the number of parking spaces as of January 2014. See'Chapter 3-Methodology'in the Doemtoum Urban Center On-and Off-Street Parking Supply and Demand Analysis for how parking supply in the DUC was specifically measured. ' Including City employee and non-police fleet parking. 'The widely adopted walking distance that a transit user will tolerate betwven point of origin and transit station. 8 and Figure�1.1 ' Location ofOu'Street Parking Approximately 1/5 of parking spaces in the DUC are City-mvned and/or City-run; the remainder are provided by tiie private sector. Neither the City nor the private sector currently provide hourly or daily paid parking. Paid parking in the City is limited to monthly permit parking provided by the City and parking provided as part of commercial and residential unit sales and leases in the private sector. EXISTING USAGE According to the occupancies observed in the Downlown Urban Center On-and Off-Street Parking Supply and Demand 9 ■EWAN MIN NONE _ ■ iv . . . i a qkl Legend ` RrvAli=Off Sncwl r.,-. ■ w. r� Figure 2.1.2 - Location of Off-Street Parking Analysis, the DUC as a whole skews toward higher parking occupancy during the first half of the day and specifically experiences peak parking occupancy during lunchtime (llam-2pm)s on weekdays.While not an exact daily occupancy for all days in the DUC, it was observed for the Analysis that during this time 2,666 'Morning(9-11am),lunehame(llam-2pm),afternoon(2-5pm),and evening(5-7pm)time segments per the Downtown Urban' Center On-and Off-Street Parking Supply and Demand Analysis. 10 ■■ ONE Legend C�lel IIXJG ■ 25m1 Had us of 'MUlucam lwWrn MShcralQ Blxks '..nonn.nnnnnw.... ... 25m Had uSa - Au RIrCTm 2 dm RaclVls of lwburn Juncluxl Figure 2.1.3- Parking Within Walking Distance(1/4 Mile) parking spaces are occupied (56%) and 2,213 parking spaces are available (44%). On the weekend, the DUC experiences peak parking occupancy during daytime Saturday,with 1,721 (35`Yo)parking spaces occupied and 3,158 (65%) spaces available. 6 Due to limited resources,data collected on weekends for the Dountount Urban Center On-and Of/-Street Parking Supply and Demand Analysts was limited to daytime and nighttime only, rather than speck time segments. For the same reason,off-street parking occupancies are extrapolated,as off-street parking observed does not include all off-street parking spaces in the DUC. 11 Block-by-block, peak parking occupancy also occurs during lunchtime on weekdays,with the average block 431k occupied. Few blocks, even when considering on- and off-street parking separately, ever exceed 85% occupied,the widely adopted threshold for optimal parking occupancy espoused by Donald Shoup, parking professor, researcher, economist, and author of The High Cost of Free Parking. For those blocks that do, very few exceed 85% occupancy for more than one time segment per day. There are 2 types of blocks with on-or off-street parking that exceed 85% occupancy throughout the day (Figure 2.1:4). The less problematic are blocks with available parking spaces nearby when exceeding 85% occupancy(blocks of moderate concern). For example, >85% occupancy in on-street parking on one block is potentially negated with <85% occupancy in off-street parking on the same block and/or <85`Yo occupancy in on- or off-street parking within a 2-block radius. Blocks that fall into this category include the Auburn Avenue Theater, Truitt Building, and Agrishop blocks for on-street parking and the Truitt Building and (on the weekend) Multicare Auburn Medical Center blocks for off-street parking.The more vexing blocks are those without available parking spaces nearby when exceeding 85`S, occupancy(blocks of heavy concern). These include the Wayland Arms (King County Housing Authority) block and Multicare Auburn Medical Center blocks for on-street parking and(on weekdays)the Auburn Transit Center garage and surface parking lot blocks. I 12 r t t 1 t t Post F oNic, s a H Municare A West Aubum AINUrn Moe mr Sr NS Ciry Nat Au um city Annex •Sr HIS W He]]Main 51 EMain St A Justice Auh urn CI` Junc tion AAWm Tmnsil Ch m w s N Q a 1 � x 2.2 - Future Parking Infrastructure, Resources, t and Usage FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESOURCES Prior to the Comprehensive Downlown Parking Management Plan (CDPMP), there has been no recent consideration by the City to expand on- and off-street parking resources in the DUC. Per the Comprehensive Transportation Plan, only one future roadway capacity improvement project identified(F ST SE between 4th ST SE and Auburn Way S) includes the addition of on-street parking and is located outside of the DUC. Additionally, neither land acquisitions for off-street parking nor improvement of existing municipal properties for off-street parking have been identified in the 2013-2018 Capital Facilities Plan. Figure 2.2.1 -The Auburn The Auburn Transit Center garage and surface parking lots Transit Center garage (above) (Figure 2.2.1), which are already at capacity, are not operated by and surface parking lots (bottom) the City, but by Sound Transit. While Sound Transit committed are already at capacity. to a second Auburn Transit Center parking garage as part of the Sound Transit 2 package of improvements approved by voters in 2008, and the Comprehensive Transportation Plan recommends that Sound Transit immediately work with the City to create the additional parking,the facility has been put on hold as funding has not been identified. Funding of$1.3 million to $1.5 million, however, does exist from Metro for an Auburn Transit Center- adjacent parking facility that serves commuters during weekdays and other users at all other times, though no specific site has been selected and acquired.The funding originates from the sale agreement for the existing Metro park and ride near 15th ST NE and A ST NE, but no construction date has been forecasted. While the City is open to discussing interim Sound Transit and Metro parking solutions, the planned permanent Sound Transit- and Metro-funded parking spaces are therefore not included as available future supply'. Instead, any physical expansion of overall parking supply in the foreseeable future is anticipated to be code-required off-street parking constructed for private development in the DUC only. As of the report's writing, only plans for one project has emerged that will noticeably increase parking supply in the DUC.The project occupies half of the northeastern block of Auburn Junction, where Though not anticipated,Scenario lb in the`FUTURE USAGE'subsection includes as available future supply the number of Sound Transit-and Metro-funded parking spaces matching the anticipated increase in transit demand,solely as basis for analysis of existing public parking resources'ability to accommodate non-transit demand 14 development activity of significant scale is expected to occur' in downtown Auburn. Per the plans received by the Planning and Development Department, the project will be a 5-story, 126- unit, commercial/residential mixed use building(Figure 2.2.2) `f P- t!9i providing a net increase of 1109 parking spaces to the parking ��d supply identified in the Downtown Urban Center On-and Off-Street Parking Supply and Demand Analysis. Three (3) additional blocks ofu mixed use buildings totaling about 693 units are expected to be constructed in Auburn Junction10 and about 693 parking spaces Figure 2.2.2 - Rendering of will be added to the DUC's parking supply". the proposed 5-story, 126-unit, commercial/residential mixed Other potential private development and redevelopment activity use building in the northeastern in the DUC is unlikely to result in increases to the DUC's block of Auburn Junction. overall parking supply.The Market Anahsis prepared for the City by Gardner Economics in 2011 noted that structured and underground parking is the biggest barrier to development in the Auburn Junction blocks. In addition, the Auburn Junction Design Guidelines allow for exemption from providing on-site parking for non-residential uses if"adequate parking in public rights-of-way and offske public facilities" can be demonstrated. For the rest of the DUC, ACC Section 18.29.060(H) also specifies that changes of use in existing buildings, expansions of not more than 25% in floor area, and new retail and restaurant developments of less than 3,000SF are exempt from providing any additional parking spaces at all. While any development or redevelopment activity in the DUC outside of those exemptions are required to contribute to contribute a fee in lieu of providing required parking spaces, the date of construction for a City parking structure, if any, is indeterminate. As such, about 803 parking spaces arc anticipated to be added to the DUC overall in the foreseeable future. FUTURE USAGE Parking demand forecasting performed for the DUC derives from known projects in the pipeline, the Market Analvsis, Sound Transit's June 2013 CEO Report, and Sound Transit's 2012 Station Access Analysis. The three (3) documents identify the primary demand- impacting trends and activities, as follows: s Plans have been received for the northeastern block.The mostly City-owned southeastern and southwestern blocks sold October 2013. See'FUTURE USAGE'subsection for detailed demand modeling. 9 The project wilt provide 54 parking spaces and repurpose the existing Cavanaugh parking structure,whose 56-apace second floor was not included in the parking supply in the Downtown Urban Center On-and Off-Street parking Supplv and Demand Analvsis,to provide the remainder of its code-required parking. 10 See`FUTURE USAGE'subsection for detailed demand modeling. a Per the Aubum Junction Design Standards,all residential uses in Auburn Junction are required to provide parking spaces on-site per the one(1)parking space per dwelling unit ratio specified in ACC Section 18.29.060(H). 15 Market Analysis(Gardner Economics) • Demand for retail space in Auburn Junction will arrive after residential development has commenced. • Smaller scale apartment projects are viable with phased development of commercial space. CEO Report(Sound Transit) • Three (3) Seattle-bound and one (1)Tacoma/Lakewood-bound Sounder commuter rail roundtrips will be added in the next 4 years (2013-2017), if plans do not otherwise change. Station Access Analysis(Sound Transit) • Auburn Transit Center arrivals by car(park and ride)will decrease over time with shift to arrivals by public transportation, bicycling, and walking. Since anticipated development and redevelopment for the DUC is unclear relative to anticipated development in Auburn Junction and the Sound Transit's projections only extends to 2017, demand forecasting in the current CDPMP will be limited in scope to the subsequent 10 years. Specifically, parking demand in the DUC can be forecasted with reasonable accuracy in the short term (2014-2018, 1-5 years) and vaguer accuracy in the long term (2019-2023, 6-10 years). SHORT TERM (1-5 YEARS) Residential Parking Demand: The project at the northeastern Auburn Junction block will add 126 studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom apartment units per application materials received by the Planning and Development Department. As previously identified, the remaining Auburn Junction blocks are likely to collectively add 693 apartment units". Over the next 5 years, construction of 819 apartment units can be assumed with reasonable confidence. Per the parking ratios specified in ACC Section 18.29.060(H), the total new short-term residential parking demand is 819 spaces. Commercial Parking Demand: The project at the northeastern Auburn Junction block will add 5,195SP of commercial space per application materials received by the Planning and Development Department. While no project has come forward for the other blocks, ground floor spaces in Auburn Junction that front E/W Main Street and S Division Street are required to he retail, restaurant, or personal service 12 The 126-unit building proposed in half of the northeastern Auburn Junction block is reasonably consistent with the Market Analysis. It is consequently realistic to assume that the other Auburn Junction blocks will be developed with no more than 126 units each per half block. Excluding the parcels that contain the Sunbreak Cafe,a successful restaurant entity that is unlikely to be developed,there are 2.75 blocks available for residential development. 