Tag Archives for: Economy

ParkNews.biz Week of Jan 12th-18th, 2021 – Will raising taxes or fees on parking help or hurt the economy?

January 18, 2021

ParkNews.biz Week of Jan 12^th-18^th, 2021 – Will raising taxes or fees on parking help or hurt the economy?

This week, Hartford, CT is in the news due to the city’s “considering an expanded fee on private commercial parking lots and structures that mimics some of the important features of a land value tax.”

Two articles address the issues: Jan 18, 2021 – Higher parking lot licensing fees in downtown Hartford, CT sought to spur redevelopment, but opponents just see the cost of parking going up and Jan 18, 2021 – How to Stop Giving Parking Developers A Free Ride.

In the first article, “John Q. Gale, an attorney in his second term on the Hartford council, is proposing to raise the licensing fees private commercial parking lot operators must pay to the city every other year. Right now, the fees range from $500 to $1,000, but under Gale’s proposal, the fees could jump to $29,000 or higher for the biggest lots downtown.”

Gale believes that it will give developers an incentive to find different uses for the land currently occupied by parking lots.

However, many believe that such an increase would come at a wrong time when we are striving to get over the pandemic and revive the economy.

“Alan Lazowski, chief executive of LAZ Parking, which owns, leases or manages 14,000 spaces downtown, said he expects the higher fees would boost parking rates in a city where parking already is perceived as expensive. He’s also troubled about the potential effect on apartment renters downtown that have been growing in number in recent years.”

In the second article, Donald Shoup is mentioned and his The High Cost of Free Parking. Shoup’s premise is that by giving so much land to cars we weaken our cities by taking away opportunities for interactions. However, how did it all change with the pandemic? The car ownership is growing and people need spaces to park.

As JVH wrote in his Jan 5th, 2021, “cars are freedom” and “how can we help?” Still the opponents of personal cars and parking such as The Parking Reform Network’s Tony Jordan says: “. . . parking stall fees are good policy because they would contribute simultaneously to several important policy objectives. Parking stall fees, particularly surface stalls, will encourage better uses of urban space, which I think is a big consideration in Hartford. Per stall fees internalize more of the costs of someone’s decision to drive and raise revenue that can and should be used to encourage and subsidize other modes. The environmental and traffic benefits from mode shift are obvious.”

Diverse thinking is a wonderful thing. Yet, the key right now is to jump start the economy and get people back to work. And if they want to drive and park it is up to them.

“Downtown businesses, trying to hang on in the pandemic, are struggling with a dramatic drop-off in customers. Some worry that the potential for higher parking fees would hurt efforts to recover after the pandemic eases.”

Recovery right now is the ultimate and most important goal.

Sincerely,

Astrid Ambroziak

Editor, ParkNews.biz

Creative Director PT

Parking Today

310 390 5277 ext 9

astrid@parkingtoday.com

www.parkingtoday.com

PIE 2021
Renaissance Schaumburg Convention

Center & Hotel – Schaumburg, IL
May 17-19, 2021

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The Great Barrington Declaration and Focused Protection: Full Parking Lots, Churches, Airports – ParkNews.biz Oct 13 – 19, 2020

October 19, 2020

The Great Barrington Declaration and Focused Protection:
Full Parking Lots, Churches, Airports – ParkNews.biz Oct 13 – 19, 2020

Dreaming of a world where parking lots, airports, shopping centers, churches and other venues are full. LAX is getting ready for this world by approving a contract worth $303.3m with ABM Aviation to provide ‘smart parking’ services at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

“’Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Justin Erbacci said: “The new smart parking solution coming to LAX and the FlyAway terminal at VNY will transform the airport parking experience, providing our passengers and guests with more convenient, efficient and customised parking services.

“This innovative solution also will enable significant improvements such as streamlined entry and exit, contactless payment, clear wayfinding to open spaces, plentiful electronic vehicle charging, and will offer additional services that our guests have told us they want, such as advance reservations and valet parking.’”

Hopefully LAX and other airports will be in full swing soon. And their parking facilities will be packed.

Despite a lockdown in Los Angeles and eviction from their parking lot, Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA remains open. Read more about it in “Ending California’s Lockdown on Churches Is Compatible With Science and Good Health.” “ … there is very strong evidence that the health benefits of indoor worship services far exceed the alleged health risks of COVID-19 for this congregation, which has thus far experienced no illness or death associated with COVID-19. “

In other news, in Topeka, KS, you can pay at 1200 metered parking spaces with Passport App. Contactless and touchless and better experience for the parker. “Topeka is a growing City dedicated to serving its community and their parking needs,” said Passport’s Director of Municipal Sales, Kelsey Owens. “Passport is excited to partner with the City and provide the technology needed to improve the parking experience and to equip the City for the future.”

Touchless parking option also became available in Boynton Beach, FL. City leaders are encouraging customers to pay for parking with ParkMobile App now available at 400 off street parking spaces.

Another city where ParkMobile makes parking experience easier is San Diego. ParkMobile partnered with Diamond Parking and thus added 2,000 more parking spots throughout the city.

Access Professional Systems (APS) came to Arizona and became the state’s sole provider of TIBA Parking Solutions parking access and revenue equipment. “In addition to selling and installing TIBA’s industry-leading parking equipment, APS will also maintain and service all TIBA equipment installed in Arizona, including previously purchased equipment.”

In California, Prop 22 remains Uber and Lyft’s main focus. They are spending millions on campaign for Californians to vote yes on 22. The result of this race can change if we can afford take ride shares or not.

More and more cities are starting to enforce parking including Los Angeles. LADOT begun to give out tickets last Thursday. “Infractions that are now being enforced again include violations of overnight restrictions, peak-hour and anti-gridlock zones, and expired vehicle registrations, according to LADOT. Vehicle impounds have also resumed.”

Perhaps those parking tickets are small price to pay for things to be back to normal. And don’t we all want normal again? To be able to fly, to fight for a parking space, go to Church and even to get a parking ticket. After all there is a price to pay for everything. And often times, that price is worth it.