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After months of discussion and deliberation, the Parking Meter Advisory Team has assembled the rough draft of their solution to the parking meter rate increase problem imposed by the bond funding scenario for the new Convention Center Hotel.
The proposal includes two main meter adjustments: a standard city-wide rate of 75 cents per hour and city-wide extended meter enforcement hours that would run until 10pm. This new flat rate would raise meter rates in some areas such as The Short North and Discovery District and lower meter rates in other areas such as Gay Street and Long Street.
“The pending recommendations for parking meter changes are going to have positive impacts on retail businesses in Downtown Columbus,” said Jeff Mathes, owner of Due Amici and Barrio and Advisory Team Member. “We will see lower hourly rates in hot spots and longer durations. Most importantly, the results will show the power of the stakeholders working together with our city officials to create new policies that will help the development of our city.”
In November, The City’s Public Service Department originally imposed a 50% across-the-board rate hike to all parking meters in order to raise $1.4 million to fund reserve bonds for the development of the new Convention Center Hotel. The move came with only a one-month advance notice and no public input. Many citizens were outraged by the move and responded accordingly with petitions and outcry at City Council meetings. Shortly afterward, the decision was reversed, meters were reset to their original rates and the Parking Meter Advisory Team was formed to come up with an alternate solution.
“A reasonable, competitive and standard rate throughout the city will allow a fair playing field throughout our retail districts allowing small business to flourish,” said Elizabeth Lessner, owner of the Betty’s Family of Restaurants and Advisory Team Member. “Later enforcement hours means retail can rely on spaces formerly occupied by valets.”
The details of the proposal are still being finalized by the Advisory Team, and ultimately, Public Service Director Mark Kelsey is still in charge of making the final decision.
Columbus City Council will be holding an upcoming public forum on parking meters and parking meter rates. The Advisory Team will present their recommendations, the Department of Public Service will make a presentation, and the public may offer testimony. The date of the meeting is still to be announced.
definitely an improved plan…i appreciate the standard hours…i wonder how long the standard rates will last if this is put in place as is.
lifeontwowheels – I never said you did. People, in general, do. Every time parking rates go up in any city, folks complain—even those that are better off, like businesses.
Businesses do better when there’s more turnover in parking. Therefore, increased parking rates would help them. Now, that doesn’t mean they perceive that benefit. But it’s there. They’re better off, whether or not they know it.
If someone is visiting a friend or family member at one of the smaller, affordable apartment buildings on the east side of downtown, I do not see why they should pay the same rates as someone trying to go to North Market or Bar 23. Sorry. It doesn’t make sense.
I think they have new meters marked for Franklinton. I think that a flat rate may not be in the best interests in all areas.
(if they were putting the convention center hotel on West Broad, I would probably be singing a different tune…)
This also pretty much kills my downtown gym membership (parked on the mostly desolate streets in the evenings).
“Businesses do better when there’s more turnover in parking. Therefore, increased parking rates would help them. Now, that doesn’t mean they perceive that benefit. But it’s there. They’re better off, whether or not they know it.“
Provided people are still willing to come down and pay for metered parking as the rates go up. At that point people can become more conscious of what they are putting in the meter and their mindset can change as “free” parking elsewhere in the city becomes more attractive.
You can look at all the studies and benefits research out there. What it ultimately comes down to is what consumers here in Columbus are willing to do and willing to pay. Do you want to gamble the success or failure of small businesses? That’s what it ultimately comes down to since the hard data necessary to support either lowering or raising rates won’t be available until the effects, good or bad, are irreversible.
The plan discussed here would promote greater turnover by extending hours and forcing folks to be a bit more conscious of the time. And that too probably has inherent risk. Will people linger longer in the SN on a night out? Stop by Jenni’s for desert or a nightcap at MoJo if they are feeding a meter till 10?
Overall this doesn’t seem like a bad idea and might be the better of the available options. I can see it both ways with meter pricing: good for tourists and others to keep it flat and easy, might be disproportionate based on demand of a particular area.
Another concern is if this does not meet the city’s agenda for raising funds. It is not just about parking turnover. Once they have a unilateral price structure do they raise the rates on all meters to $1 or $1.25 until 10pm? i can see the Short North having parking demands in the evenings (where evening parking is dense), but in a lot of other areas i am not sure the revenue will equal out to the added need for enforcement (and the extra staff needed that would not have been hired under the original plan).
Really? People aren’t going to come Downtown or the Short North because of parking being 50 or 75 cents more? That doesn’t happen.
Does anyone know what the rates at the long term meters at the edge of downtown are? I seem to remember that there are some 12 hour meters that were fairly cheap…maybe 50 cents per hour. Boosting that price to 75 cents per hour will force those people to start parking at lots.
