Getting Downtown with Public Transit? (Park n Ride)

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Slava

I have nothing of substance to add, but that's ridiculous.

Not really. Seems like a tight time line, but when everyone arrives at the same time it's just the way it is.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Not really. Seems like a tight time line, but when everyone arrives at the same time it's just the way it is.

Well ya, but that's the the problem with free parking.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Slava

Well ya, but that's the the problem with free parking.

Yeah, I hate the current parking system, it's worse than any other system we've had. Now you have to get to the station super early to get a free spot, or pay for a whole month whether you need it every day or not.

There is no reason why we should allocate free scarce resources to those who happen to arrive early. I liked the $3 per day, it was equitable, and spots were available when needed.

[Rathji]

When I drove and parked at the CTrain, many years ago, I tried Bridlewood once or twice, but that was it.

Either take a bus to the train station, or plan on parking somewhere like Anderson or Chinook.

[Maccalus]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Yeah, I hate the current parking system, it's worse than any other system we've had. Now you have to get to the station super early to get a free spot, or pay for a whole month whether you need it every day or not.

There is no reason why we should allocate free scarce resources to those who happen to arrive early. I liked the $3 per day, it was equitable, and spots were available when needed.

The $3 a day parking pushed me off the train and into a car when I was going to school. It was hard to justify taking the train when I could drive and park at the university for $4 (or $2 with a carpool) when I was going (I'm sure the university parking rates have increased now).

I personally like the current system better because the people who pay no longer have to worry about getting to the station early for a spot. Also, for the midday parkers and students who go in later, they can use a reserved spot after 10 am, letting the car be an option all day long. It also doesn't discourage short trips as the daily rate was a flat rate.

It isn't perfect, but I prefer it to the old system. The number of reserved spots does need to be reviewed at some stations and rebalanced.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Maccalus

The $3 a day parking pushed me off the train and into a car when I was going to school. It was hard to justify taking the train when I could drive and park at the university for $4 (or $2 with a carpool) when I was going (I'm sure the university parking rates have increased now).

I personally like the current system better because the people who pay no longer have to worry about getting to the station early for a spot. Also, for the midday parkers and students who go in later, they can use a reserved spot after 10 am, letting the car be an option all day long. It also doesn't discourage short trips as the daily rate was a flat rate.

It isn't perfect, but I prefer it to the old system. The number of reserved spots does need to be reviewed at some stations and rebalanced.

Ultimately, you have to determine how to best allocate a scarce, publicly owned resource. The current system is give some to people who want to pay for a month and give some to whoever gets there first.

Anecdotal experience isn't terribly relevant, imo. But if we're going down that path, I can share one also. I typically take the bus or get dropped at the train station. However, there are some days when I'll need a car right after work, when driving to the train is key. I can't do that now without getting to Crowfoot at an ungodly hour, so I end up driving downtown, which has more externalities than someone driving to a school with ample cheap parking, imo.

Anyway, the current system is nonsensical and based on political expediency. Charging was the right call, but people don't like paying for things that used to be free, so now we have a frankenstein half system that is suboptimal for everyone, and leads to low utilization of the lots.

[bizaro86]

I also think the price of the lots should vary by lot, as the demand clearly does. An easy way to start this might be to charge more for the parkade spots at 69th st, they're pretty clearly more valuable than the outside spots.

Ideally, every lot should be priced so it just fills up every day. I suspect this would require some lots (Anderson, Franklin) to have lower prices, and the ones at the end of the line (Somerset, Crowfoot) to have higher prices than the previous $3.

[Northski]

Looks like bizaro86 beat me to it...

The correct thing to do is to charge the price necessary so that every park and ride lot fills up at about 9:30 am. Some park rides would be 5$ and others would 2$ while some would be free. The price in summer and on Fridays could be a bit cheaper as demand is lower. This way you maximize ridership as the lots are always full. Those transit users that have a good walk or bus will do that freeing up the lot for people with bad bus service. For every user who doesn't want to pay for the system you gain someone that will pay for the system. Plus Calgary transit get some revenue that can be used to improve the system. Monthly passes can also be sold depending upon demand at the station. Since the price will set so that there will still be vacant stalls at 9:00 am you don't have to have a special reserve area.