Haverhill Paid ParkingProgram Review

John M. Burke, PE, CAPP, ConsultantParking, Transit & Downtown

Development

Haverhill City Council PresentationMarch 3, 2015

Program Review

IntroductionJohn Burke, P.E., CAPP, ConsultantParking, Transit & Downtown Development

Certified Administrator of Public Parking (CAPP) Registered Professional Engineer (PE) MBA/Public Finance 20+ years experience Former Parking & Transportation Director

- City of Portsmouth, NH- City of Evanston, IL

Program Review Introduction

Municipal Parking/Transit Projects in New England

Holyoke, MA Mansfield, MA Narragansett, RI Newburyport, MA Newport, RI Plymouth, MA Portsmouth, NH Wareham, MA Westfield, MA Worcester, MA

Program Review

Study Overview

Objectives Methodology Analysis Major Findings Recommendations

Program Review

Objectives

2 ½ years since implementation of Paid Parking Program

Emphasis is on program refinement to make it more:

user friendly and convenient efficient (goal of15% availability/balanced use) self sustaining

Accommodate off-site parking impacts of the Harbor Place Development

Program Review

Methodology

75 Customer Intercept Surveys 12 Stakeholder Interviews Review Previous Parking Studies/Reports Analyze Updated Utilization Count Data Evaluate Program Performance Review Comparable City Rates/Services

Program Review Analysis – Customer Intercept Surveys

32

17

16

10

75 Survey Respondents

Customer/Visitor

Employee

Resident

Merchant

Program Review Analysis – Survey Results

Most parkers surveyed responded that:

1. there is enough parking in Downtown Haverhill most of the time (60%).….but, not some nights and Saturdays when parking is free.

2. it was easy or very easy to find a parking space the day they were interviewed (72%).….but, available spaces are difficult to find on-street, some nights and during snow events.

3. the pay stations in lots and on street are easy or very easy to use (66.7%)….but, not necessarily the first time you use them and user interface complaints were frequent.

Program Review Analysis – Survey Results

Most parkers surveyed responded that:

4. parking signage needs improvement (68%).5. the hourly rate for parking ($0.50/hour) is

reasonable or very reasonable (80%) with several respondents mentioning higher rates found in nearby cities like Lowell and Lawrence.

6. parking enforcement is fair and consistent (55.8%).

7. their overall satisfaction with the parking program either meets or exceeds their expectations (69.3%).

Program ReviewAnalysis – Survey Results

#1 response given for what parkers liked most about the Haverhill parking program was: convenience – or the ease of finding a parking space.

#1 response given for what parkers thought would improve their parking experience was: to add more parking spaces.

Program ReviewAnalysis – Survey Results Majority of parkers would be willing to pay more if:

1. parking spaces were made available closer to their destination (61.5%)

2. more parking spaces were added downtown (54.1%)

3. they could pay for and extend their parking session by cell phone (51.6%)

Program ReviewAnalysis – Survey Results Majority of parkers would not be willing to pay more if:

1. pay stations were replaced by credit-card accepting meters at each individual space (64.5%).

2. Parking improvements funded more downtown amenities like landscaping, lighting and sidewalks (65.6%).

Program ReviewAnalysis of Parking Utilization

Counts On-Street Results (M-F, 8 am-8 pm) August 12-16,

2014

Streets Exceeding Effective Capacity (85%+) Washington St. – 10 am to 8 pm Wingate St. – 10 am to 8 pm Granite St. – 10 am to 8 pm Essex St. - Noon to 8 pm Merrimack St. (2-hr free) – Noon to 4 pm

Streets Significantly Underutilized (less than 60% ) Merrimack St. (2-hr free) – after 6 pm Bailey Boulevard (all day free) – all day All Streets before 10 a.m.

Program ReviewAnalysis of Parking Utilization

Counts Off-Street Results (M-F, 8 am-8 pm) August 19-23, 2014

Lots Exceeding Effective Capacity (85%+) Haverhill Place Lot (permits only) - 8am to 4pm Merrimack St. Lot (2 hr free) – 10am to 4pm Washington-Wingate Lot – 6pm to 8pm Phoenix Row Lot – between 6pm and 8pm

Program ReviewAnalysis of Parking Utilization

Counts Off-Street Results (M-F, 8am-8pm) August 19-23, 2014

Lots Significantly Underutilized (less than 60% ) Haverhill Place Lot (permits only) – 30 spaces nearly empty after

6pm How St. Lot – 19 spaces in lot never used Cram Lot - 8 spaces nearly empty after 4pm Riverfront Promenade Lot – 28 spaces in lot never used Elliot Lot – 19 spaces nearly empty after 6pm Phoenix Row Lot – 50 spaces in lot never used before 4pm Locust St. Lot (permits only) – 14 spaces in lot never used Goecke Upper Deck – 111 spaces on upper deck never used after