Like it.
(If for no other reason that I get 12 minutes per quarter where I park now)
But the simplified plan makes sense. You are trying to attract people who don’t normally come to the city. Who don’t know the ‘ins and outs’. This makes oming into the city friendlier.
A single standard has its benefits, but I have the same concerns as johnwirtz and Jefe. The new standard may represent optimal pricing in relation to supply and demand in some areas but worsen problems or create new ones in other areas, whether in terms of parking/traffic or deterring customers.
The new proposal is likely an improvement over the current system, which has lots of variations that don’t reflect economics at all in some cases. But I would’ve preferred a simple, well-publicized 3-tier system for meter prices. I’m curious to see how the experiment plays out.
As an ex contract negotiator, I like this proposal because it is a reasonable, logical proposal that provides a lot of room between the city’s original plan and this one. Realistically, if the city is taking this task force seriously, there will be some modification that lands somewhere in between the two. If not, they will just impose their original plan. I don’t see the city simply adopting this proposal (too much ego on the line).
I like jungaroo’s idea for a tiered system as a balance between economics and simplicity for users. You could color-code it to make it easy. I’m thinking big colored dots on the back of the meters and more details about the price and hours of enforcement on stickers on the front.
Purple = $0.25 / Hr = 60 min / quarter
Blue = $0.50 / Hr = 30 min / quarter
Green = $0.75 / Hr = 20 min / quarter
Orange = $1.00 / Hr = 15 min / quarter
Red = $1.50 / Hr = 10 min / quarter
Maybe instead of dots the whole meter could be a different color. I’ve seen blue meters for handicapped users or meters with green tops for 20 minute only zones.
[quote]
Maybe instead of dots the whole meter could be a different color. I’ve seen blue meters for handicapped users or meters with green tops for 20 minute only zones.[/quote]
I’ve seen this in many cities
Hey, good timing on this. Last week from the mother of all traffic blogs:
http://www.howwedrive.com/2010/04/01/predictably-irrational-parking-politics/
Hadn’t thought of the second reason businesses object: that their owners/workers are often the ones parking in front. Not sure if that’s completely true here (vs. bigger cities), but probably somewhat applicable.
I think this proposal is excellent, simple and consistent. I think the later hours in busy areas is a very good idea.
I do see the point where people say that $.75 per hour in a less used area seems kind of high, but that rate is still lower than most pay parking lots, so it’s still a better deal for a quick stop.
I am still hoping to see the roll out of the smart meters. The concern about being asked for change as you are fumbling at the meter is still a factor, especially now the situation extending to later hours when it is dark. (But if the meter readers are so ready with the tickets, maybe their presence will help curb the ‘change requesting’ problem)
I just think it is easier and safer to run a debit card than deal with cash.
@ Hugh59 – those meters on the edge of town like on east Gay were $0.25/hr. $2 a day, which is why they were full at 6:30 AM. this was actually below market as all those lots go for at least $5/day.
Right now it is $1.25 per hour to park on Gay Street. The rate is going down. However, if they are taking the 12 hour meters (25 cents for an hour) away near Columbus State and CCAD, that sucks. I guess no one is going to be happy regardless. 10 pm is a little too late IMO. I work on Gay Street and there is no way I will be able to run outside and check on my meter when we are busy. Looks like I have to find an alternative.
Alternative to Meters = Parking Lots/Garages
Or = Bike, Bus, Walk
Yes, I realize there are alternatives to meters. I take full advantage of that in the summer. I also park in a lot during the day. Working at night is tough, you really don’t want to park far away.
Yeah, walking alone at night can be an issue. I’m not 100% sure how it works or how late it runs, but Capital Crossroads offers a security escort service for people who want some extra safety leaving work and heading to their cars. Might be worth contacting them to look in to.
I think 75 cents across the board is a very reasonable rate. Hell, I’d even be okay with $1/hour. But, my only concern is the enforcement extension, especially in the Short North & Arena District. I know a lot of the traffic in that area is long term traffic. Most people don’t just go to grab a candle from Paul Robinett in the evenings. It’s usually a mixed bag of dinner, drinks, maybe some shopping, etc. By extending the hours of enforcement I fear it’ll do one of two things: 1) Impact time spent in the area. If I know I’m going to have to return to feed the meter at a certain time, I’m more likely to try and complete my tasks in one given meter cycle (for example the 2 hour max imposed some places). 2) It’ll impact long term parking in other areas. Now, rather than sidle up to one of the inactive meter lots for my evening in the Short North, I’ll be much more likely to wander the residential streets looking for street parking, which will likely aggravate the residents who have to park there.