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2022-07__Northampton Parking Policy__Summary Report-FULL1 The Shifting Role of Parking in Downtowns Prepared for City of Northampton June 2022 Jason Schrieber, AICP Erin Cameron Senior Principal Associate Stantec’s Urban Places | Urban Mobility Group Integrated Mobility Services Contents 2 THE SHIFTING ROLE OF PARKING IN DOWNTOWNS | CITY OF NORTHAMPTON Introduction Findings Parking Price Structure Utilization 2015 Downtown Northampton Parking Management Study Best Practices Parking Pricing Shared Parking Wayfinding Transportation Demand Management Recommendations Introduction 3 THE SHIFTING ROLE OF PARKING IN DOWNTOWNS | CITY OF NORTHAMPTON In Spring 2022, the City of Northampton asked Stantec’s Urban Mobility Group to review the parking price structure of the downtown parking supply, share best practices, and make recommendations for a better parking management and pricing system. This study precedes an effort to redesign Main Street and identify new curbside uses, which may remove several on-street parking spaces. On June 13 and 14, Stantec met with community members and business owners to understand the concerns and parking needs in Downtown Northampton. The virtual meetings were a forum for discussion about accessible parking on and around Main Street, time restrictions and parking fees, and the potential future for parking in Northampton. Evident in the data and public perception, the parking system (inventory, utilization, appropriate regulations and pricing) in Downtown Northampton is changing –as are best practices in parking management. Stantec considered these changes, along with an expressed need for accessible parking along Main Street, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, post-pandemic activity patterns in Downtown Northampton, and changing future parking demands. This report summarizes the findings, best practices, and recommendations for the parking system in Downtown Northampton. 4 Downtown Northampton Parking Findings THE SHIFTING ROLE OF PARKING IN DOWNTOWNS | CITY OF NORTHAMPTON 5 E. John Gare Parking Garage Downtown Parking* Gothic Street Parking Structure* 430 Spaces | Open 24 hours •Short Term •$0.75/hour (1st hour free) •Long Term •$90/month parking permit (~20% of supply or 90 permits sold in 2019; waitlist for additional sales) 43 Spaces | Open 5 pm to 6 am •$0.75/hour •Only accessible on weekends and after 5 pm on weekdays (designated City and Courthouse parking only 6 am to 5 pm) 538 Metered On-Street Spaces | Enforced 8 am to 6 pm •Main Street and Craft Ave | $1/hour (2-hour max) •All other streets | $0.75/hour (2-hour max) ~1,000 Spaces in Municipal Lots | Enforced 8 am to 6 pm •Short Term | $0.75/hour (3-hour max) •Armory Lot, Masonic Lot, Strong Lot •Long Term | $0.25/hour (no max)•Round House Lot**, Old South Lot**, Hampton Lot**, James House Lot**, West Street Lot**, Strong Lot, Union Station Lot **$45/month parking permit parking allowed in select long-term lots; additional long-term parking at 10-hr. red meters in various places *Pay using Pay-By-Plate Kiosks OR parkMobile THE SHIFTING ROLE OF PARKING IN DOWNTOWNS | CITY OF NORTHAMPTON Inventory Downtown Parking Options 6 SOURCE: https://northamptonma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6563/Downtown-Parking-Map-July-2019 ROUND HOUSE LOT HAMPTON AVENUE LOTS ARMORY LOT UNION LOTMASONIC LOT Facility Type Inventory Price Per Hour Main Street / Craft Avenue 164 $1.00 Other Streets 355 $0.75 EJ Gare Garage 1st hour free 430 $0.75 Gothic Street Structure 43 $0.75 Short-Term Lots 225 $0.75 Long-Term Lots ~600 $0.25 GARE GARAGE STRONG AVENUE LOT GOTHIC ST GARAGE JAMES HOUSE LOT THE SHIFTING ROLE OF PARKING IN DOWNTOWNS | CITY OF NORTHAMPTON Inventory Downtown Parking Price Structure, 2019-2022 7 SOURCE: https://northamptonma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6563/Downtown-Parking-Map-July-2019 ROUND HOUSE LOT HAMPTON AVENUE LOTS ARMORY LOT UNION LOTMASONIC LOT Facility Type Inventory Price Per Hour Main Street / Craft Avenue 164 $1.00 Other Streets 355 $0.75 EJ Gare Garage 1st hour free 430 $0.75 Gothic Street Structure 43 $0.75 Short-Term Lots 225 $0.75 Long-Term Lots ~600 $0.25 GARE GARAGE STRONG AVENUE LOT GOTHIC ST GARAGE JAMES HOUSE LOT THE SHIFTING ROLE OF PARKING IN DOWNTOWNS | CITY OF NORTHAMPTON While slightly tiered, the difference in parking pricing is not enough to encourage those who are able and with more price elasticity to park remotely in the garage or off-street parking lots. This leaves too much pressure on Main Street, negatively impacting those who need front-door access or will pay a higher cost for convenience. Findings Downtown Parking Price Structure, 2019-2022 8 THE SHIFTING ROLE OF PARKING IN DOWNTOWNS | CITY OF NORTHAMPTON Findings Downtown Northampton’s parking revenue is short-term, customer focused. 