Parking Meters come to Glenwood and Downtown

The N&O reports that 32 years of free downtown parking is coming to an end in October. 140 pay stations will dot downtown streets accepting coins and credit cards at the rate of one dollar an hour.

The city plans to charge fees only on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. But in Glenwood South the metered hours might be expanded to include evenings, Dash said. Parking will still be limited to 15 or 30 minutes in some busy spots, but most places will allow longer stays.

Because credit and debit cards carry processing costs, Dash said, the minimum plastic payment will be $1. Motorists who want to park for less than an hour can use coins to pay in small increments - for example, 5 cents for 3 minutes, 10 cents for 6 minutes, 75 cents for 45 minutes (no pennies).

N&O

shelly04/14 09:42 AM

that’s sad.

hackles1004/14 10:10 AM

This should really help street level retail/restaurants. People squat and park all damn day downtown in different areas. This should increase the use of decks, flow of cars, and availability of parking for those of us that want to use it for short periods of time!

Poogans04/14 11:32 AM

“This should really help street level retail/restaurants.”

Yeaaaah. Because lord knows the thing that’s keeping me from Glenwood South is 2 bucks for parking, not the total absence of anything remotely interesting to do there that doesn’t involve me dropping a wad of cash on mediocre food.

Where’s my stroll district, Raleigh?

hackles1004/14 11:40 AM

No- the thing thats keeping people from going downtown is the lack of street level parking. If you are unfamiliar with the area the deck location and parking can be stressful.

More street level parking spots = more people coming downtonwn = more retail and “remotely interesting things to do” on the street level = increased opportunity for your “stroll district”

Old guy04/14 12:03 PM

This is wonderful.

Betsy04/14 12:24 PM

That’s good. It will incent use of deck spaces by those who are downtown for employment or regular business, while freeing up on-street spaces for convenience and short visits (retail, restaurants, errands).

There are multitudes of unused parking spaces downtown—the problem is distributional, not quantitative—and this is the most effective single move that the city can make to address the distributional problems.

GD04/14 12:49 PM

Its crazy to hear people complain about parking in downtown Raleigh…

Raleigh has 40k spaces..
Chicago has 3 million ppl in downtown and they have 42k spaces…
San Fran has 20k spaces..

yeah we got it soooooo tough here.

hackles1004/14 01:43 PM

^I would like to see some stats/links to back those factoids up….Im not buying it one bit.

Where are raleigh’s 40k spaces? you counting the whole RTP?

GD04/14 02:33 PM

These facts came from the director of the urban design center during a networking meeting last week. Pretty reliable source..

hackles1004/14 02:36 PM

Well, sounds like BS to advance some sort of agenda. There is no way that Chicago has only 42k spaces and raleigh has 40k. Unless he is doing some serious Gerrymandering to make those stats work!

hackles1004/14 02:46 PM

To support my point, a quick count on downtown Chicago Parking Authority website gave me about 200 individual parking decks. In raleigh I can think of about a dozen offhand. Also, the largest deck in chicago based on a 2008 survey holds 3800 cars (or stalls). Just do the math.

orulz04/14 02:47 PM

Regardless of the stats, many of the DT parking decks never even get close to filling. There are way, way more spaces than people realize. They just think “Parking is not as obvious downtown than it is at Harris Teeter, therefore that must mean there aren’t enough spaces.”

Raleigh should completely eliminate the parking minimums in the zoning code for all downtown development. DT Raleigh could get by just fine with the public parking spaces it already has for probably the next 20+ years. DT residential condos would also be cheaper if the parking were optional. (Want a space? Fine - buy one. Don’t? Also fine, don’t buy one.) Let the market decide how much parking to build.