16 uses per the Auburn Junction Design Guidelines. Given the ratio of commercial space to parcel size in the proposed project in the northeastern block of Auburn Junction, it is assumed that the same ratio for ground floors in the remaining blocks will be developed as commercial space. Under that scenario, approximately 29,075SF of commercial space in total will become available as a result of short-term development activity, of which 22,389SF will be occupied in the short-term. This is based on the total SF of the remaining Auburn Junction parcels plus vacated alleyways, less the following: • The Plaza Park and Sunbreak Caf6 parcels at the northwest Auburn Junction block;the former, a permanent public amenity and the latter, a successful restaurant entity; and • 6,686SF in the northwest Auburn Junction block, whose commercial spaces will likely be occupied in the long-term, assuming that this block will be the last to develop (since it has not sold and is not owned by the City, unlike most of the properties in the southeast and southwest blocks) The Market Analysis identified this commercial demand as retail or restaurant in nature. More specifically, it predicted positive localized effects of a residential base at Auburn Junction on demand for food (restaurants/groceries), apparel, healthcare, entertainment (public venues/retail), personal care (services/ retail), and books and magazines. As demand for groceries is already served by the existing Safeway just east of Auburn Junction, across A ST SE, it is unlikely that an additional grocery store will locate in Auburn Junction. Since groundfloor spaces in Auburn Junction are required to be retail, restaurant, or personal service uses, it is also unlikely that medical offices will locate in Auburn Junction. Should the occupancy of the commercial space at Auburn Junction be a scenario where it is divided evenly between the localized short-term commercial demand generated by the projected residential base, the following SF of occupancy and associated parking demand per ACC Section 18.29.060(H) is expected: • Food (restaurants) - 4,478SF at 0.5/4 seats" = 26 parking spaces • Apparel - 4,478SF at 2/1,OOOSF = 9 parking spaces • Entertainment(public venues) - 2,239SF at 5/1,000SF14 = 11 parking spaces • Entertainment(retail) - 2,239SF at 2/1,000SF = 4parking spaces • Personal care (services) - 2,239SF at 2/1,000SF''= 4 parking spaces • Personal care (retail) - 2,239SF at 2/1,000SF = 4 parking spaces • Books and magazines -4,478SF at 2/1,000SF= 9 parking spaces There is also about 12,254SF of commercial vacancy in the DUC overall, of which 3,200SF is expected to be occupied in the short-term by a business that provides spa-like services. Since personal care (services) require 2/1,000SF, the parking demand for this business is 6 parking spaces. The total new short-term commercial parking demand is therefore 73 spaces. n Each seat is 15SF of floor area(excluding kitchens)on average per Design and Equipment far Restaurants and Food Service:A Alanagernent View,"A Business Link"(Government of Alberta website),and Chuck Gohn Restaurant Associates IQV✓;30%of Floor area is for kitchens per"The Average Cost of Opening a Restaurant-,based on an Ohio State University Survey. "per ACC Section 18.29.060(H)footnote(1),a parking study may he required to parking demand for uses not listed; in lieu of doing so for the CDPAfP,parking demand for entertainment venues in Auburn Junction were calculated at 5/1,000SF,the ratio for commercial recreation(indoor)uses per ACC Section 18.52020. 17 Auburn Transit Center Demand Per the June 2013 CEO Report, Sound Transit intends to add one (1) Seattle-bound Sounder commuter rail roundtrip in 2013, 2016, and 2017, and one (1)Tacoma/Lakewood-bound roundtrip in 2016, for a total of 3 additional morning trips to Seattle and 1 additional morning trip to Tacoma in the short-term (thru 2018). Per the 2013 Service Implementation Plan(SIP), there were 963 daily boardings across seven (7) Seattle-bound trains and 21 daily boardings across two(2)Tacoma-bound trains at Auburn Transit Center. Assuming proportional growth between service and ridership, Sounder commuter rail service expansion in the short-term could potentially bring 425 new riders to Auburn Transit Center. Based on previous and October 2013 Public Works staff observations, 80`Yo of arrivals at Auburn Transit Center are by car (park and ride)16 No statistically significant decrease in percentage of car(park and ride)arrivals is expected in the short term (that 2018)°. Therefore, the new total short-term parking demand for 425 riders is 340 spaces. Displaced Parking Demand Existing off-street private, permit, and public parking lots in the Auburn Junction blocks will become permanently displaced as part of development in the short term. During lunchtime on weekdays, when the DUC experiences peak parking occupancy,the existing off-street parking lots in the Auburn Junction parcels to be developed are occupied by 251 cars; during the day on Saturday, when the DUC experiences peak parking occupancy on the weekend, the same are occupied by 39 cars18. The displaced total short-term parking demand is 251 spaces on weekdays and 39 spaces on weekends. is Per ACC Seaton 18.29.060(11)footnote(1),a parking study may be required to parking demand for uses not listed;in lieu of doing so for the CDPJIP, parking demand for personal care services in Auburn Junction were calculated at 2/1,000SF,the ratio for retail uses in the DUC per ACC Section 18.29.060(H);retail uses below 15,000SF generate the same parking demand as personal service shops per ACC Section 18.52.020. 16 The 2012 Station Access Analysis noted 65%of arrivals by car(park and ride),and the 2011 State of the Stations noted 62%of riders surveyed arrived by car(park and ride).This is contrary to multiple observations made by the Public Works Department and therefore disregarded. "While the 2012 Station Access Analysis projects that arrivals by car(park and ride)by 2030 will decrease to 47%with land use projections or 33%with land use projections and Auburn Transit Center-adjacent improvement projects,this is not anticipated to occur based on previous trends observed by Public Works Division staff,demographic information on Sounder commuter rail riders,and anticipated decreases in existing transit services to and from Auburn Transit Center. i6 Extrapolated from off-street parking observed for the Downtown Urban Center On-and Off-Street Parking Supply and Demand Analysis, which does not include data for all off-street parking spaces due to limited resources. 18 This page intentionally left blank. 19 Total New Short Term Parking Demand -At a Glance (Figure 2.2.3) Demand Parking Residential 819 Commercial 73 Residential + Commercial 892 Auburn Transit Center 340 Displaced Parking Demand (Weekday) 251 Displaced Parking Demand (Weekend) 39 20 1 1 1 1 1 1 z. 1 _ 1 - 1 1 emt ■ d . T i G5 y 3 � NIP t�MUltiNa, Nub► 1 F Ctr tr Aub urn ,HH Junc tion ResdentJ bSRPONUburn ;i,2 a. lyj-�4 `�5R TfanSlt 1 Cb iSi of Q r y 0 •- •- • • { r' gG r [ , n!nSl....- 11 S � j�Vl as k q TTT= • Total New Short-term Parking Scenarios Parking Scenario la:Weekday Peak(11am -2pm) New Sound Transit-and Metro-Funded Parking Garages NOT Constructed Supply Demand Result 803 new dedicated off- 1,483 parking spaces 680 deficit in dedicated off- street parking spaces street parking spaces 2,125* existing unoccupied 680 parking spaces not provided by 1,445 surplus in total available parking spaces at weekday dedicated off-street parking spaces parking spaces in the DUC peak in the DUC 437* existing public19 680 parking spaces not provided by 243 deficit in total available parking spaces dedicated off-street parking spaces public parking spaces in the DUC If Sound Transit- and Metro-funded parking garages are not constructed, dedicated off-street parking is not anticipated to be adequately supplied.Though the new parking demand can be absorbed into the RUC's total existing parking resources, inclusive of permit-only and private off-street parking spaces, it cannot be adequately absorbed by only the total available public parking resources, even when considering commuters parking in on-and off-street public parking throughout the entire DUC. Parking Scenario 1b:Weekday Peak(11am - 2pm) New Sound Transit-and Metro-Funded Parking Garages ARE Constructed Supply Demand Result 1,143 new dedicated off- 1,483 parking spaces 340 deficit in dedicated off-street street parking spaces parking spaces 2,125* existing unoccupied 340 parking spaces not provided by 1,785 surplus in total available parking spaces at weekday dedicated off-street parking spaces parking spaces in the DUC peak in the DUC 437* existing public 340 parking spaces not provided 93 surplus in total available parking spaces by dedicated off-street parking public parking spaces in the spaces DUC If Sound Transit- and Metro-funded parking garages are constructed, dedicated off-street parking is still not anticipated to be adequately supplied. Though not only can the new parking demand be absorbed into the DUC's total existing parking resources, inclusive of permit-only and private off-street parking spaces, it can also be adequately absorbed by only the total available public parking resources in the entire DUC. Most of these available public parking resources are located within an approximately 1/4-mile walking distance of Auburn Junction, where the hulk of future non-transit demand is anticipated.There is opportunity for improvement, however, in east-west connections to parking spaces across C ST NW/SW and the BNSF railroad tracks to the west and across Auburn Ave N/A ST SE and Auburn Way N/S to the cast. 19 City-owned and/or run unlimited time,time-limited,and loading zones on-street public parking and time-limited off-street parking open to non-permit holders. 