0%10%20%30%40%50%60% $275k Monthly Permits $492k E.J. Gare Garage $100k ParkMobile ~83% of parking revenue comes from hourly parking fees,collected in garage or at kiosks, meters, and the ParkMobile application. Therefore, parking management should be focused most on customer parking. $823k Meters + Pay Stations 9 SOURCE: Downtown Northampton Parking Management Study (Walker), April 2015, pp. 8-12 Utilization Wednesday Parking Occupancy, 2014 On-Street Public Parking Main Street | 164 spaces counted Daytime: 78% (128 occupied) Evening: 70% (114 occupied) Other | 355 spaces counted Daytime: 69% (244 occupied)Evening: 77% (276 occupied) Off-Street Public Short-Term | 225 spaces counted Daytime: 61% (137 occupied)Evening: 79% (178 occupied) Long-Term | 816/938 spaces counted Daytime: 81% (661 occupied) Evening: 45% (429 occupied) Off-Street (Private) | 1,239/1117 counted Daytime: 64% (797 occupied) Evening: 42% (469 occupied) THE SHIFTING ROLE OF PARKING IN DOWNTOWNS | CITY OF NORTHAMPTON 10 SOURCE: Downtown Northampton Parking Management Study (Walker), April 2015, pp. 8-12 On-Street Public Parking Main Street | 164 spaces counted Daytime: 78% (128 occupied) Evening: 70% (114 occupied) Other | 355 spaces counted Daytime: 69% (244 occupied)Evening: 77% (276 occupied) Off-Street Public Short-Term | 225 spaces counted Daytime: 61% (137 occupied)Evening: 79% (178 occupied) Long-Term | 816/938 spaces counted Daytime: 81% (661 occupied) Evening: 45% (429 occupied) Off-Street (Private) | 1,239/1117 counted Daytime: 64% (797 occupied) Evening: 42% (469 occupied) THE SHIFTING ROLE OF PARKING IN DOWNTOWNS | CITY OF NORTHAMPTON Parking utilization data for downtown Northampton indicates a healthy level of utilization across the entire study area. Findings Weekday Demand is Healthy 11 SOURCE: Downtown Northampton Parking Management Study (Walker), April 2015, pp. 8-12 Utilization Saturday Parking Occupancy, 2014 On-Street Public Parking Main Street | 164 spaces counted Daytime: 75% (124 occupied) Evening: 90% (147 occupied) Other | 355 spaces counted Daytime: 76% (268 occupied)Evening: 78% (278 occupied) Off-Street Public Short-Term | 164 spaces counted Daytime: 74% (167 occupied)Evening: 84% (188 occupied) Long-Term | 938 spaces counted Daytime: 76% (624 occupied) Evening: 69% (647 occupied) Off-Street (Private) | 1,239/1117 counted Daytime: 44% (554 occupied) Evening: 50% (554 occupied) *Evening was selected when there were two events at the Iron Horse and Academy of Music. THE SHIFTING ROLE OF PARKING IN DOWNTOWNS | CITY OF NORTHAMPTON 12 SOURCE: Downtown Northampton Parking Management Study (Walker), April 2015, pp. 8-12 On-Street Public Parking Main Street | 164 spaces counted Daytime: 75% (124 occupied) Evening: 90% (147 occupied) Other | 355 spaces counted Daytime: 76% (268 occupied)Evening: 78% (278 occupied) Off-Street Public Short-Term | 164 spaces counted Daytime: 74% (167 occupied)Evening: 84% (188 occupied) Long-Term | 938 spaces counted Daytime: 76% (624 occupied) Evening: 69% (647 occupied) Off-Street (Private) | 1,239/1117 counted Daytime: 44% (554 occupied) Evening: 50% (554 occupied) *Evening was selected when there were two events at the Iron Horse and Academy of Music. THE SHIFTING ROLE OF PARKING IN DOWNTOWNS | CITY OF NORTHAMPTON Public parking on Friday and Saturday midday and evening peaks is on average nearly ¾ full, leaving under 400 spaces empty. Prime parking areas especially along Main St. are frequently 100% full; yet spaces located more remotely in surface lots or the top level of the garage are empty. This disparity in demand immediately suggests that current pricing is not encouraging the use of these remote spaces adequately, suggesting that higher prices on Main Street and lower prices in remote areas are appropriate. Findings: Public Parking Peak Period Demand is High, but Capacity Remains On-Street Public Parking Main Street | 164 spaces counted Daytime: 75% (124 occupied) Evening: 90% (147 occupied) Other | 355 spaces counted Daytime: 76% (268 occupied)Evening: 78% (278 occupied) Off-Street Public Short-Term | 164 spaces counted Daytime: 74% (167 occupied)Evening: 84% (188 occupied) Long-Term | 938 spaces counted Daytime: 76% (624 occupied) Evening: 69% (647 occupied) Off-Street (Private) | 1,239/1117 counted Daytime: 44% (554 occupied) Evening: 50% (554 occupied) *Evening was selected when there were two events at the Iron Horse and Academy of Music. 