HomeMy WebLinkAboutTrans 2016-08-15 Item 2E - Handout Distributed at Meeting - King County Metro Park and Ride Issues: Metro ConnectsAccess to Transit, continued
Parking analysis
Park - and -rides provide auto access to transit, and by
concentrating rider demand they allow Metro to serve
low- density areas more efficiently.
Metro provides service to 130 park- and -rides across
the county that have a combined total of more than
25,000 parking spaces. Metro and other transportation
agencies own or lease these facilities.
Use of park- and -rides is growing, and many are
frequently full or nearly full.
To identify where expansion of parking is most critical,
we analyzed the transit access zones and Sound
Transit's plans to expand parking. Sound Transit has
proposed building more than 10,300 parking stalls in
King County as it expands the regional transit system
through 2040.
Metro analyzed the number of additional stalls that
would be needed in each zone in the future, taking
into account dramatically expanded bike and walk
access to transit in medium- and high- density zones.
The analysis suggested the strategies listed at right for
transit parking.
What we've heard about access to transit
As we conducted outreach for this plan, Metro
consistently heard from city staff and elected officials
about the need for more parking options at major
transit centers and park- and - rides. We also learned
from our 2014 Rider - Non -Rider Survey that only
34 percent of customers are satisfied with
park- and -ride availability.
The online survey conducted in summer 2015
supports the transit access zone approach because
it found that priorities varied across the county. For
example, parking was more important to Eastside
respondents then those from other areas. Parking
was the lowest priority for low- income respondents.
METRO CONNECTS proposes to expand all access
options according to local priorities.
50 SERVICE QUALITY INVESTMENTS
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• High- and medium - density zones (1 and 2):
No new parking capacity for high- density zones and
limited parking expansion for medium - density zones.
• Low - density zones (3): Some expansion of
transit parking.
• Lowest - density zones (4): Parking is expected to
continue providing an important means of access.
Using this analysis, METRO CONNECTS envisions the
addition of more than 13,500 new parking spaces to
support anticipated future ridership. These parking
spaces are recommended by corridor.
Approximately two - thirds of the suggested future
expansion is accounted for by Sound Transit's
proposed projects. If METRO CONNECTS is fully
implemented, Metro would consider partnering to
provide approximately 3,300 additional parking stalls.
Our parking strategies would be prioritized as follows:
Manage parking supply:
• Increase efficiency, for example by promoting
carpools and real -time ridesharing or marketing
underutilized lots.
• Implement permits and payment for parking,
making it easier for customers to find spaces.
• Improve bicycle and pedestrian access to
park- and - rides, for example through better
bicycle parking facilities and walkways.
Increase parking supply using relatively
low -cost solutions:
• Restripe existing lots to create more spaces.
• Lease more lots, especially in the short term, before
we could expand frequent service as proposed or
build permanent park- and - rides.
• Use multifamily and commercial Tots, which often
have parking available when transit parking
is in high demand.
• Add on- street parking, working with cities to
minimize impacts.
RTC Packet Materials Page 220
Build new parking facilities:
Compared to investments in expanding and enhancing
service, construction of parking is more expensive
for the ridership it generates. This will be a lower
priority strategy.
As we consider future park- and - rides, we would
coordinate with affected jurisdictions and consider
costs and needs, local partnerships, the service
network, and other options for accessing transit.
For more information
See Appendix D for more detail on access to transit,
including estimates of parking by corridor.
What would it take?
• Make near -term improvements to parking
access and information. Continue monitoring
park- and -rides and pursuing strategies to make
the best use of existing resources — including
using technology to provide real -time information
to customers about parking availability and
options for reserving a space.
• Develop partnerships to improve access to
transit. Work with local cities, King County's
Department of Natural Resources and Parks,
and other partners to create high - quality trail
connections, sidewalks, and bicycle facilities at
bus stops and transit centers. Partners could
help identify, design, permit, and build access
improvements; assist in leased -lot negotiations;
and contribute financially. Metro could provide
funding to jurisdictions through grants or other
mechanisms and help develop grant proposals.
RTC Packet Materials Page 221
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