GD04/14 02:47 PM

Unlike most people on this site, I believe the majority of people are good people and that theres no hidden agenda. Believe what you wish, but I have never had a hard time finding a free space or a paid space in this city cause theres so much parking. A friend of mine who lived in Chicago also said the stats about Chicago are right, so believe what you wish as I am not trying to convince you as I don’t care to waste my time.

hackles1004/14 02:56 PM

^I have spent plenty of time in Chicago. It sucks parking there, and I trust that your friend feels the same way. Doesn’t mean your stats are correct or logical in the least bit.

Fact is, as most on this thread, I feel this is a good idea. The problem for parking in Raleigh is at the street level, and here, unlike places such as Chicago/San Fran/NYC, we are trying to lure more suburbanites downtown, and a major complaint from that set is parking. If they could drive down by Raleigh times and grab a spot by Stitch, I would imagine she would get more business. Its not that on a “whole” parking doesn’t exist downton…there is a ton of it compared to other cities, its just that certain desireable areas have a ton of squatters (usually employees/day workers) that take up spots from those that would spend $$$ downtown. Its the desire of the local gov. to free these spots, and I fully support them!

GD04/14 03:16 PM

I trust what was said because the person actually works with the city and with development. I see how much parking is downtown. Theres too much parking IMO. I’d say take away a couple decks and add buildings, but thats just me. I also don’t mind walking - as I often do, a couple miles to get downtown.

Lisa Jeffries04/14 04:10 PM

“Theres too much parking IMO. I’d say take away a couple decks and add buildings, but thats just me.”

Let’s get all the empty retail/commercial/residential/etc. spots filled, then we’ll talk.

Micah04/14 04:42 PM

Might some of the obvious logical discrepancies between Chicago and Raleigh parking stats be due to counting or not counting privately owned decks? I know in NYC and Chicago there are TONS of privately owned, for-profit parking decks. I was once on a planning board in NYC and we researched some parking figures that were given to us. They were making their figures match their development position by including the parking stall count of private decks with public spaces in one place, but omitting the private decks in the other place.

WiseOne04/14 06:21 PM

Parking was never free for me in downtown Raleigh, I will always get tickets. Ha ha, anyways… It’s not a supply issue it’s a use issue. We can build all the decks we want and people still won’t park in them. I don’t know why but maybe we are in the South and grew up with parking lots. Just like no one parks more than 20 blocks away and walks. I would think anyone familiar with larger metro areas thinks the parking problems is the same as the rush hour problem, not a big deal. Education or way-finding could part of the solution or how about getting rid of all street parking all together…that would get us in those decks.

chippa04/14 06:49 PM

Who really gives a shit how many parking spaces are in SF, or Chicago. LAst I looked, we all lived in Raleigh. If you want to split these hairs, Raleigh does not hold a candle to either of those cities in culture, sports, walkability, things to do, things to see, actual downtowns….........shall I go on? Raleigh is a third-rate city, and will remain that way, regardless of parking spaces.

J04/14 09:08 PM

chippa,

Surely your attitude (and language) have taken you far in life.

Since you appear to be so remarkably informed of Raleigh’s current status as a “third-rate city” but care enough about the parking issue to post within this thread, kindly propose how you would approach the downtown parking situation?

Moreover, since you seem to be so utterly disparaging of one’s attempt to look to another U.S. city in reference, kindly tell us after which other city should Raleigh model itself?

smitty04/14 10:32 PM

What is there to do in DT that only takes 15 minutes? Dropping off your parking fines?

smitty04/14 11:06 PM

From the McLaurin website:

“McLaurin Parking also has long-term solutions to meet with almost every need. Whether it’s starting from scratch, or turning a non-profitable operation into a money-maker, we can make it happen.”

DPK04/15 12:30 AM

@chippa: Apparently Forbes and lots of other people in America disagree with you.

http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/30/americans-moving-cities-lifestyle-real-estate-relocating.html

If you don’t like Raleigh so much, leave.

matt04/15 08:29 AM

Leave, or we’ll walk you to the outskirts at pitchfork-point.

chippa04/15 08:31 AM

Moreover, since you seem to be so utterly disparaging of one’s attempt to look to another U.S. city in reference, kindly tell us after which other city should Raleigh model itself?