22 Parking Scenario 1c:Weekend Peak(Daytime Saturday) New Sound Transit- and Metro-Funded Parking Garages NOT Constructed Supply Demand Result 803 new dedicated off-street 921" parking spaces 128 deficit in dedicated off- parking spaces street parking spaces 3,158*" existing unoccupied 128 parking spaces not provided by 3,130 surplus in total available parking spaces at weekend dedicated off-street parking spaces parking spaces in the DUC peak in the DUC 429***existing on-street 128 parking spaces not provided by 301 surplus in total available public parking spaces dedicated off-street parking spaces on-street public parking spaces in the DUC If Sound Transit- and Metro-funded parking garages are not constructed, dedicated off-street parking is still not anticipated to be adequately supplied even with no Sounder commuter rail service on weekends.That being said, the new parking demand can be adequately absorbed by the total available public parking resources in the DUC, even without accounting for off-street public parking resources. Most of these available public parking resources are located within an approximately 1/4-mile walking distance of Auburn Junction, where the bulk of future non-transit demand is anticipated.There is opportunity for improvement, however, in cast-west connections to parking spaces across C ST NW/SW and the BNSF railroad tracks to the west and across Auburn Ave N/A ST SE and Auburn Way N/S to the east. *Adjusted for existing off-street private, permit, and public parking spaces in Auburn Junction blocks that will become permanently displaced as part of development in the short term. "* Extrapolated from off-street parking observed for the Downtown Urban Center On-and Off-Street Parking Supply and Demand Analysis, which does not include data for all off-street parking spaces due to limited resources. *** Off-street public parking unable to be extrapolated from the off-street parking observed for the Downtown Urban Center On-and Off-Street Parking Supply and Demand Analysis. 20 Sounder commuter rail service does not currently run on weekends. Per the 2013 SIP,weekend Sounder commuter rail service is not anticipated. 23 LONG TERM (6-10 YEARS) Residential Parking Demand Outside of the apartments developed in Auburn Junction over the short-term, the number of apartments developed in the DUC overall over the long-term is unknown. No City document projects the expected apartment units in the DUC overall over the next 10 years with reasonable confidence. Assuming residential market saturation for the DUC and absent any anticipated new significant residential development in the long-term, the total new long-term residential parking demand is hence 0 spaces. Commercial Parking Demand The final 6,686SF of commercial space developed in the Auburn Junction blocks will likely be occupied in the long term, to account for the lag between development of residences and occupancy of associated commercial space. Should the occupancy of the commercial space at Auburn Junction be divided evenly between the long-term localized commercial demand generated by the projected residential base, the following SF of occupancy and associated parking demand per ACC Section 18.29.060(H) is expected": • Food(restaurants)- 1,337SF at 0.5/4 seats = 8 parking spaces • Apparel - 1,337SF at 2/1,000SF = 3 parking spaces • Entertainment (public venues) - 669SF at 5/1,000SF - 3 parking spaces • Entertainment (retail)- 669SF at 2/1,000SF = 1 parking spaces Personal care (services) - 669SF at 2/1,000SF = I parking spaces Personal care (retail) - 669SF at 2/1,000SF = 1 parking spaces • Books and magazines - 1,337SF at 2/1,000SF = 3 parking spaces In addition, assuming the remaining 9,054SFzezt of vacant commercial space in the DUC is occupied in the long-term as a result of the anticipated demand generated by Auburn Junction, and occupancy is divided evenly between the long-term localized commercial demand generated by the projected residential base, the following SF of occupancy and associated parking demand per ACC Section 18.29.060(H) is expected: • Food (restaurants)-1,811SF at 0.5/4 seats = 11 parking spaces • Apparel - 1,811SF at 2/1,000SF = 4 parking spaces • Entertainment (public venues) - 905SF at 5/I,000SF = 5 parking spaces • Entertainment(retail)- 905SF at 2/1,000SF - 2 parking spaces • Personal care (services)- 905SF at 2/1,000SF = 2 parking spaces See'Commercial Parking Demand'under'FUTURE USAGE-SHORT-TERM(1-5 YEARSI'for detailed calculation methodology. 2'Based on an October 2013 physical survey of vacant commercial spaces in the DUC,excluding vacancies with off-street private parking.With 1,000+off-street private parking spaces available at the weekday peak of lunchtime(llam-2pm),it is not anticipated that occupancy of vacant commercial spaces with off-street private parking will generate any on-street parking impacts,nor is it anticipated that the same occupancy will be statistically significant regarding the overall reduction of parking supply in the DUC. v Excludes any potential vacancies in the long-term,in the DUC. 24 • Personal care (retail)- 905SF at 2/1,000SF = 2 parking spaces • Books and magazines - 1,81ISF at 2/1,000SF = 4 parking spaces The total new long-term commercial parking demand is therefore 50 spaces. Auburn Transit Center Demand While the June 2013 CEO Report and 2013 SIP identify Sounder commuter rail service expansion for the short term, no document projects service levels beyond the short term (thru 2018). For the purposes of estimating parking demand in the CDPAIP and absent any projection or promise by Sound Transit, it is assumed that Sound Transit will mirror Sounder commuter rail service expansion in the short-term, and thus parking demand for 3 additional Seattle-bound roundtrips and I additional Tacoma/Lakewood- bound roundtrip in the long-term (then 2023) is anticipated. Using the same assumption of proportional growth between service and ridership 24, Sounder commuter rail service expansion in the long-term could potentially bring 425 new riders to Auburn Transit Center Based on previous and October 2013 Public Works staff observations, 80`Y, of arrivals at Auburn Transit Center are by car(park and ride)25. No statistically significant decrease in percentage of car(park and ride) arrivals is expected in the long term (thru 2023)26. Due to the anticipated mode shift in arrivals to Auburn Transit Center, the new total long-term parking demand for 425 riders is 340 spaces. Displaced Parking Demand Existing off-street private, permit, and public parking lots in the Auburn Junction blocks will already have become permanently displaced as part of development in the short term. The displaced total long-term parking demand is therefore 0 spaces on weekdays and weekends. 24 See`Auburn Transit Center Deniand'under'FUTURE USAGE-SHORT-TERM(1-5 YEARS)'for detailed calculation methodology. 25The 2012 Station Access Analysis noted 65`&of arrivals by car(park and ride),and the 2011 State of the Stations noted 62%of riders surveyed arrived by car(park and ride).This is contrary to multiple observations made by the Public Works Division and therefore disregarded. 26 While the 2012 Station Access Analysis projects that arrivals by car(park and ride)by 2030 will decrease to 476/o with land use projections or 33%with land use projections and Auburn Transit Center-adjacent improvement projects,this is not anticipated to occur based on previous trends observed by Public Works Department staff,demographic information on Sounder commuter rail riders,and anticipated decreases in existing transit services to and from Auburn Transit Center. 25 Total New Long-Term Parking Demand -At a Glance(Figure 2.2.4) Demand Parking Residential 0 Commercial 50 Residential + Commercial 50 Auburn Transit Center 340 Displaced Parking Demand (Weekday) 0 Displaced Parking Demand (Weekend) 0 26 I t t t t t t t _ t �> t Q t Paat 011la® �Fs t � t r� • t< •:• r� x a t +' ze2 e)� t �. �MUIIiGfE . i Futium'� t q Aubum s 5d + 1 iSN {.y qlr Metl Clr 4' 15 1 GO t k•,r. x C ty ' i � S,XS nm n W Main st ;* TC r . d c3 .�` ,r..;TL�F L7 r _E Main St 'p Justice ,. Aub urn io- • of .}1pm Junc tion Twsit CU C •t � r N •- • 3 � irl Ct�M Z z t y h � < Z G Tota • • Tonsil N a SH . P 4 �1 t� CTl Total New Long- and Short Term Combined Parking Demand - At a Glance (Figure 2.2.5) Parking Demand Generator No.of Parking Spaces Residential 0 Commercial 50 Residential + Commercial 50 Auburn Transit Center 340 Displaced Parking Demand(Weekday) 0 Displaced Parking Demand (Weekend) 0 28 I 1 I 1 1 I J I t I � I I Poll R , iOHia® 'aF v I v z ' '`, ■ I ik tl N i Y 4 z n � 1 a y o �I "' � �A7 Wesl /t �� c♦ Aubum r ♦ 11 Aua Ci .Nil _ I:IIY ' fAnne� i I> •.. Mln SINS }wry (ail I �a�:i' ��t W Maln St .^a ., xmi� � , {. .✓.a„}I 6 S E Main 51 t` ~ rAR ..^ t,4 .dustice Ctr I w: Aub Junc dulrnl.-.,,.,.. Tlansit 2 p y M :••I S'�F 1 N bS ti c a w Total New Long- and Short Term Combined Parking Scenarios Parking Scenario Is:Weekday Peak(Ilarn -2pm) New Sound Transit- and Metro-Funded Parking Garages NOT Constructed Supply Demand Result 803 new dedicated off- 1,873 parking spaces 1,070 deficit in dedicated off- street parking spaces street parking spaces 2,125*existing unoccupied 1,070 parking spaces not provided by 1,055 surplus in total available parking spaces at weekday dedicated off-street parking spaces parking spaces in the DUC peak in the DUC 437* existing publicz' 1,070 parking spaces not provided by 633 deficit in total available parking spaces dedicated off-street parking spaces public parking spaces in the DUC If Sound Transit- and Metro-funded parking garages are not constructed, dedicated off-street parking is not anticipated to be adequately supplied. Though the new parking demand can be absorbed into the DUC's total existing parking resources, inclusive of permit-only and private off-street parking spaces, it cannot be adequately absorbed by only the total available public parking resources in the DUC, even when considering commuters parking in on- and off-street public parking throughout the entire DUC. Parking Scenario lb:Weekday Peak(Ilarn - 2pm) New Sound Transit- and Metro-Funded Parking Garages ARE Constructed Supply Demand Result 1,483 new dedicated off- 1,873 parking spaces 390 deficit in dedicated off-street street parking spaces parking spaces 2,125*existing unoccupied 390 parking spaces not provided by 1,735 surplus in total available parking spaces at weekday dedicated off-street parking spaces parking spaces in the DUC peak in the DUC 437* existing public 390 parking spaces not provided 47 surplus in total available parking spaces by dedicated off-street parking public parking spaces in the spaces DUC If Sound Transit does construct a second Auburn Transit Center garage, dedicated off-street parking is still not anticipated to be adequately supplied.Though not only can the new parking demand be absorbed into the DUC's total existing parking resources, inclusive of permit-onlv and private off-street parking spaces, it can also be adequately absorbed by only the total available public parking resources in the DUC. Most of these available public parking resources are located within an approximately t/4-mile walking distance of Auburn Junction, where the bulk of future non-transit demand is anticipated. There is opportunity for improvement, however, in east-west connections to parking spaces across C ST NW/SW and the BNSF railroad tracks to the west and across Auburn Ave N/A ST SE and Auburn Way N/S to the cast. City-owned and/or run unlimited time,time-limited,and loading zones on-street public parking and time-limited off-street parking open to non-permit holders. 