Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - I work for Mayor Nenshi, ask me anything!

Bunk · 01-04-2013, 04:07 PM

The is no perfect parking policy for LRT stations.

When it was completely free, demand far outstripped supply and there was zero revenue stream to maintain the parking lots. Everyone also showed up at exactly the same time to try and secure a spot. When it was $3 flat few liked that either because of the cost and inconvenience - and there was lots of illegal parking in adjacent communities to skip out on the fee. When it went to reserved it meant a relatively small supply of free spots so people had to show up early for that privilage, but it meant people could pay for the luxury of showing up later. People percieve the reserved spots as "always being empty" because they are showing up earlier than many of the reserved parkers. In fact, Transit's stats show that there is an average utilization of the reserved spots of 90% Mon-Thurs - and slightly lower on Friday. Remember that after 10:00am anyone can take up an empty reserved spots for mid-day trips. The benefit of the split system is that it actually spreads the rush hour out - which reduces congestion at peak times. It also provides some revenue to maintain the station.

Again, the current situation is not ideal, but nor is free, and nor is $3 flat. Parking isn't an unlimited commodity and is very, very expensive to provide - especially in the parking garage format like at 69th Street.

Also, some people are not aware that the first level of the parking garage at 69th street is actually parking not for the LRT, but for the high school - which also fuels this perception that sometimes the "reserved" spaces are empty sometimes.

01-04-2013, 04:07 PM	#191
Bunk Franchise Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Exp:	The is no perfect parking policy for LRT stations. When it was completely free, demand far outstripped supply and there was zero revenue stream to maintain the parking lots. Everyone also showed up at exactly the same time to try and secure a spot. When it was $3 flat few liked that either because of the cost and inconvenience - and there was lots of illegal parking in adjacent communities to skip out on the fee. When it went to reserved it meant a relatively small supply of free spots so people had to show up early for that privilage, but it meant people could pay for the luxury of showing up later. People percieve the reserved spots as "always being empty" because they are showing up earlier than many of the reserved parkers. In fact, Transit's stats show that there is an average utilization of the reserved spots of 90% Mon-Thurs - and slightly lower on Friday. Remember that after 10:00am anyone can take up an empty reserved spots for mid-day trips. The benefit of the split system is that it actually spreads the rush hour out - which reduces congestion at peak times. It also provides some revenue to maintain the station. Again, the current situation is not ideal, but nor is free, and nor is $3 flat. Parking isn't an unlimited commodity and is very, very expensive to provide - especially in the parking garage format like at 69th Street. Also, some people are not aware that the first level of the parking garage at 69th street is actually parking not for the LRT, but for the high school - which also fuels this perception that sometimes the "reserved" spaces are empty sometimes. __________________ Trust the snake.