A Tale of 3 Cities City Knowledge Applications in the City of Boston Bryan Glascock Director of the Environment Dept. Vancouver, September 29, 2006 URISA

A Tale of 3 A Tale of 3 Cities Cities

City Knowledge Applications in theCity Knowledge Applications in the City of Boston City of Boston

Bryan GlascockBryan GlascockDirector of the Environment Director of the Environment

Dept.Dept.Vancouver, September 29, 2006Vancouver, September 29, 2006

URISA 2006URISA 2006

Boston’s Environment Boston’s Environment DepartmentDepartment

Boston’s Parking FreezesBoston’s Parking Freezes Downtown (Boston Proper)Downtown (Boston Proper) East Boston East Boston South Boston South Boston

City Knowledge in BostonCity Knowledge in Boston CK and Parking FreezesCK and Parking Freezes Future of CK in BostonFuture of CK in Boston

Discussion Discussion

Presentation Presentation OutlineOutline

City Knowledge in BostonCity Knowledge in Boston


Boston’s Parking FreezesBoston’s Parking Freezes Downtown (Boston Proper)Downtown (Boston Proper) South Boston South Boston East Boston East Boston





The Boston The Boston Environment DeptEnvironment Dept

established in 1978 by special State lawestablished in 1978 by special State law provides staff forprovides staff for

Air Pollution Control CommissionAir Pollution Control Commission Conservation CommissionConservation Commission Landmarks CommissionLandmarks Commission Waterways BoardWaterways Board

reports to Mayor through the Cabinet reports to Mayor through the Cabinet Chief of Environment and EnergyChief of Environment and Energy

has a staff of 17 and a budget of $1.1M, has a staff of 17 and a budget of $1.1M, mostly payrollmostly payroll

Revenue from permit fees goes into the Revenue from permit fees goes into the general fundgeneral fund

established in 1978 by special State lawestablished in 1978 by special State law provides staff forprovides staff for

Air Pollution Control CommissionAir Pollution Control Commission Conservation CommissionConservation Commission Landmarks CommissionLandmarks Commission Waterways BoardWaterways Board

reports to Mayor through the Cabinet reports to Mayor through the Cabinet Chief of Environment and EnergyChief of Environment and Energy

has a staff of 17 and a budget of $1.1M, has a staff of 17 and a budget of $1.1M, mostly payrollmostly payroll

Revenue from permit fees goes into the Revenue from permit fees goes into the general fundgeneral fund







History of the History of the Freeze Freeze

History of the History of the Freeze Freeze

1970 Federal Clean Air Act1970 Federal Clean Air Act required Transportation Control Plan (TCP)required Transportation Control Plan (TCP)

Metro-Boston TCP requiredMetro-Boston TCP required a “freeze” on parking in Downtown Boston a “freeze” on parking in Downtown Boston

Boston Air Pollution Control Boston Air Pollution Control CommissionCommission inventoried parking and implemented inventoried parking and implemented

freeze freeze Procedures and Criteria for PermitsProcedures and Criteria for Permits

adopted by APCC in 1976adopted by APCC in 1976

1970 Federal Clean Air Act1970 Federal Clean Air Act required Transportation Control Plan (TCP)required Transportation Control Plan (TCP)

Metro-Boston TCP requiredMetro-Boston TCP required a “freeze” on parking in Downtown Boston a “freeze” on parking in Downtown Boston

Boston Air Pollution Control Boston Air Pollution Control CommissionCommission inventoried parking and implemented inventoried parking and implemented

freeze freeze Procedures and Criteria for PermitsProcedures and Criteria for Permits

adopted by APCC in 1976adopted by APCC in 1976

Parking Parking Freeze Freeze

DistrictsDistricts

Parking Parking Freeze Freeze

DistrictsDistricts•Downtown Boston Parking Freeze

•South Boston Parking Freeze

•East Boston Parking Freeze

•Restricted parking district







300300 spaces still available for allocation spaces still available for allocation

Downtown FreezeDowntown Freeze35,00035,000 commercial/public spaces commercial/public spaces

