Neighborhood Parking Benefit Program Generates Mixed Reactions

Sam knew this was a controversial idea. Putting parking meters in a Neighborhood Business District in order to generate revenues to reinvest back into the District was the topic of  the book "The High Cost of Free Parking" by UCLA Professor Donald Shoup.

Sam first heard this idea at the 2005 Railvolution Conference. Sam realized that this could be an opportunity to improve our City's parking management. Demand for on-street parking to access neighborhood businesses exceeds supply. That means we need to be vigilant about ensuring effective parking turnover. The proposed addition of parking meters, which are proven to increase turnover, would make parking more efficient.

Another reason for consideration is that we are in a transportation funding crisis. With the current lack of funding for deteriorating transportation infrastructure as well as the many unmet safety needs in our Neighborhood Business District, Sam thought this idea was worth community consideration.

Initially proposed the idea of a Parking Benefit Program  to North Portland (St. Johns) and the Southeast Corridor (Belmont, Hawthorne, Division and Clinton).  Sam wanted to be clear about the conditions to have this conversation:

• This program would not be forced on the district. The community would make the decision whether or not to implement this program.
• Any net revenues from this program would be re-invested back into the district. You get to chose what you want to do with the revenues.
• We will be open and transparent about the cost of the program before you make a decision. Having this information will be critical for your decision.
• The Bureau of Planning will be conducting a customer survey in the district to provider additional analysis. For example, the survey could provide customer leaking information.

What was the feedback from the community? North Portland was interested but did not implement the program because there wasn't sufficient parking demand in the district.

In the Southeast Corridor, the Hawthorne Business District and the surrounding neighborhoods were concerned that it would drive away customers. They were clear in expressing that Hawthorne would lose their identity if they were to implement this program. In the end, the community decided against implementation.

Community Partners

• St Johns Boosters
• Hawthorne Business Association
• Belmont Business Association
• Division/Clinton Business Association
• Alliance of Portland Neighborhood Business Association
• Richmond Neighborhood Association
• Sunnyside Neighborhood Association
• Mount Tabor Neighborhood Association
• Buckman Neighborhood Association
• Southeast Uplift
  
• Hosford-Abernethy Neighborhood Development

Media Mentions

• "Idea would expand pay-to-park sphere," Oregonian, March 7
• "Plan for meters not an easy sell," Portland Tribune, May 30
• "Pay to Park," Portland Mercury, August 17
• "Parking meter idea trips on Hawthorne," Oregonian, August 24
• "Hawthorne folks return a meter plan to sender," October 17
  

Weblogs

• Neighborhood Parking Benefit Program
  
• BLOG: "The High Cost of Free Parking"
• Neighborhood Parking Benefit Program Summit
• Parking benefit program: the conversation has just begun.
• Sam's power point regarding parking in Hawthorne Neighborhood.
  

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