30 j Parking (Daytime New Sound Transit- and Metro-Funded Parking Garages NOT Supply Demand Result 803 new dedicated off-street 981'' parking spaces 178 deficit in dedicated off- parking spaces street parking spaces 3,158**existing unoccupied 178 parking spaces not provided by 2,980 surplus in total available parking spaces at weekend dedicated off-street parking spaces parking spaces in the DUC peak in the DUC 429*** existing on-street 178 parking spaces not provided by 251 surplus in total available public parking spaces dedicated off-street parking spaces on-street public parking spaces in the DUC If Sound Transit- and Metro-funded parking garages are not constructed, dedicated off-street parking is still not anticipated to be adequately supplied even with no Sounder commuter rail service on weekends.That being said, the new parking demand can be adequately absorbed by the total available public parking resources in the DUC, even without accounting for off-street public parking resources. Most of these available public parking resources are located within an approximately t/4-mile walking distance of Auburn Junction, where the bulk of future non-transit demand is anticipated.There is opportunity for improvement, however, in east-west connections to parking spaces across C ST NW/SW and the BNSF railroad tracks to the west and across Auburn Ave N/A ST SE and Auburn Way N/S to the east. * Adjusted for existing off-street private, permit, and public parking spaces in Auburn Junction blocks that will become permanently displaced as part of development in the short term. ** Extrapolated from off-street parking observed for the Downtown Urban Center On-and Off-Street Parking Supply and Demand Analysis, which does not include data for all off-street parking spaces due to limited resources. *** Off-street public parking unable to be extrapolated from the off-street parking observed for the Downtown Urban Center On-and Off-Street Parking Supplv and Demand Analysis. ss Sounder commuter rail service does not currently run on weekends. Per the 2013 SIP,weekend Sounder commuter rail service is not anticipated. 31 � 1 '3ZA 74 2.3- Parking Organization, Management, Planning, and Investment o r ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT The DUC parking system, which includes privately and F municipally owned and/or operated parking spaces, falls � under the authority of various private property owners and at • least 6 departments and divisions within the City.These City Figure 2.3.1 -Typical departments and divisions include Planning, Public Works, wayfmc ing sign, which does not Maintenance and Operations, Facilities, Police, and the Court currently direct drivers to off- Clerk. street parking Some components of the parking system are mainly managed by one department or division while responsibility for others are shared by multiple departments and divisions. Responsibilities are not clearly identified in the ACC. For instance, while signage in the City's off-street parking lots is collaboratively executed between the Facilities Department and Planning Division, the Public Works Division is identified as the responsible entity for "marking" off-street permit parking spaces for the City's vehicles per the ACC. As such, there is opportunity for both increased coordination and clarity of roles. Examples of these opportunities include wayfinding signs(Figure 2.3.1) interspersed throughout the Citv (managed by the Public Works Division)that currently directs drivers towards landmarks only, but not to off-street no-permit parking in the DUC (managed by the Planning Division) and clarity of roles so that Planning and Public Works staff at the Permit Center can either directly provide information on how to pay or contest a parking citation (processed by the Court Clerk) or direct customers to the appropriate City contact with the information. PLANNING The Citv has not undertaken comprehensive planning for parking in the DUC with regularity, nor has it adopted any framework for future parking planning efforts. Downtown Parking Plan (1996) In fact, the last comprehensive parking plan (the Downtown Parking Plan) adopted for the DUC dates from 1996.The impetus for developing the Downtown Parking Plan was threefold: • Passage of the Commute Trip Reduction law in Washington State, which mandated employers of a certain size to undertake measures to reduce single-occupancy vehicle commutes; the Downtown Parking Plan examined 32 parking supply and demand management strategies as `, 4 part of that mandate; • Recurring parking concerns expressed by the downtown _ 7` business community: and l • Anticipation of parking demand generated by a future transit hub (Auburn Transit Center). The scope of the Downtown Parking Plan included the following: Figure 2.3.2 - Looking south • Extensive parking supply and demand analysis, including from E Main ST at on-street turnover rates, between the hours of 7am and 6pm for all parking on the west side of areas of downtown Auburn 29 Auburn Way S, implemented as a result of the 1996 Downtown • Future demand forecasting, incorporating projections from Parking Plan. the City's Comprehensive Plan tempered with observations of development trends in downtown Auburn; • Identification of significant downtown Auburn parking issues ; and • Parking policies to address idegtified parking issues. The parking policies fell under the umbrella strategy of reducing demand for parking, utilizing existing public parking resources more efficiently, increasing usage of underutilized private parking through lease and shared parking arrangements, and providing guidance for future purchase and establishment of public off-street parking lots in a manner that is phased, cost effective, and affordable for the City and downtown business and property owners. Some specific parking policies directly affecting the City's physical parking resources have been adopted, such as the conversion of on-street parking spaces along the west side of Auburn Way S, between E Main ST and 2nd ST SE, to unlimited time, no-permit on-street parking, as it exists today (Figure 2.3.2). Most specific parking policies that more indirectly affect the City's parking system have been adopted in the ACC. Policies such as maximum off-street parking requirements for development, shared parking and other required off-street parking reduction incentives, and employer incentives for non- single occupancy vehicle commutes have been adopted in ACC Chapter 18.52 - Off-Street Parking and Loading, ACC Chapter 29"Downtown"did not include all blocks of DUC and was generally smaller in geographic area. 33 18.29 - DUC Downtown Urban Center District, and ACC Chapter 10.02 - Commute Trip Reduction. Other parking policies have not been adopted and are no longer applicable currently. For example, the proposed policy of encouraging employees to park in the residential neighborhoods east of Auburn Wav N/S conflicts with concerns raised about non-residents parking on residential streets in the Downtown Parking Survey. On the other hand, some parking policies were not adopted, but are still applicable, such as better use of signage to direct drivers to available City off-street parking. Comprehensive Downtown Parking Management Plan(CDPMP)(2013) The current CDPMP comes seventeen (17)years subsequent the last concerted comprehensive planning effort. It contains much of the same elements as the Downtown Parking Plan as the level of assessment performed is either equivalent or in excess of that in other cities' plans. Unlike the previous parking plan however, which was prepared by consultants, the current CDPMP is a product of City staff.The CDPMP also adds the toolbox, which presents the various best practices employed in the provision of parking, parking demand management, and operations of a parking system. It is a collection of tools intended to be updated periodically and should be considered at a glance whenever the City is looking to fine-tune its parking system. In its current iteration it includes best practices for provision of special event parking and real-time parking information, parking topics not addressed by the previous plan. With the toolbox and as a whole, the CDPMP sets the framework for parking planning at a specific point in time and allows for flexibility to update its contents to suit future parking needs. INVESTMENT The City's current investment in the provision of off-street parking in the future is based on a two-pronged fee-in-lieu-of strategy. All Auburn Junction development, per the Auburn Junction Design Guidelines, must provide required residential parking spaces on-site, though the same does not apply to non-residential uses. Although required non- residential parking spaces do not need to be provided on-site, a fee-in-lieu-of payment"is required to be made towards a fund for a future parking structure in the DUC if the non-residential demand cannot be adequately fulfilled by existing on- and off-street public parking resources 31. DUC development at large also have the option for fee-in-lieu-of payments per ACC Section 18.29.060(H) as an alternative to provision of required spaces on-site 12. Unlike the fee-in-lieu-of payments for Auburn Junction development, however, neither the Downtown Urban Center Design Standards nor the ACC direct these payments toward funding a future parking structure in the DUC. 30 No per space fee-in-lieu-of payment is defined.Assessed on a case-by-crose basis. 31 The radius from an Auburn Junction development within which existing on-and off-street public parking resources may be considered"supply"is not defined. 33The maximum number of required on-site parking spaces allowed via fee-in-lieu-of payments is not defined. 34 2.4- Parking Operations, Maintenance, and Marketing and Communications ; OPERATIONS Operation of the DUC parking system falls to the City for on- street parking spaces and off-street public and permit parking lots - _ and private property owners for off-street parking lots located on their own property Figure 2.4.1 - Complimentary Activities associated with parking operations are minimal. None of valet parking is advertised at the the City's on-street parking spaces are metered, so operation is no entrance to Multicare Auburn more than ingress and egress from these spaces. Additionally, no Medical Center on N Division off-street parking lot operated by the City or privately owned ever ST. "opens"or "closes" in the DUC by way of gates or personnel.The only operational activity for parking is undertaken by Multicare Auburn Medical Center, which contracts out to a private company t•. _ for operation of its complimentary valet service (Figure 2.4.1). _ E „fin Q OPERATIONS — SPECIAL EVENTS y Several seasonal events (Figure 2.4.2) currently draw big crowds to downtown Auburn and introduce additional demand into the e t } existing parking system, while sometimes simultaneously reducing fi 5 available parking supply. , p Activities associated with the operation of the parking system _ Fcrsaabc : �i on event days, like non-event days, is similarly minimal. No personnel direct drivers to parking for the Auburn International Farmers Market, which takes place weekly in the Auburn Transit Center plaza during summer months. Nor do any personnel direct drivers to parking for the Auburn Good OI' Days festival, which takes place annually in the vicinity of E/W Main Street and closes several streets. Maps of parking locations on event days are not available online for either event and are generally not required for permit approval of special events. Figure 2.4.2 - Dancers at the Auburn International Festival OPERATIONS — RATES, FEES, ENFORCEMENT, (above) and cars along E Main AND FINES ST for the Auburn Good OI' Days festival (below), both RATES events that draw big crowds to downtown Auburn. No rates for hourly or daily parking have been established for the City.The City's on- and off-street parking spaces are available to drivers who park for the short-term or for the evening at no cost. Likewise, privately owned and operated off-street parking lots in the City do not charge for customer and visitor parking. 35 FEES The City charges a $10 per month permit parking fee for parking in its off-street permit parking lots. Permit parking is available for business owners, employees, downtown residents, commuters who are residents of Auburn (until 2014), and Green River Community College students. Parking permits are acquired at the City's Permit Center. Fees for permit parking are established administratively by the Planning Division. Privately owned and operated off-street parking lots may assess monthly parking fees for its tenants as well. Data for how many private property owners assess such a fee and how much they charge is unavailable. ENFORCEMENT For City owned and/or operated on- and off-street parking spaces, 2 parking enforcement officers in the Police Department enforce maximum time limits, amongst other parking regulations, and impound abandoned vehicles. Enforcement in off-street parking lots owned and operated by private parties varies; typically, private property owners contract out for towing services on larger off-street parking lots. FINES The City issued 3,383 parking citations in 2011 and levies a variety of fines for parking violations cited. These fines include $25 for parking in excess of the maximum allowed time for on-or off-street parking ($35 if not paid within 15 days of the parking citation's issuance) and $30 for violations of loading zone restrictions. Other parking violations with no fines defined include parking in a no-parking zone and parking too far away from the curb. Fines for parking citations are paid and processed at the Court Clerk. Many parking citations can be waived by participation in community service for non-profits at a rate of$10 waived per hour volunteered. Fines for improper parking in privately owned and operated off-street parking lots are established by private property owners.Towing fees are set by the companies that private property owners contract towing services to. MAINTENANCE Maintenance of the City's on-street parking, such as striping of spaces and signage, clearly falls to the Maintenance and Operations Division. Maintenance of the City's off-street parking lots, on the other hand, is not as clearly designated in code or in practice. While the Facilities Department currently maintains off-street parking lot signs, the Planning Division designates off-street public and permit parking spaces, processes parking permit fees, and otherwise manages the City's off-street parking resources. Both on- or off-street parking oamed and/or operated by the City is swept and restriped on a more or less regular basis, but no formal maintenance schedule or plan exists. Likewise, private off-street parking is required to be consistent with the applicable parking code at construction, but is not explicitly mandated by 36 any City code section to perform specific maintenance per a formal r „'k schedule. MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS .x. The City's parking philosophy and parking policies require further n, - '�RE 1 �' PARKI G � refinement through the CDPMP as neither are currently clearly _ defined. Regarding the former, the existing Downtown Parking Plan does offer overall direction for the downtown parking.The Downtown Parking Plan, however, dates from 1996 and is not an Figure 2.4.3 -'FREE PARKING' actively referenced document for downtown parking policymaking. sign in large font at the entrance The City's parking policies and fines themselves are contained in to the off-stree public and permit Auburn City Code, rather than at a centralized location on the parking lots between E Main ST City's website, and occasionally contradict with what is signed. and 1st ST NE at B ST NE. There are also opportunities for improvement in promoting City's off-street permit parking program, administered by the Planning Division at the Permit Center, on the City's website and on off- street permit parking lot signage. Avenues of promotion beyond ® � - the City are currently limited to the passing of information from the Auburn Downtown Association (ADA) and Auburn Area - Chamber of Commerce to its members. — The question of how to obtain a parking permit and where off- street permit parking exists for the general public is typically answered at the Permit Center, where a map of off-street parking available in the City is available.There is no map, however, that identifies the on--street parking spaces available to the general Figure 2.4.4 - Off-street permit public. parking space (foreground) located adjacent to off-street At on-street parking spaces , the City has installed signs that parking spaces (background), in identify time limits, although these signs' designs are not uniform an area also connected to the On the other hand, signs with 'FREE PARKING' (Figure Safeway parking lot. 2.4.3) in a large-sized font proclaim available public parking at each City owned and/or operated off-street parking lot. Due to permit parking spaces interspersed amongst public parking spaces (Figure 2.4.4), while signed and marked appropriately, drivers have expressed confusion deciphering whether a parking space was designated for public or permit parking. 37 � -fe=yp;A - o " 3. Parking Case Studies 3.1 - Parking Organization, Management, Planning, and Investment ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT Location(s): City of San Diego Figure 3.1.1 -The City of Vancouver's EasyPark website Approach: One point of contact for all parking, multiple features parking lot finder, departments with collaborative authority over the citation payment system, and parking system. citation appeal system for off- street parking- all located front Key Points: •The primary point of contact for the public is and center on its homepage. the `Parking Administration', which processes residential parking permits, payment of parking citations, and provides general parking information from the City. • Behind the scenes, however, one department or division is clearly defined as the ultimate authority for a certain component of the parking system Location(s): City of Vancouver, B.C. Approach: One point of contact for on-street parking, one point of contact for off-street parking, authority over the parking system split along the same lines. Key Points: •The primary on-street parking point of contact for the public is Engineering Services, which processes residential and commercial on-street parking permits, payment of on-street parking citations, requests for on-street parking meters, and all other on-street parking related matters. •The primary off-street parking point of contact for the public is Easypark (Figure 3.1.1), a non-profit corporation owned by the City, which processes off-street parking permits, payment of off-street parking citations, and all other matters related to off-street parking. Location(s): City of Champaign, IL, City of Lynchburg, VA, City of Monterey, CA Approach: One point of contact for all parking, one department or parking authority with control over 38 the parking system. Key Points: •The one department or parking authority , usually does not have control over parking i 7 standards for private development and � enforcement of parking regulations. A ,f WA PLANNING As mentioned previously, the CDPMP matches or exceeds the level of assessment performed in other cities'parking plans. Where thev differ is when cities choose to undertake an effort toi produce or procure a parking plan. Location(s): City of Bellingham ---) MEMO Approach: Financial shortfalls in the budget. _ Location(s): City of Pasadena, CA Figure 3.1.2 - A dilapidated Approach: Struggling downtown and the desire to spur new building in Old Pasadena in development(Figure 3.1.2), the 1980s (above) and the same building now (below). Location(s): City of Redwood City, CA Approach: Anticipation of new development and visitors who will mostly arrive by car. Location(s): City of Ventura, CA Approach: Simultaneous with update of Downtown Specific Plan. INVESTMENT Of the other cities' parking plans surveyed, the Downtown Redmond Parking Study from 2008 examines the various options available for financing downtown parking infrastructure most comprehensively The options below", however, are not exhaustive nor meant to be mutually exclusive (use of multiple funding sources is the rule rather than exception for public financing). Options Affecting Customers Approach: Event surcharges Key Points: • Ticketing fees that are authorized by a public J3 Updated to include current financing options available and not identified in the study. 39 facilities district, such as the one established for the ShoWare Center in the City of Kent. Approach: On-street parking fees Key Points: • Parking meters and/or permits. Approach: Parking fine revenues Key Points: • N/A Options Affecting Businesses Approach: Business improvement area(BIA) Key Points: •Assessment on business owners based on square footage, assessed land value, and/or business and operation (B&O)taxes • Useful for funding parking operations and marketing Options Affecting Property Owners Approach: Local improvement district (LID) Key Points: • Assessment on property owners to repay bonds sold to finance improvement • Benefit to the land must be more intense than to the rest of the city and must be actual, physical, and material, and not merely speculative or conjectural • Useful for funding capital development (ex. parking structure) • Useful as one component of revenue bond without the need for general obligation bond backing(and drawing down the available debt capacity of the city) Options Affecting Developers Approach: Fee-in-lieu-of parking Key Points: N/A Approach: Options affecting developers - puhlic/private development partnerships Key Points: • Ex, public acquisition of land and sale or lease of land/air rights not needed for parking • Es. private development of mixed-use development with sale or lease back of the public parking portion upon completion, a turnkey project Options Affecting the General Public Approach: General obligation bonds Key Points: • Bonds issued to finance parking improvements underwritten by the general fund when 40 repayment of debt is unable to be serviced by parking revenues alone • Bonds can be issued by public vote or council decree • Legal limit for all voter-approved debt in a city is 7.5%of assessed property values; non- voted debt is 1.5% of assessed property values Approach: Refinancing general obligation bonds Key Points: • Refinancing existing debt and shifting savings from the general fund to debt coverage for parking improvements Approach: Revenue bonds Key Points: • Bonds issued to finance parking improvements underwritten by parking and other specific revenues rather than by the general fund; however, unless utilization and revenue projections (such as LID revenues) are strong and predictable enough to cover debt and operations and provide a coverage cushion, general obligation bonds may still be required • Legal limit for debt is not affected, unless general obligation bond backing is required Approach: 63-20 financing Key Points: • Bonds (tax-exempt) issued by a non-profit corporation on behalf of the city • Financed assets must be "capital" and must be turned over free and clear to the government by the time that bonded indebtedness is retired Approach: Public facilities districts (PFD) Key Points: •An independent taxing authority and district under Washington State statue that may charge fees for the use of its facilities, levv an admissions tax not exceeding 5%, and impose a vehicle parking tax not exceeding 10`Z, • State law also allows PFDs to impose two different types of sales and use taxes: local sales and use taxes of up to 0.033% to finance regional centers and local sales and use taxes up to 0.2%to finance, design, construct, remodel, maintain, or operate public facilities(if approved by voters) Approach: Downtown and neighborhood commercial districts Key Points: • Uses incremental increases in local sales and use tax revenue subsequent establishment of the district to finance community revitalization projects, such as "publicly owned or lease facilities" Approach: Community revitalization financing Key Points: • Uses incremental increases in property taxes to finance parking improvements • Tax "increment area" must be established with approval from local governments imposing at least 75% of the regular property taxes 41 •Tax increment is calculate at 75`Yo of any increase in assessed property value Approach: Local revitalization financing Key Points: • Uses incremental increases in local sales and use tax revenues and property tax revenues within the "revitalization area", additional funds from other local public sources, and a state contribution to finance parking improvements •Tax increment is calculate at 75% of anv increase in assessed property value • State contribution applications are currently closed Approach: Stale and federal grants Key Points: • No current grants for downtown parking structures have been found Approach: Parking fund Key Points: • Establishes parking commissions and funding mechanisms for parking improvements and maintenance and operations Approach: General fund contribution Key Points: • For a one-time capital improvement or on-going contributions to maintenance and operations of a downtown parking system 42 3.2 - Parking Operations, Maintenance, and Marketing and Communications OPERATIONS }d-� Location(s): Various Approach: Parking meters and/or pay stations as a tool tol»``'�$ promote parking turnover; act as a means of distributing limited amount of on-street spaces in commercial areas where demand exceeds supply; provide short-term parking spaces for shopping or personal errands; improve traffic circulation and economic viability of downtown commercial areas by maximizing the number of patron visits; and to generate revenue for the city. i Key Points: • Individual conventional meters that accept coins and credit cards (City of Salem) (Figure 3.2.1) • Individual "smart" meters that accept coins, • — credit cards, and pay-by-phone, with different prices at different times of the day; has resulted , in higher revenues and fewer parking citations, �\ ..=�• but may result in less turnover(City of San {`•—`P. Francisco) (Figure 3.2.2) • individual "smart" meters that accept coins and p >�. credit cards, resets any remaining parking time - . available to zero when a car leaves, and prohibits drivers from paying for more time when the has already parked for the maximum time limit applicable to the parking space (City of Santa Monica) Figure 3.2.1/3.2.2/3.2.3 - Meters from Salem, San Francisco, and • Conventional pay-and-display pav stations that Boulder, respectively(top to accept coins and credit cards (City of Boulder) bottom). (Figure 3.2.3) Location(s): City of'Tacoma Approach: Parking operations and maintenance contracted out to Republic Parking Key Points: • Since 1987, Republic Parking has provided daily operational oversight for 2,500 parking spaces located within the city's lots and garages •The city's budget for 2011-2012 allocated $1,214,800 for operations and maintenance of 43 its parking facilities;this includes $20,000 for Republic ParkinK s management fee of 1.5`8, of net parking revenues and the remainder for'out of pocket' expenses to operate and maintain its t parking facilities Location(s): Research Drive Parking Garage, Duke University (Figure 3.2.4) Approach: Environmental and parking operation efficiency -"�-.- best practices Key Points: • Received 2012 International Parking Institute Award of Excellence ,._^1 ! --�'-''-i--= • Environmentally sensitive design that incorporates vegetated canopies on the roof, vegetated walls, and rainwater-collecting cisterns ___ _ - • Real-time space availability display boards (spaces available on each level) -a7 - •Automated entries and exits and an express ramp for frequent users using vehicle —*. identification technology ��"� • Pay stations for payment prior to leaving rather than payment at exits Location(s): 123 Baxter Street Garage, New York (Figure °;;;C, 3.2.5) { - e Approach: Land use and parking operation efficiency through use of an automatic mechanical parking I � ' i system (a la a vending machine) G Key Points: • Entire process for parking or retrieval of a car Figure 3.2.4 -The Duke takes around 2 minutes University Research Drive Parking Garage features (top • Occupies less space than conventional garages, to bottom) vegetated rooftop which makes it especially practical for high- canopies, space availability density locations display boards, and pay stations prior to exiting. • One attendant "operates" the entire garage • Potential inefficient ingress and egress during periods of overwhelming demand, such as morning and evening rush hour • High initial investment 44 • Potential fire code limitations nn1 • Potential for mechanical failure, as some systems have experienced, trapping vehicles - • inside the garage 1 OPERATIONS — SPECIAL EVENTS / Location(s): River Days, Renton Approach: Shuttles from off-site parking facilities and extensive information provided Key Points: • Complimentary shuttles move people between off-site parking facilities and the festival • Information provided online include directions to parking lots and garages, the free shuttle to •.�,;,;,--�.r""-^"""" ; non-downtown parking, and location and timing of street closures (Figure 3.2.6) Source(s): "Special Event Parking Basics", Campus Safety Magazine1 ( - i Approach: Parking operation efficiency and safety best practices .� Key Points: • Changing cashier locations accommodates Figure 3.2.5 - New York City's queues and promote faster entrances and exits first automatic parking garage, • Pavrnent upon entry prevents bottlenecks at located at 123 Baxter Street. exits • Limiting cash transactions reduces delay • Make multiple entrances and exits available • Designated pedestrian walkways quickly and safely move visitors to and from garage OPERATIONS — RATES, FEES, ENFORCEMENT, AND FINES RATES Figure 3.2.6 -The Renton River Days website provides clear parking information. Location(s): City of Tacoma Approach: Reinstatement of paid parking, removed during downtown's decline in the 1970s, as on-street parking became increasingly 45 congested again Key Points: • During the first 6 months of operation (January- June 2011), revenue exceeded projections by around $60,000 ($364,782.41 vs. $303,510.69) • Bus pass sales doubled and off-street parking lot occupancy increased to near-capacity for University of Washington (UW) -Tacoma FEES Location(s): City of Kent, City of Olympia, City of Puyallup, City of Renton, City of Tacoma Approach: Charging for monthly off-street parking Key Points: • Data includes monthly off-street parking lots and garages owned and/or operated by the cities and by private parking operators as of February 2013 • The lowest monthly rate for a parking lot was $15, operated by Diamond Parking, and located next to the marine and Heritage Park Fountain, though several blocks away from downtown Olympia •The highest monthly rate for a parking lot was $148, operated by Republic Parking on behalf of the City of Tacoma, and located nest to many businesses, attractions, and a Sound Transit LINK light rail station •The unweighted average monthly rate for a parking lot was $56 •The lowest monthly rate for a parking garage was $35, operated by Diamond Parking, at the downtown Renton transit center • The highest monthly rate for a parking garage was $164, operated be Republic Parking on behalf of the City of Tacoma, and located next to several businesses, the Convention Center, Tacoma Art Museum, UW-Tacoma, and a Sound Transit LINK light rail station • The unweighted average monthly rate for a parking garage was $74 ENFORCEMENT I ocation(s): City of Chattanooga, TN Approach: Parking enforcement officers doubling as downtown customer service representatives ("parking ambassadors") Key Points: • Parking ambassador service provided by Republic Parking • In addition to parking enforcement, parking ambassadors assist people with parking correctly, give courtesy garage passes to drivers who have experienced difficulty with parking, provide maps and directions, provide informal security in coordination with police, and pick up litter(Figure 3.2.7) 46 • Newspapers report that parking spaces on I the busiest commercial streets have freed up considerably since parking ambassador W. program implementation ®'d x¢ rype FINES �> r Location(s): City of Somerville, MA Approach: Superior customer service for parking permit Figure 3.2.7 - Parking and citation processing ambassador in Chattanooga provides assistance to visitors Key Points: • Customer service representatives at the as well as enforcing parking Office of the Parking Clerk consistently regulations. praised for efficiencv and pleasantness, despite only an average rating of 2 out of 5 stars on Yelp MAINTENANCE Location(s): City of Chicago, IL Approach: On-street parking is operated and maintained by Chicago Parking Meters LLC through a 75-year concession, which includes price-setting rights Key Points: •$1.2 billion lump sum paid to the city, but long- term budget shortfall • Rapid rise in parking rates • Increase in inoperable meters Location(s): City of Tacoma Approach: Parking operations and maintenance contracted out to Republic Parking Key Points: • Republic Parking operates and maintains all of the city's 2,500+ off-street parking spaces; maintenance costs incurred are reimbursed to Republic Parking as part of the contract Location(s): City of Vancouver Approach: • Maintenance of signs, meters, off-street parking lots and garages is performed by the Parking Services Division in the Community and Economic Development Department 47 Key Points: N/A Location(s): City of West Hollywood, CA Approach: Off-street parking lots and garages are operated --_- _ -- and maintained by the Parking Services Division _.