Comparing Raleigh to SF, or Chicago is a laugh. That’s like trying to compare your old Toyota to a Maserati. If you want to compare Raleigh to a similar ‘burg, start with Cincinnati, or Dayton. The point I was making (in my own inimitable fashion) is it will be a long, long time before you can compare Raleigh to any of the elite cities in this country. Simply because Raleigh now has an entire 2-block area of night-life (Wow! 2 entire blocks!) is no reason to make such grandiose likenings. A bunch of strip malls, and half-filled pretentious condo building does not a city make.

Have a pleasant day, and a wonderful tomorrow.

chippa04/15 08:37 AM

Oh, DPK, I never said I did not like living here. I am just calling a spade a spade. This IS a great area, but this is no San Francisco. If you have never lived anywhere but Raleigh, I would understand your enthusiasm. But having lived in NYC, San Fran, and Seattle, I see things a little differently. Raleighs stature as a real city is lagging behind Providence, and Minn.-St. Paul for goodness sake. It will be quite a long while before anyone uses the phrase “Where should we go on vacation? NYC, SF….........or Raleigh”.

But of course, that does not mean I want to leave.

Ken Metzger04/15 08:42 AM

Well I think my old Toyota has more room in it, less property taxes, is more practical, and easier to maintain. If you want to drive a Maserati that is fine, but there is no need to disparage the very good car that an old Toyota can be.

CF04/15 09:25 AM

NYC, San Fran, and Seattle!!! Please don’t use your city slicker fast talk to swindle us yokels out of our life savings. Please, oh please, Mr Big City Man.

smitty04/15 10:29 AM

The re-emergence of retail in downtown Raleigh is still in a fragile state. Seems like restaurants are going out of business almost as fast as they are appearing. Why throw this impediment out there now? I understand the argument that free parking is ‘bad’ but I don’t think that the argument applies in such a small city where the burbs are a short drive. All this will do will enrich the city and McLaurin, and encourage people to spend their money in the burbs.

Ken Metzger04/15 10:49 AM

Parking will still be free in the evenings and on weekends. It is really hard to find a spot during the day right now. I tried to park for free yesterday, but there were no spots to be found. I also was able to park in a deck and was in and out under fifteen minutes, so as it turned out I did find a free spot. I do not see the lack of free spots during the day hurting anyone’s business. There are enough people around during the day to support businesses, but the city is hoping the on street parking for help people that are not parking all day.

oakcity04/15 11:15 AM

what about all of the state employees that work downtown, we all depend on that parking, granted we have to move our cars every two hour but still its better than nothing.

now not only will i have to move my car every two hours but now i have to pay for it too, this city has a HUGE base of clientele for local business right there under its nose. state employees get screwed again.

dtra04/15 11:35 AM

but we’ll have free wifi and the R-Line! everything is Free - except parking anywhere downtown! Yeah!!!!

ford04/15 11:58 AM

oakcity, that’s kind of the point.
eventually you aren’t going to have to pay for parking AND move your car every two hours, because you’ll realize that the parking decks around raleigh cost the same amount as the spots you’ve been parking in will, and you won’t have to move your car until you’re ready to go home.
this frees up the two hour spots for people running quick errands who aren’t going to be downtown 9-5, and gives you back the cumulative hour you spend every day moving your car.

ford04/15 12:16 PM

also, since you’re a state employee, my taxes are paying you during the hour you spend shuffling your car every day. i’d much rather see you spend that cumulative hour working.

arthurb304/15 12:34 PM

Welcome to the modern city you all have been waiting for!