13 SOURCE: Downtown Northampton Parking Management Study (Walker), April 2015, pp. 8-12 THE SHIFTING ROLE OF PARKING IN DOWNTOWNS | CITY OF NORTHAMPTON Findings: Private Parking Underutilized Private Parking is a Significant Reserve During these same peak Friday & Saturday periods, private parking is far less utilized. When daytime employees have gone home, there are well over 600 empty private parking spaces within a short walk of Main Street that are currently not accessible to paying customers of downtown. This only increases perceptions that more parking needs to be built when in fact available spaces are a simple regulation or legal agreement away. ~1,000 Off- Street Public (3/4 full) ~1,200 Private (1/2 full) ~500 On- Street Over 600 empty spaces Evening Parking Supply & Demand 14 THE SHIFTING ROLE OF PARKING IN DOWNTOWNS | CITY OF NORTHAMPTON Turnover does not ensure availability Parking turnover is more of a catch phrase then a valuable parking management goal. Cars may turn-over frequently, but if they simply park again somewhere else to avoid a time-limit or parking ticket, they are still occupying available parking. Merchants and customers alike want the same thing: to find available parking near the point of transaction. Findings: Over-Reliance on Time-Limits Downtown users are focused on turnover, rather than availability 50% available Still 50% available All cars turn-over 15 THE SHIFTING ROLE OF PARKING IN DOWNTOWNS | CITY OF NORTHAMPTON When convenient parking is free or very low cost, people will do what they can to park there, including move their car every hour or two to avoid a ticket. Curbs become hunting grounds with low or zero availability. However, if there is a fee high enough to make a price-sensitive driver consider a cheaper, more remote alternative, sufficient availability can be created for those who need front-door access. Findings: Pricing Is Not Being Used Correctly Downtown users are focused on turnover, rather than availability Price adjustments to match demand “Demand-Responsive” Pricing Findings 2015 Downtown Northampton Parking Management Study Parking Management Recommendations, Implemented Since 2015 16 Implemented Recommendations •Increase rate on Main Street to $1 per hour (from $0.75) •Increase time-limit on Main Street to 2-hours (from 1-hour) •Increase time-limit in the Armory Lot and Masonic Lots to 3-hours (from 2-hours) •Pay stations make change and take credit cards at all surface lots •Sponsor a university contest to develop a downtown parking app (now use pay-by-plate with ParkMobile) •Upgrading to pay-by-plate meters (allowing off-street parking to be controlled by price more than time limits) Other upgrades •Refreshed parking wayfinding signs and added three smart signs for garage availability (2 on Main street , 1 on Pleasant street) •Increased the number of free 15-minute parking spaces •Expanded Roundhouse parking lot, adding 20 spaces to parking inventory (replacing 22 spaces lost in Pulaski Park expansion) •Removed five parking spaces on Main Street to improve crosswalk safety THE SHIFTING ROLE OF PARKING IN DOWNTOWNS | CITY OF NORTHAMPTON 17 Short-Term •Increase rate on Main Street from $0.75 to $1 per hour, and increase by $0.25 annually to get to $1.50 •Enforce Main Street parking restrictions from 9 am to 8 pm (not 8 am to 6 pm) •Consider joining lots on Masonic Lot block to increase supply •Work with businesses to explore options to make more efficient use of underutilized lots •Retain a signage and graphics consultant to improve wayfinding (some parking signs updated in-house) •Perform site studies to understand options and costs for potential garage sites •Work with businesses for a Downtown Valet •Consider cheap permit in peripheral lots for students in downtown trade schools (limit permit span to school hours) •Increase parking fines and ensure adequate enforcement Long-Term •Phase out the free hour in the garage Parking Management Recommendations, Not Yet Adopted THE SHIFTING ROLE OF PARKING IN DOWNTOWNS | CITY OF NORTHAMPTON Findings 2015 Downtown Northampton Parking Management Study Short-Term •Increase rate on Main Street from $0.75 to $1 per hour, and increase by $0.25 annually to get to $1.50 •Enforce Main Street parking restrictions from 9 am to 8 pm (not 8 am to 6 pm) •Consider joining lots on Masonic Lot block to increase supply •Work with businesses to explore options to make more efficient use of underutilized lots •Retain a signage and graphics consultant to improve wayfinding (some parking signs updated in-house) •Perform