== in the Public Works Department Key Points: • N/A Figure 3.2.8 -The Denver parking website features easy- Location(s): Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH to-find links for reporting a problem, purchasing parking Approach: Maintenance of off-street parking lots regularly permits, finding public parking, scheduled and paying for citations. Key Points: • Test and email reminders to move cars for subscribers l • Signs at off-street parking lots the day of closure °•� for maintenance � � mnerm Od�Yly COMMERCIAL ICLES ONLY MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS VEH ` olx[AS NO STANDING - MNnaay-Friday Location(s): City of Ventura, CA bPN-MINNIGHT .. lam.6pm MDN rx.0 fRl NCIEflCD PAAAING ~� �i 6 Roufl ulAn ,Yg mom, Approach: Radius map of destinations from main parking 8AN-M~GHi `yY; P'1rkra garage SATUPDAY t^ Monody inOay NETEAED PAAKINL rASr•_ ,a_ A4DniGDI 6 HOUR LINK ••� 6dlmNay Key Points: Demonstrates the concept of"park-once" and Sam-MI wdcnl I . visiting multiple destinations Muni•Meter Location(s): Citv of Denver, CO _-- Approach: Public Works Department "parking angels" reward legally parked cars with $5 parking cards during the holiday season Figure 3.2.9 - New York City on-street parking signs pre- (left) Key Points: • Caught the attention of multiple news sources and post-redesign (right). (TV stations, newspapers, online sources) • Simultaneous with a social media campaign Location(s): City of Denver, CO Approach: Parking homepage with street sweeping reminders and all components of the parking system front and center Key Points: • Divided into four user-friendly links: 'Report a Problem' for broken meters, lights, potholes/ 48 sinkholes, and illegally parked cars, 'Parking Permits'for residential and handicap parking permits, 'Public Parking'for where and how to park, and 'Tickets and Towing'for paying 1 °"""' Q.� citations, removing boots, and locating a towed vehicle (Figure 3.2.8) Location(s): City of New York, NY 19 Approach: Redesigned parking signs for readability Figure 3.2.10 -The proposed Key Points: • Fewer signs, less text, and more `white space" Novato sign program features (Figure 3.2.9) parking signs that are thematically tied to general • Former signs were called"a cross between an wayfinding and other signs in Excel spreadsheet and a totem pole' by Janette the city Sadik-Khan,Transportation Commissioner Location(s): City of Novato, CA Approach: Thematically tied-together signs (Figure 3.2.10) t' D' Key Points: • Parking signage is thematically tic to general car and pedestrian wayfinding signage • "Trailblazer" signs directing drivers to parking 1 are thematically tied to parking facility signage l .' • On-location parking signage identify the Figure 3.2.11 - Seattle's e-Park location and/or name of the lot and basic rules - sign boards show available and not much else parking spaces in participating downtown parking garages. Location(s): City of Seattle Approach: •e-Park, a real-time live feed of available parking spaces in participating parking garages throughout downtown (Figure 3.2.11) Key Points: N/A Location(s): City of Los Angeles, City of San Carlos, City of San Francisco, CA Approach: Parker app provides real-time parking availability information for both on-street parking spaces and off-street parking spaces in City and privately owned and/or operated parking lots and garages Key Points: •Availability is based on information transmitted from networked wireless sensors at each parking space 49 r_AT&T 11:16AM 1,$100%W • Each wireless sensor is self-powered, requires • •' 4-6 minutes to install, and costs $300/installation a and $120/year in software licensing fees (per USA S Today in a 2011 article) O all l� �� •App provides a map of parking locations, rates, w o and types(time limits) (Figure 3.2.12); allows '��. �B for adding inventory to its map database, even o without paving for and installing sensors i� �"` ' r •App can search for parking in proximity by destination and also direct drivers via voice -a iI Et navigation to the nearest space AT&T S' 10:0 AM 10L�. X L � IIM�rvM Puking rvNa04 1 T:._._ .._ X ta; � WINN Figure 3.2.12 -The Parker app displays locations and rates of on- and off-street parking and real-time availabilitv for parking spaces equipped with a networked wireless sensor. 50 4. The Parking Best Practices Toolbox 4.1 - How to Use the Toolbox The Parking Best Practices Toolbox is a collection of general best practices employed in the provision of parking, parking demand management, and operations of a parking system. Experiences of other jurisdictions examined and guiding principles from planning and parking literature drove what best practices ended up in the toolhox. The best practices contained herein, however, are not meant to be static; some may be removed and other may be added to the framework of the toolbox as parking patterns and results from parking research continue to evolve. In addition, what is a parking best practice generally is not necessarily a parking best practice specifically applicable to the DUC. As such, the Parking Best Practices Toolbox has been structured as such: • Description of the best practice; • Whether or not the best practice is currently implemented; • The action proposed for the best practice (continuation, modification, implementation, or no action); and • Where to find additional information, if available. In short, the toolbox embodies an at-a-glance evaluation of best practices applicable generally and specifically, in the CDPbIP's current iteration. Please turn to the next page for the Parking Best Practices Toolbox(Figure 4.1.1). 51 Best Practice(BP) Now Action More Information Existing Parking Infrastructure-Demand Management Commute trip reduction Yes lContinue ACC10.02 070 Long-term rec Frequent transit access,citywide/regional Yes Modify Comprehensive Transportation Plan Off-street permit parking Yes Continue On-street paid parking,conventional meters No No action' Case study On-street paid parking,"smart'meters No No action' Case study On-street permit parking No Implement Short-term rec Roadway pricing No No action' Near term rec Timed parking Yes Modify Long-term rec Unbundled parking No No action' Commute Tnp Reduction Plan Future Parking Infrastructure-Development Regulations and Design Elimination of parking minimums No No action Establishment of parking maximum Yes Continue ACC18.29.060(H) Parking lot lighting Yes Continue DUC Design Standards Parking lot pedestrian connections Yes Continue DUC Design Standards Parking lot screening Yes Continue DUC Design Standards Parking over,under,behind,or side of buildings Yes Continue DUC Design Standards Parking structure screening Yes Continue DUC Design Standards Parking structure w/active street frontage Yes Continue DUC Design Standards Parking structures w/environmentally-sensitive design Yes Continue DUC Design Standards Reductions for shared parking Yes Continue ACC78.29.060(H)(8) Smart growth Yes Continue ACC18.29.010 Organization and Management Short-term rec Parking spillover area planning,downtown-adjacent No Implement Long-term rec Single contact for all City parking matters INo limplement Short-term rec Planning Regular readjustment of current parking practices No Implement Short-term rec Regular reevaluation of current parking conditions No Iln plement Shod-tens rec Investment Short-tens rec Planning for investment in public parking,per supply deficit No Implement Case study Operations Bikeshare No No action Carshare No No action Downtown valet No No action Frequent transit access,around downtown No Implement Long-term rec Short-term rec Parking ambassadors No Implement Case study Near-term rec Parking policy transparency No Implement Case study Parking shuttle No No actions Parking structures w/automated entry/exit and express ramps No No action° Case study Parking structures w/pay-before-leaving pay stations No No action° Case study Parking structures w/real-time space availability displays No No action° Case study Short-term rec Planning for special events No Implement Case study Soft enforcement No Im lement Short-term rec 52 Best Practice JBP) Now Action More Information Maintenance Clarity of maintenance roles jNo INo action Marketing and Communications Near-term rec Centralized City parking webpage No Implement Case study Short-term rec Easy-to-read off-street parking signs No Implement Case Study Near-term rec Easy-to-read on-street parking signs No Implement Case study Parker smartphone app No No action Case study Parking alerts,for construction/maintenance No Implement Short-tens rec Short-term rec Positive publicity for parking system No Implement Case study Real-time availability displays,for off-street parking No No action5 Case study Short-term rec Trailblazer signs INO Implement Case study 'Current demand does not warrant best practice;current parking supply is sufficient;citizens not interested in best practice Current transit service levels and development patterns not feasible to expect interest in completely car-free lifestyle Current deisre to address parking impacts of anticipated development,parking minimums are already more generous in the DUC than in the rest of the City Currently no parking structures are planned Current demand does not warrant best practice;unknown when sufficient demand is anticipated Currently too expensive;not intuitive to use when parking remains available,as in the DUG overall Figure 4.1.1 -The Parking Best Practices Toolbox. 53 5. The Parking Action Plan 5.1 - Near-Term Recommendations MTimed parking Action: Modify Description: Revise parking time limits for the City's on- and off-street public parking spaces to 3 hours throughout the DUC Pros: •Allows visitors to patronize multiple businesses at a leisurely pace, no matter where they park • Reduces the confusion of brought upon by a myriad of time limits and signs, of which some currently conflict with each other, even on the same street Cons: • Lacks the nuance of area-specific time limits that would address the various needs for different types of parking in the DUC •Additional costs will be incurred to replace signs if redevelopment and increased demand necessitate area-specific time limits again • May be more difficult for parking enforcement officers to discern cars parked all day(cars of commuters and downtown employees, for example) Mill Parking policy transparency Action: Implement Description: Remove all code referencing the City's on- and off-street parking, create a new parking database maintained by staff, and insert new code specifying available parking that adopts the parking database by reference Pros: • Eliminates code that currently conflicts with on-street parking as-signed/as-marked or is outdated • Parking database can be updated administratively • Parking database can serve double-duty as public information on where to park in the DUC Cons: • Parking database would require time to develop MCentralized City parking webpage Action: Implement 54 Description: Update website to include easy-to-locate map and information for on-and off-street public and permit parking available in the City(including potentially a `Where to Park If This Area is Full' feature for areas and lots that experience peak parking occupancy in excess of 85%), pictures of all signs and explanations of what thev mean, and better marketing for the City's off-street permit parking program Pros: • Centralizes information for DUC parking • Provides information for alternative parking options when the desired parking lot or street is full • Provides information to help discern whether a parking space is public or permit, addressing the difficulty of doing so raised in the Downtown Parking Survey • Relatively easy and inexpensive to implement Cons: • In itself, may not be the most intuitive