Downtown FreezeDowntown Freeze applies to “off-street parking open to the applies to “off-street parking open to the

general public for a fee”general public for a fee” Proponents apply to the APCCProponents apply to the APCC Eliminated spaces return to the bankEliminated spaces return to the bank Proponent must justify reallocation of spacesProponent must justify reallocation of spaces No “as-of-right” commercial parkingNo “as-of-right” commercial parking Conditional exemptions can be requested for:Conditional exemptions can be requested for:

lesseeslessees employeesemployees patronspatrons customerscustomers clientsclients patientspatients guests guests

Problems with DT Problems with DT FreezeFreeze

Administration of freeze based on City fundingAdministration of freeze based on City funding No permit feesNo permit fees

Penalties for failure to enforce freezePenalties for failure to enforce freeze could include federal suit under CAAcould include federal suit under CAA

Original inventory in 1973 did not use parcel Original inventory in 1973 did not use parcel IDsIDs used street addresses or used street addresses or building namesbuilding names

Burden on staff to check sites, update files, Burden on staff to check sites, update files, etc. etc.

No way to get spaces No way to get spaces backback intointo “bank” “bank” WPI project in 2002WPI project in 2002

updated inventory to help recoup “lost” spacesupdated inventory to help recoup “lost” spaces proposed yearly fees to update informationproposed yearly fees to update information

Paper-based Paper-based InventoryInventory

Hand-drawn MapsHand-drawn Maps







East Boston East Boston Freeze Freeze

Rental car Rental car inventory = inventory = 4,0124,012

park-and-fly park-and-fly inventory = inventory = 1,098 1,098


Boston’s Parking FreezesBoston’s Parking Freezes Downtown (Boston Proper)Downtown (Boston Proper) East Boston East Boston South BostonSouth Boston





South Boston South Boston Freeze Freeze

25,00025,000 spaces spaces 5,0005,000 space space

bank bank

South Boston Freeze South Boston Freeze Imposed on the City by state DEP in 1993Imposed on the City by state DEP in 1993

Part of settlement of CAA suit over “Big Dig” Part of settlement of CAA suit over “Big Dig” projectproject

SB Freeze was not fundedSB Freeze was not funded Acted as a moratorium from 1993 until 2004Acted as a moratorium from 1993 until 2004

City fully implemented freeze in 2004City fully implemented freeze in 2004 Incorporates elements of “City Knowledge”Incorporates elements of “City Knowledge” CK overcomes problems inherent in previous CK overcomes problems inherent in previous

freezesfreezes

How it works in SBHow it works in SB Inventory used ward/parcel to create GIS mapInventory used ward/parcel to create GIS map Permits renewed annually (or change of Permits renewed annually (or change of

ownership)ownership) forces updates of recordsforces updates of records

Permit fees for new or renewed permits Permit fees for new or renewed permits ($10/space)($10/space) go to Pollution Abatement Fundgo to Pollution Abatement Fund covers cost of administrationcovers cost of administration







Birth CertificatesBirth Certificates The 6 tools applied to the The 6 tools applied to the

freezes freezes

CK in BostonCK in Boston

Birth CertificatesBirth Certificates The 6 tools applied to the The 6 tools applied to the

freezes freezes

CK in BostonCK in Boston

LOUIS-based online systemLOUIS-based online system Web forms for permitsWeb forms for permits

New applicationsNew applications RenewalsRenewals ““Death” certificatesDeath” certificates

Birth CertificatesBirth Certificatesfor Parking Facilitiesfor Parking Facilities

Applying the 6 Applying the 6 ToolsTools

in Bostonin Boston

1.1. Ownership and OperationOwnership and Operation

2.2. RegulationRegulation

3.3. Incentives/DisincentivesIncentives/Disincentives

4.4. Education and InformationEducation and Information

5.5. Rights tradingRights trading

6.6. Mitigation and CompensationMitigation and Compensation

6 Tools of Gov.’t6 Tools of Gov.’tapplied to Bostonapplied to Boston








Own & OperateOwn & Operateapplied to Bostonapplied to Boston

Farm-in energy data about Farm-in energy data about municipal parking facilitymunicipal parking facility Winthrop Sq. GarageWinthrop Sq. Garage

Should know everything about itShould know everything about it number of spacesnumber of spaces parking feesparking fees turnoverturnover occupancyoccupancy

Force sub-contractor to update Force sub-contractor to update infoinfo modify contractual obligationsmodify contractual obligations








RegulationRegulationapplied to Bostonapplied to Boston

Require online Require online applications/renewalsapplications/renewals applicants provide “free” applicants provide “free”

informationinformation applicants provide facility footprintapplicants provide facility footprint

draw or select from online GISdraw or select from online GIS upload GIS footprintupload GIS footprint

applicants provide photosapplicants provide photos city can also request specific detailscity can also request specific details

fee structurefee structure public/private spacespublic/private spaces occupancy/turnover?occupancy/turnover?