site studies to understand options and costs for potential garage sites •Work with businesses for a Downtown Valet •Consider cheap permit in peripheral lots for students in downtown trade schools (limit permit span to school hours) •Increase parking fines and ensure adequate enforcement Long-Term •Phase out the free hour in the garage Parking Management Recommendations, Not Yet Adopted 18 THE SHIFTING ROLE OF PARKING IN DOWNTOWNS | CITY OF NORTHAMPTON The 2015 Downtown Northampton Parking Management Study by Walker Parking Consultants made recommendations that are aligned with industry best practices. These recommendations should continue to be implemented, alongside recommendations from this study (presented later in document). Findings 2015 Downtown Northampton Parking Management Study 19 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY Best Practices Parking Pricing Shared Parking Supply Wayfinding Transportation Demand Management 20 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY Best Practices Parking Pricing Parking Pricing Remove Time Limits + Use Pricing to Manage Availability 21 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY Time limits are not customer-friendly, as it does not encourage long stays. If parking availability is consistent, time limits are unnecessary if a parking system focuses on availability –not turnover. The most effective parking management systems manage demand in the high-demand areas by pricing parking higher, and do not price where the demand does not exist. Local places that have removed or lengthened time-limits and use tiered pricing: •Salem •Haverhill •Pittsfield •Concord •Watertown •Lawrence •Nashua •Boston Parking Pricing Case Study: Salem, MA 22 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY When on-street parking cost $0.50 per hour, the streets were full –giving the perception of not enough parking, despite nearby lots and garages being empty. In 2010, it was $0.50 on-street and $1.50 in garages. Streets were jammed and garages empty. Parking Availability Parking Pricing Case Study: Salem, MA 23 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY By increasing the cost to $1.50 per hour, people who wanted to park longer used lots and garages and the street was available for quick trips and people who needed the near access. After 2012, street meters were tiered by distance, from $0.50 to $1.50. Garages dropped to $0.75 and $1.00. Demand balanced out, while the perception of no parking went away. 24 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY Pittsfield, MA Implemented tiered pricing, higher on Main and lower off Main. New signage made navigating Downtown from cheaper off-street lots and garages easier. RED ZONE $1.00/hr GREEN ZONE $0.50/hr Nashua, NH Implemented tiered pricing to promote use of remote spaces and support downtown improvements Parking Pricing Case Studies: Pittsfield, MA and Nashua, NH BLUE ZONE $0.75/hr Parking Pricing Case Study: Haverhill, MA 25 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY “What has taken so long, to implement what seems to be common sense!!” “For once in 26 years I have FINALLY been able to consistently find a space to park for the time I need to conduct business, shop, eat, or go to an appointment. and now without having to walk a few blocks.” “I have been downtown more often, with paid parking, than I had been before, when every available space was taken all day, every day by commuters.” “Actual Customers are finding it better and buying more!” Pittsfield, MA Implemented paid parking for first time in 50 years. Tailored hours to demand and removed time limits during pricing period. 26 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY Best Practices Shared Parking Supplies The application of best practice shared parking management tools within Downtown Northampton can help unlock the glut of private parking spaces that go unutilized during peak demand periods. Practices such as the public leasing of private parking, public maintenance of private parking in return for shared access, revenue sharing agreements, and lot consolidation opportunities can make Downtown Northampton’s public parking supply increase without building any new parking. Why Shared Parking? Leverage Existing Supply to Avoid Significant Expense 27 THE SHIFTING ROLE OF PARKING IN DOWNTOWNS | CITY OF NORTHAMPTON $5,000/sp $30,000/spBuilding a parking space in a Downtown like Northampton can cost between $5,000 and $30,000. With nearly 1,000 empty public and private spaces at peak, limited resources are better allocated towards efforts that improve downtown and reduce parking demand in the future. 28 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY Typical parking requirements – exclusive by land use Shared parking allows a smaller footprint by recognizing different peaks in demand Source: Nelson\Nygaard Shared parking is good for business and the Downtown character, as it creates a larger general parking supply and does not require distinct parking for each use –fewer parking spaces can operate more efficiently, by encouraging a park-once mentality. In doing so, shared parking reduces concentrated parking pressure by using existing parking more efficiently. Why Shared Parking? Good for Downtown Residents, Businesses, and Visitors The benefits of the “staggered peaks” of different land uses’ parking demandThe benefits of “internal capture” and using one parking space for many purposes 29 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY 60,000 sf retail 10,000 sf office 700 residential units + + 1,150 spaces Land uses have unique periods of demand, meaning their peak parking demand occurs different points throughout the day. Sharing parking supplies allows for the most efficient use of a parking supply, distributing these “staggered peaks” of demand across the entire day. Why Shared Parking? Maximize Parking Supply Unshared Shared Why Shared Parking? Massachusetts Case Studies 30 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY Shared parking systems are found across Massachusetts and the United States. Arlington, VA 31 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY Best Practices Wayfinding Wayfinding Parking Signage 32 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY Signage should define clear rules, identify free and long- term parking, identify major points of interests, and guide pedestrians back to their car. Writing should be brief (140 characters or less) and large enough for a driver to read. 33 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY Best Practices Transportation Demand Management National trends are showing a decline in car ownership, indicating cities and towns need to plan for other modes. In Northampton alone, 11% of households do not have a vehicle. Adopting Transportation Demand Management (TDM) policies can help prepare Northampton to better accommodate people who don’t use a car, improve traffic, and reduce parking demand in the Downtown. Why Plan for Other Modes? Travel Patterns are Changing 34 THE SHIFTING ROLE OF PARKING IN DOWNTOWNS | CITY OF NORTHAMPTON As travel patterns change, the demand for vehicle space in Downtowns is changing too. 35 Why Plan for Other Modes? So you can drive THE SHIFTING ROLE OF PARKING IN DOWNTOWNS | CITY OF NORTHAMPTON Cars on Street People in Cars People on a bus People on bikes Downtown Northampton needs to accommodate people –not cars. 36 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY Rideshare Services Micro-Transit Reserved dock totem Bikeshare E-Scooters Reserved dock totem Why Plan for Other Modes? Main Street can be a terminal for more than parking. 37 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY Recommendations To maximize availability and customer access, the following best practices apply: 1.Price parking on a block-by-block basis to achieve an optimal utilization 2.Lengthen or remove time limits 3.Parking spans and durations should be as flexible as possible 4.Main Street will never have enough parking in an active downtown like Northampton –focus on incentivizing people to park elsewhere through pricing 5.Rethink parking enforcement 6.Remember the other uses of our curbs 7.Do not forgo necessary front door access for those with different abilities Remember: parking pricing should not be a tax; it is a mechanism for helping customers get what they want in places where demand exceeds the available supply. 38 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY Price parking on a block-by-block or facility-by facility-basis to achieve an optimal utilization of approximately 85%, or one out of every eight spaces available. In peak hours, Main Street is at full capacity and off-street lots are significantly below 85%. This observation can be reversed by adjusting pricing, rather than supply. When front door “Main Street” spaces are priced higher, more remote and less utilized spaces can be priced cheaper, or in times of low-demand, free. Parking Pricing Best Practices | Recommendations 01. Price Parking on a block-by block basis to achieve optimal utilization 39 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY Parking Pricing Best Practices | Recommendations 02. Lengthen or Remove Time Limits Time limits do not produce availability but do discourage customers from coming back to a downtown. When customers get a ticket or simply fear getting a ticket (unaware of the low parking violation fines), they are unlikely to stay Downtown for long periods of time. Time limits cannot satisfy everyone’s different parking demands at the same time. However, everyone is sensitive to pricing. By pricing off- streets lots lower than Main Street, people looking for parking are more likely to use Main Street only for short-term trips. 