Author Description

In six simple steps, Downtown Parking Made Easy will show you how to review, manage, design and promote your parking system to ensure convenient parking for downtown shoppers and other visitors. Through case studies, detailed illustrations, a pricing matrix and list of contacts, you’ll find answers to your questions, including: How are other downtowns organizing and managing their parking systems? You’ll learn how downtowns are using parking authorities, parking districts and task forces to organize and operate their parking systems. How can I keep downtown workers out of the best parking spots? You’ll find out how downtowns are using creative incentives and information programs to keep workers out of customer parking. Plus, you’ll get a quick and easy formula for calculating the dollar value of lost retail sales when a prime parking space is used by a downtown worker. How can I publicize the availability of downtown parking? You’ll learn about validation programs, courtesy card programs, parking angels and more. You’ll learn where to advertise and when to offer free parking. Where should our downtown’s long-term parking be located? You’ll learn just how far the typical retail customer will walk to their destination. It may be farther than you think! You’ll get standards for recommended numbers of spaces, and see how Edinburgh, Scotland, and Syracuse, NY, are using parking zones outside of the city center. How should we set parking rates downtown? You’ll find a detailed matrix that will help you achieve your parking goals through pricing. You’ll learn when to increase rates, when to decrease rates, when to offer free parking or use discount programs. Throughout this guide you’ll find very specific tips and advice based on the experiences of downtowners like you. And you’ll find contact information so that you can network with downtowners who have solved the problems you’re facing right now.