AgdaPkt 2005-06-06 - Laserfiche WebLink

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�ff If parking is shared, a maximum of 10,808 parking spaces are needed at any one given time in our hypothetical downtown. If parking is not shared, due to a suburban setting or "Keep Out" signs, then the number of parking spaces needed is 15,000. So, just like the "park once" aspects of Downtown, shared parking is a tool that can dramatically lower the number of parking spaces needed in a very effective way, adding to the beauty and parking efficiency of the area. Can We Add Anv Inexpensive Spaces to Our Surplus? So, we know that we will have a small surplus of spaces during our biggest night, and that due to our "nice places" goals and the high cost of new garages, we must effectively manage our parking system rather than build major new parking facilities. However, it sure would be nice to have a little more of a surplus during those busiest times. Can we add a few more spaces cheaply? There aze a few options available to us to add a limited number of inexpensive spaces to our surplus. These options are all being explored by staff and some have already been used. Diagonal Parking On parking spaces are typically parallel spaces, meaning that parked cars face the same direction as traffic and are parallel to the curb. However, some streets have diagonal spaces which meet the curb at a 45 degree or 60 degree angle. Parallel parking lanes require much less roadway width-7 to 9 feet compared with 15 to 18 feet for diagonal parking lanes. However, diagonal spaces are much more efficient where the roadway width exists. Parallel parking can fit about 4.5 spaces per 100 feet of curb, whereas diagonal pazking can squeeze in nearly double that amount, or about 8.3 spaces per 100 feet of curb width. This efficiency is not gained by smaller stall sizes, but rather through a more efficient layout. There are several Downtown streets which have adequate curb-to-curb width to accommodate diagonal parking without losing travel lanes. Staff is inventorying these streets and how many extra spaces diagonal conversions may provide. In addition, there may be other opportunities for "road diets" as proposed by Dan Burden, where 41ane roads are reduced to 2 or 31anes in order to slow traffic and enhance safety and walkability. Such conversions would likely also provide the opportunity to add prime on-street parking spaces by using diagonal parking to fill the space freed up by the removal of traffic lanes. In addition to creating prime pazking for very little cost, these conversions would have the added benefit of slowing traffic, thus increasing safety for motorists and comfort for pedestrians. Shared Use Agreements The "biggest night" occupancy level of 92% stated above is a pretty alarming figure. That means that very few spaces will be available, much less than the 15% ideal. Will Downtown be able to paste g