4pm Goecke Lower Deck – 110 spaces on lower deck never used after

4pm

CITY POP. ONSTREET HOURLY

RATE*

CREDIT CARDENABLED

METERS

ONSTREET PAID

PARKING PERIOD

LOTSMONTHLY

PERMIT

MUNICIPALGARAGE

MONTHLY PERMIT

Brockton 93,100 $1.00 No** 8am to 6pm (M-F) $30 $40

Haverhill 61,800 $0.50 Yes 3pm to 8pm (M-F) $15 $15***

Lawrence 76,400 $1.00 Yes 8am to 6pm (M-S) $40 $55

Lowell 108,500 $1.00 Yes 8am to 6pm (M-S) N/A $64

New Bedford

94,900 $0.75 Yes 9am to 6pm (M-S) N/A $35/$47

Salem 42,200 $1.50 Yes 8am to 6pm (M-S) $25 $65

Somerville 77,100 $1.00 Yes 8am to 8pm (M-S) $100 $50

* Highest effective hourly rate**City planning to upgrade to credit-card enabled meters***Herbert H. Goecke Jr. Municipal Parking Deck

– Lowest Rate/Shortest On-Street Paid Parking Period

– Highest Rate/Longest On-Street Paid Parking Period

PARKING RATES IN COMPARABLE MASSACHUSETTS CITIESAs of September 30, 2014

Program ReviewMajor Findings 1. The overall satisfaction rate with the current parking

program is good (69.3%).

2. There is generally enough off-street parking most times with the exception of certain nights, Saturdays (when parking is free) and during snow events.

3. On-street metered parking is at a premium during both free and paid parking periods between 10 am and 8 pm.

4. Virtually all streets and lots are underutilized prior to 10 a.m.

5. During peak periods, there is an imbalanced use of the public parking supply (i.e. some streets and lots are over effective capacity while others are underused).

Program ReviewMajor Findings

6. Different on-street vs. off-street pay periods and payment methods can be confusing to the customer.

7. Parking signage and markings need considerable improvement.

8. The existing pay stations have some functional short-comings that can make them difficult and frustrating to use.

9. Parkers consistently seek, and are willing to pay more for strategies that will add new parking spaces or make existing spaces more available.

10. Haverhill has the lowest hourly parking rates of the comparably-sized MA cities surveyed.

Program Review

Major Findings

11. The$0.50/hour meter rate is insufficient to cover the on-going operating/capital replacement costs associated with the credit-card accepting pay stations.

12. The Harbor Place Development is projected to increase demand on the public parking supply by 60 to 70 parking spaces during the weekday, lunch-time, peak period. This projected demand will increase use of the Goecke Deck and parking spaces on Merrimack Street.

Program ReviewRecommendationsExpand Effective Use of the Existing Parking Supply

1. Add 21 off-street parking spaces by expanding the Haverhill Place Parking Lot.

2. Add 19 on-street parking spaces by converting the parallel spaces on the south side of Bailey Boulevard to angle parking spaces.

3. Increase the effective number of on-street parking spaces by eliminating painted parking stalls.

4. Install additional 15-min. paid parking spaces at appropriate locations on-street and reduce short-term spaces in the lots.

Program ReviewRecommendationsExpand Effective Use of the Existing Supply

5. Consider Tiered Permit Pricing to incentivize permit parkers to use lower-demand lots thus freeing-up higher-demand spaces. Consider a resident discount, free parking in Merrimack St. Lots after 5 p.m., and eliminating hang tags.

6. Consider Public Valet on Washington Street on Friday & Saturday nights and valet cars (parked in tandem) to underutilized lots (ex. Locust St., Riverside Promenade, etc.).

7. Develop shared-lot agreements to allow public use of private parking lots on Friday & Saturday

nights.

Program ReviewRecommendations Expand/Improve Customer Services

8. Implement Pay-by-Cell Phone service to allowcustomers to pay for and extend parking timeremotely within allowed time limits.

9. Consider introducing Merchant Validation.

10. Expand bicycle access & parking opportunities at appropriate locations.

11. Initiate planning with the MVRTA for a possible “Main Street Shuttle” to link commuter rail service, parking facilitiesand destinations within the business district.

Program ReviewRecommendationsSimplify/Standardize Parking Program

12. Improve functionality and user-friendliness of pay stations by: - Installing awnings to reduce glare & provide cover from

rain/sun- Improving pay station signage/instruction plate- Converting to Pay & Display in lots- Promoting 5-minute customer grace period

on expiration.

13. Standardize on- & off-street meter pay periods, payment methods and corresponding signage

- 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (M-F). Consider Sat. in future - Pay & Display for on-street and off-street parking- Unified sign system (i.e. lot name, hours of ops.,

fee, time limits, branding, etc.)

Program ReviewRecommendations Sustainable Pricing & Enforcement

14. Increase the on-street hourly parking rate to $1.00 and off-street hourly rate to $0.75 to ensure that the program is self-sustaining.

15. Replace manual ticket writing with an electronic/wireless handheld system integrated with the Pay Station’s management system, Permit Program and Pay-by-Phone.

QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION