On parking downtown
Betsy, so you all know, is my hero.
Thus, reading her blurb on parking inspired me to think a bit about the current state of parking downtown.
Recently, I was in Seattle, and had to park my car on the street. There, the cost was about $2 an hour, and I almost had a fit.
On my recent roadie to California and other states, parking in San Francisco was about the same. I cursed the whole damned place.
So, from that viewpoint, the recent raise in parking rates from $95 to $1.25 isn’t all that bad.
Of course, I rue people who try to justify changes here by what is happening everywhere else.
Portland, just a couple of years ago, started installing solar-powered parking meters that take cards and change and issue a sticker. Claims made at the time were that city coffers would be boosted by less jamming and easier enforcement, and also by the removal of excess time left on meters that people monopolized on.
On the heels of that, raising fees by 25% seems questionable to me. If Portland justified the new parking meters by making more money off of them, and little else has changed, why raise fees downtown now?
Especially in a time when we need to be working harder to open downtown up for shoppers, visitors, and others who bring revenue to us. I was at a conference this week and heard a local politico state, I think accurately, that our taxing system is screwed up, and we rely heavily on revenue flowing into our state from out-of-state sources (like tourists). That said, shouldn’t we be making downtown easier for tourists to access and enjoy?
On to Smart Park. Why are they raising costs? It’s obvious to me that, given a choice between street parking at $1.25 and garage parking for $.95, most people will opt for the garage, especially when they can get some of that time paid off by local merchants. If I owned a parking garage, I’d be thinking of reducing my rates to $1/hour, or so, to increase business. Sure, you could do the $1/hour for the first 4 hours thing, and then mess with people later. But, at least give people an option, and make that option attractive.
I agree with the thought that raising the level of inconvenience (or cost) for a person driving downtown will encourage more ecologically friendly modes of transport (bus, MAX, streetcar, bike, walking, etc). However, in a city so obviously reliant on tourism (marketing ourselves, and correctly so, as an ideal location to enjoy a beautiful city and to have great access to beaches, mountains, and the like), we need to remember that, for tourists, ease of transportation is key to optimizing their enjoyment, which builds our reputation through word of mouth and optimizes our potential.
That, my friends, was a rant… But what do you think?
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My understanding from reading The O’s story was that the increases in street parking will go directly to subsidize the planned improvements along 5th and 6th avenues.
Not so the SmartPark increase, though - it’s going to improve signage and remove garbage cans.
I do agree with you that if they wanted to encourage use, they’d keep their rates lower than the street parking prices. But what can you expect from an operation that thinks eliminating garbage cans will lead to cleaner garages? (Yeah, that part still sticks in my craw - can you tell?)
The city needs revenue. People are leaving the city and goind to the suburbs. Despite what I may think about the financial mess Portland is in, the city commissioners are doing their best.
I honestly don’t kow why a sane person would want to be a Portland city commissioner but I honestly believe they are trying to the best job they can.
Sometimes paying a little extra for parking is a good thing for everybody.
Since I’m the only person (probably with good reason) I know who has been kicked off Portland Metroblogging this comment may not go through.
But the revenue from the SmartPark increase isn’t going to the city. It’s going towards ‘garage enhancements.’
(Yes, imagine I’m waving my fingers in the universal sarcastic quote sign language there.)
Oh, and John? We don’t censor, edit or delete material here - posts or comments (save for spam, of course.) As you already know, of course.
I like a good argument, even when I’m losing it. And man, I’m losing this one. I was under the impression that the SmartPark increase was going to the city. I guess I was wrong.
The following between stars was provided by the Portland Business Alliance.
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Parking: Activity at the City of Portland’s SmartPark Garages was up compared to last year in December with a 2.4 percent increase in tickets and an 8.6 increase in gross revenue.
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If this is true, I don’t see why they would need an increase. But if they do I’m sure Betsy will keep me updated.
I wonder what “I’m waving my fingers in the universal sarcastic quote sign language” means. Maybe it means you’re a pioneering capitalist hoping Portland buys PGE.
Well, unless they tell you what last year’s figures were in more detail (and a larger context), it’s entirely possible that they’re just putting a favorable spin on what still might be an underperforming operation.
An 8.6 increase in gross revenue means nothing if operating costs increased 25%, for example. Or if last year’s gross revenue figures were abysmally low.
And let me try to explain the sign language bit.
Raise your hands up close to your ears. Read the sentence I wrote again, only use your index and middle fingers to act out the quotation marks. Don’t forget the sarcastic wrist flip.
See what I mean?
I would think that after reading about how they (whoever “they” may be) are trying to entice people downtown through whatever means they are using (after the shooting and the bad rep downtown apparently has) that it would be sort of counterintuitive to go “yeah, come downtown, it’s great and fantastic and wonderful! Oh, and if you can even FIND a parking space, it’s gonna cost you more than it used to because we want you to come downtown SO MUCH!”
It doesn’t add up for me, but that’s just me.