Impose a “per-space” yearly feeImpose a “per-space” yearly fee City becomes “validator” of City becomes “validator” of

informationinformation








Incentives/Incentives/DisincentivesDisincentives

applied to Bostonapplied to Boston

Adjust application feesAdjust application fees Much higher fees for paper Much higher fees for paper

applicationapplication Lower fees for online applicationLower fees for online application

Higher fees pay for Higher fees pay for computerizationcomputerization

Applicants will adjust Applicants will adjust automaticallyautomatically

Online submissions instantly Online submissions instantly viewableviewable shaded until final approvalshaded until final approval flagged for APCC commissionersflagged for APCC commissioners used to calculate impactsused to calculate impacts








Education & Education & InformationInformation

applied to Bostonapplied to Boston Web-based tool adds transparencyWeb-based tool adds transparency

applicants can follow plan approval applicants can follow plan approval stepssteps

abutters can express concernsabutters can express concerns Other departments can assess Other departments can assess

impacts impacts on trafficon traffic on air qualityon air quality on public transportationon public transportation on local inhabitantson local inhabitants

Visitors, citizens and Visitors, citizens and schoolchildren canschoolchildren can understand the rationale of the understand the rationale of the

freezefreeze find out about parking availabilityfind out about parking availability base their decisions on the base their decisions on the

informationinformation








Rights TradingRights Tradingapplied to Bostonapplied to Boston

Building density bonuses awardedBuilding density bonuses awarded in exchange for public transport in exchange for public transport

programsprograms in exchange for biking facilitiesin exchange for biking facilities in exchange for electric car programsin exchange for electric car programs

Other rights may be increasedOther rights may be increased in return for parking datain return for parking data in return for traffic/pollution in return for traffic/pollution

reductionreduction








Mitigate & Mitigate & CompensateCompensate

applied to Bostonapplied to Boston

5 tools may negatively affect 5 tools may negatively affect someonesomeone

This tool makes up for those This tool makes up for those effectseffects

Higher submission fees for Higher submission fees for applicationsapplications compensate for computerization compensate for computerization

costscosts allow investment in online GIS tools allow investment in online GIS tools mitigate lower parking availability bymitigate lower parking availability by

providing public transportation providing public transportation discountsdiscounts

initiating/sponsoring zipcar programsinitiating/sponsoring zipcar programs initiating/sponsoring bike-to-work initiating/sponsoring bike-to-work

programsprograms initiating/sponsoring carshare programsinitiating/sponsoring carshare programs

Why this is important for Why this is important for Boston?Boston?

No more “Big Digs” to build No more “Big Digs” to build our way out of gridlockour way out of gridlock

Transit system still adding Transit system still adding capacitycapacity

City adding densityCity adding density Land area too valuable for Land area too valuable for

inefficient parkinginefficient parking ““Smart” management of Smart” management of

parking crucialparking crucial







Future CK Projects in Future CK Projects in BostonBoston

Apply CK to Downtown and E. Boston FreezesApply CK to Downtown and E. Boston Freezes i.e. annual renewal and permit feesi.e. annual renewal and permit fees

New map of Boston Harbor watersheet usesNew map of Boston Harbor watersheet uses landside impacts to optimize useslandside impacts to optimize uses institute online application for data farminginstitute online application for data farming

Develop community noise monitoring systemDevelop community noise monitoring system capture “re-usable” data from environmental capture “re-usable” data from environmental

impact assessmentsimpact assessments

Documents

A Tale of 3 Cities City Knowledge Applications in the City of Boston Bryan Glascock Director of the Environment Dept. Vancouver, September 29, 2006 URISA