40 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY Parking Pricing Best Practices | Recommendations 03. Parking Spans and Durations Should be Flexible People who are seeking parking when demand is high should be allowed to pay for prime spaces, especially along Main Street on a busy Friday or Saturday night. Conversely, if morning demand is low, meters should not turn on until times when demand warrants. Customers should only pay for the time that they park. This means that at a $2 per hour meter, a stay of only 15 minutes should only cost $0.50. A long stay that spans into a time of lower demand should not be charged for the hours of lower demand. 41 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY Parking Pricing Best Practices | Recommendations 04. Main Street will never have enough parking in an active downtown like Northampton’s Main Street will never have enough parking in an active downtown like Northampton’s. Main Street is less than 10% of the total downtown supply, yet it is home to over 75% of the customer demand. Main Street's parking supply challenges are unlikely to be solved in a foreseeable future by automation, such as self-parking cars or robotic garages. For that reason, a more management-based approach is compatible with user expectations typical of today. Main Street businesses function successfully because the vast majority of customers walk from other locations besides the spaces directly in front. One out of 10 might be lucky enough to park on Main, but everyone else parks on side streets, lots and the garage. Recognizing this simple reality can help change the conversation from one about adding supply (and its impact on better street functions) to one about efficiently managing what you have (which has hundreds of vacant spaces today). 42 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY A vital customer asset like parking should not be subject to heavy penalties and enforcement. Best practice communities use parking ambassadors instead of officers to educate and help parkers find available parking easily, as opposed to giving them tickets. If a penalty is being used to encourage better behavior, consider the best practice of demand- responsive parking pricing rather than parking fines. Parking Pricing Best Practices | Recommendations 05. Rethink Parking Enforcement 43 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY Parking Pricing Best Practices | Recommendations 06. Remember the other uses of our curbs Main Street is about so much more than parking cars, which remain empty and stored motionless 90% of the time, while the life and vitality of Main Street navigates around them. Dining, shopping, loading, bicycling, transit rides, taxi trips, rideshare activity, food delivery, dog-walking, relaxing and conversing, and even just watching are just the tip of the iceberg for any Main Street’s function. Good parking management programs accommodate all of these other, more vital, functions, knowing that most cars are parked in off- street lots. When a single parking space can serve dozens of daily deliveries, thousand of dollars of restaurant sales, hundreds of parking cyclists, or a healthy and planted open space, the value of storing an idle car in a prime location is easy to weigh. 44 NORTHAMPTON DOWNTOWN PARKING POLICY STUDY For those with different abilities, having a level and nearby parking space can be the difference between visiting Main Street or forgoing essential services. Proximate parking for handicap or other specially- permitted parking is fair and often essential. With newer parking payment technologies, those with difficulty paying using the ParkMobile application or pay-by-plate kiosks can work with merchants to secure needed front-door parking. Additionally, front-door access needs to be provided for anyone who feels they need close parking, whether they have a visible or invisible, temporary or long-term disability, or are accompanied by small children. Parking Pricing Best Practices | Recommendations 07. Do Not Forgo Necessary Front Door Access 45 Thank you!