tool for finding parking spaces, especially for those that do not plan ahead or use smartphones Easy-to-read on-street parking signs Action: Implement Description: Design and install easy-to-read signs that identify availability and rules of on-street public parking Pros: • Relatively easy and inexpensive to implement Cons: •Additional costs will be incurred to replace signs if redevelopment and increased demand necessitate area-specific time limits again 55 5.2 -Short-Term Recommendations (1-5 Years) MOn-street permit parking Action: Modify Description: Expand and modify residential parking zone beyond D ST NW per demand; begin by providing 2 free parking permits per single-family residence, duplex unit, or townhouse unit with less than 2 off-street parking spaces (garage or paved), 1 free parking permit per single-family residence, duplex, unit, or townhouse unit with 2 or more off-street parking spaces(garage or paved), and 1 free parking permit per multifamily unit with less than 1 off-street parking space (garage or paved) per unit; charge nominal fee for additional permit and raise fees as demand necessitates; tailor to each residential parking zone by inventory of on-street parking supply Pros: • Provides long-term parking for residents and prevents other cars from parking all day in spaces convenient and valuable to residents, thereby encouraging downtown employees and commuters to obtain off-street parking permits • Free permits to a certain extent is more or less in line with the overwhelming Downtown Parking Survey response of not having to pay for parking • Reinforces a"customer-first" ethic amongst downtown employees who choose to park on- street all day by providing impetus to purchase an off-street parking permit Cons: • Past opposition has stalled implementation of residential parking zones in areas just beyond the DUC EParking spillover area planning, downtown adjacent Action: implement Description: Consider areas expected to experience impacts from DUC parking, even if not technically located within the DUC Pros: • Addresses potential parking spillover impacts from the DUC so that parking problems are not simply shifted away from the DUC into surrounding areas Cons: • Past opposition has stalled implementation of residential parking zones in areas just bevond the DUC no Single contact for all City parking matters Action: Implement Description: Designate one department or division that is the single contact for all parking-related matters in the City, despite whatever the organizational structure is behind-the-scenes 56 Pros: • Reduces confusion of who is in charge of parking in the City and increases transparency, as perceived by the public; is a more user-friendly approach to interactions with the public Cons: • N/A MRegular readjustment of current parking practices Action: Implement Description: Make minor adjustments to permit rates, time limits, residential permit zones, etc. to respond to current parking conditions in the DUC every year and make major adjustments every 5th year in the parking planning cycle Pros: • Responds to current parking conditions in the DUC, implements current parking best practices for the City, and modifies or eliminates failing parking policies Cons: •Additional costs will be incurred if additional consultation and staffing from private parking consultants are required for implementation rather than City staff alone MRegular reevaluation of current parking conditions Action: Implement Description: Evaluate supply and demand of parking in the DUC at peak weekday hours Qlam-2pm) every year, comprehensively every 4th year in the parking planning cycle Pros: • Evaluates current parking conditions in the DUC to guide implementation of current parking best practices for the City and modification or elimination of failing parking policies Cons: • Additional costs will be incurred if additional consultation and staffing from private parking consultants are required for implementation rather than City staff alone MUMM Planning for investment in public parking, per supply deficit Action: implement Description: Evaluate funding options, existing and potential overflow from Auburn Transit Center, and implement a multi-faceted plan to finance additional public parking, per supply deficit observed Pros: •Addresses potential public parking supplv deficit identified by the CDPMP • Reduces risk with diversity of funding options utilized Cons: • Does not consider measures to reduce parking demand and congestion in problem areas of downtown without expanding the physical infrastructure of public parking 57 MParking ambassadors Action: Implement Description: Assign parking ambassador responsibilities to existing parking enforcement and downtown patrol officers, including provision of information (and informal safety by parking enforcement officers) Pros: • Generates goodwill • Reinforces a `customer-first" ethic by pointing people in the right direction in terms of destinations and parking in the DUC, including alternative parking options when the desired parking lot or street is full • Decentralizes the delivery of information centralized at the City's Permit Center and website • Provides additional transparency to parking policies • Diversifies the role of existing parking enforcement officers Cons: • Requires coordination between multiple departments and divisions and relies on one representative to convey each department or division's respective parking policies • Additional costs will be incurred if additional consultation and staffing from private parking operators are required for implementation MPlanning for special events Action: Implement Description: Require organizers to designate event parking, distribute information for event parking, make multiple exits available, and establish pedestrian paths Pros: •Addresses difficulties experienced during event parking, as expressed in responses from the Downtown Parking Survey •Addresses potential parking spillover impact from the DUC so that parking problems from special events are not simply shifted away from the DUC into surrounding areas • Generates goodwill with efficient organization of special events Cons: • N/A ME Soft enforcement Action: Implement 58 Description: Develop and implement 3-strikes parking enforcement policy wherein the first 2 strikes consist of dismissible tickets and education on where to park Pros: • Generates good will • Allows those genuinely unfamiliar with downtown parking an opportunity to park "correctly" • Reinforces a "customer-first" ethic amongst downtown employees who choose to park on- street all day by providing impetus to purchase an off-street parking permit Cons: • Off-street permit parking demand already exceeds supply • May shift cars to unlimited time on-street parking on residential streets beyond the DUC EEasy-to-read off-street parking signs Action: Modify Description: Design and install easy-to-read signs that identify availability of off-street public parking, identifier/location of off-street parking lot, and alternative parking options Pros: • Relatively easy and inexpensive to implement • Reduces perceived last mile when off-street parking lot is easy to identify and remember • Reduces parking demand and congestion in problem areas of downtown without expanding physical infrastructure of parking by shifting demand to underutilized off-street parking lots Cons: • May work too well, shifting parking supply problems to formerly underutilized off-street parking lots EParking alerts, for construction/maintenance Action: Implement Description: Alert interested parties and drivers through the City's website, emails, text alerts, and pre- closure on-location signage so that they are not caught off-guard when regularly available parking becomes unavailable Pros: • Provides additional transparency to parking availability •Allows people to plan for alternative parking and/or transportation options • Decentralizes the delivery of information centralized at the City's Permit Center and website (through text alerts and on-location signage) 59 • Utilizes existing City communication channels (website and construction notices) Cons: • Additional costa will be incurred if additional technological resources are required (text alerts) • Mav become unwanted information overload if implemented incorrectly mTrailblazer signs Action: Implement Description: Direct drivers to available off-street parking Pros: • Decentralizes the delivery of information centralized at the City's Permit Center and websile • Relatively easy and inexpensive to implement Cons: • May work too well, shifting parking supply problems exclusively to off-street parking lots • Additional costs will be incurred to replace signs if comprehensive downtown signage program is implemented in the future 60 5.3 - Long-Term Recommendations (6-10 Years) MFrequent transit access, citywide/regional Action: Modify Description: Evaluate demand and petition for demand-appropriate reductions to current 30-minute headways and expansion of evening service Pros: • Reduces parking demand and congestion by making trips to and from downtown more enticing and feasible, without expanding physical infrastructure of parking • Expands the customer base for the DUC • Responds to anticipated growth in demand required to support increase from current levels of transit access Cons: • May lie difficult for buy-in from cash-strapped transit agencies MTimed parking Action: Modify Description: Revise parking time limits for the City's on- and off-street public parking spaces to area- specific time limits as-needed Pros: • Provides nuanced time limits that address various needs for different types of parking in the DUC, especially areas with high peak occupancy • Increases the ultimate number of visitors to the DUC by increasing turnover Cons: • May increase confusion brought upon by a myriad of time limits and signs •Additional costs will be incurred to replace existing 3-hour time-limit signs MParking spillover area planning, downtown adjacent Action: Implement Description: Continue to consider areas expected to experience impacts from DUC parking, even if not technically located within the DUC Pros: •Addresses potential parking spillover impacts from the DUC so that parking problems are not simply shifted away from the DUC into surrounding areas • May be easier to implement in the long-term as potential parking spillover impacts from the DUC become more identifiable 61 Cons: • Past opposition has stalled implementation of residential parking zones in areas just beyond the DUC MFrequent transit access, around downtown Action: Implement Description: Evaluate demand and petition for demand-appropriate reductions to current 30-minute and 1-hour headways, expansion of service area by rerouting, and expansion of evening service Pros: • Reduces parking demand and congestion in problem areas of downtown by reducing the last mile between parking space and destination, without expanding physical infrastructure of parking • Responds to anticipated growth in demand required to support increase from current levels of transit access Cons: • May be difficult for buy-in from cash-strapped transit agencies •Additional costs will be incurred if additional consultation and staffing from private paratransit operators for implementation is required 62 I R.. e:X16 ' a1dM iiYEG w 1 bA W 1 � 1 - a r ! r w.�-OR n w w I r e w.m r