Drew B04/15 12:47 PM

In one sense i have to agree with chippa above. it doesn’t make sense to use top cities as a comparison point in discussion here (either positively or negatively). so what cities should we be using? I decided to take it to wikipedia for an answer. Taking from the list cities from 1-2 times our size and 1-3 times our density (assuming both will go up and density is an older number) gives a pretty good list list of where we could be over the next 15 years. Some hilights from smallest to largest:

Minneapolis(a good example since it has a similar sister city as well), Omaha, Fresno, Portland OR, Denver(I see some similarities here), Seattle, Milwaukee, Austin, Columbus

ladye jane04/15 01:18 PM

I agree, it’s really annoying to watch people shuffle their cars around all day long taking up the spots that are meant for people who are downtown for shorter visits. The parking meters will help discourage this. They should keep the spots free at night though, when car shuffling isn’t a problem.

There are plenty of spots that are free that are just a short 5 minute walk away for people who work downtown and live too far away to walk or bike in.

TiberC04/15 02:02 PM

I recall a recent article that listed Downtown Raleigh as having some of the highest monthly rate parking in the region. Not to mention there are generally very few reserved and unreserved spaces available. Maybe that’s part of the reason for the car shuffling.
.....................
But why would there be that much car shuffling on Glenwood? Is there really that much day time corporate business happening in that area? Car shuffling central to Fayetteville St seems more plausible, but Fayetteville St itself is lined with 2 hour spaces. Hmmmm? “Yes! COME DOWNTOWN! And here are a load of 2 hr spaces to get you down here!!!” But on Glenwood there will be a different story, “Yes! COME DOWNTOWN! And here are a load of metered parking spaces to get you down here!” Completely duplicitous.
.....................
Give those shufflers some deck incentives, not street side discouragement.

packpigskinfan2504/15 02:21 PM

This might be the case already, I am not sure… but what could be a very nice “deck incentive” would be to sell a discounted monthly/yearly parking pass to the various decks…

k04/15 02:42 PM

At NCSU all the (state) employees must pay to park on campus. From all of my travels, to big and medium cities, $1/hr sounds pretty average. If your so concerned, carpool.

Imagine Raleigh04/15 04:34 PM

Does the McLaurin Parking website show any of the pictures or video they have of the certain city leaders who allow them to keep a tight grip on all of Raleigh’s parking?

Why not break up the monopoly so we can get a better price and service.

WiseOne04/15 09:40 PM

I’m going to say Raleigh is more like Sacramento, four layers of government all atop each other. We’re just another capitol city…and we still can’t park our way out of a paper bag.

ChiefJoJo04/17 09:57 AM

I concur with orulz & Betsy. Parking is market based similarly to land prices and should be valued as such. Just as downtown land values are the highest in the city, downtown on-street parking has the highest value, relatively speaking. Since this parking provides the most direct access to businesses sitting on that pricey land, it should be priced such that people are encouraged to (1) not use a car or (2) park off-street in cheaper parking decks (per hour) for longer stays. This frees up the most valuable on-street spaces for frequent short term visitors to patronize the businesses. BTW, we already do this at RDU with short term and daily parking rates and nobody seems to be crying foul there—same principal here.

Free parking, just like free land or free anything, does not truly exist. The “free parking” concept only masks the vast subsidy being provided for automobile use of public land, just like the vast subsidy the govt. provides for highway expansion.

The other piece of this is we have to get a decent transit system going so that downtown visitors have other choices. This is where the SF and Chicago examples are other-worldly compared to Raleigh. But, it should be emphasized that the relationship of scarce parking (as a policy of those cities) to high transit usage in those areas is not by accident. We need to cap parking availability in downtown along with a comensurate increase in transit availability. R-Line is a good start. More CAT/TTA bus frequency, amenities, and then light rail will all be a part of the overall picture so that a trip to downtown doesn’t have to be by car.

arthurb307/15 10:46 AM

The meters are a great idea because if you are parking for more than an hour or two you should park in one of the many decks!

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David Tuesday, April 14, 2009