Nestrans Regional Parking Strategy

NETCF31st October 2011

Regional Parking Strategy

Aim: To agree a policy framework under which actions can be delivered at a local level to ensure parking supports the wider objectives of the RTS.

The way in which parking is managed impacts significantly on the performance of other services, particularly public transport and the performance of the local economy in general.

How is car parking dealt with currently?

Aberdeen City Council is responsible for:

Maintenance and management of all on-street parking, as well as a number of off-street car parks, including length of stay and charging restrictions;

– Over 5,000 off-street car parking spaces in Aberdeen City Centre

– Over 3,500 of these are commercially operated car parks and out with the Councils control e.g. Union Square and Loch Street

Enforcement of controlled parking zones and administration of resident, visitor and business parking permits.

Provision of park and ride facilities at Kingswells and Bridge of Don

Setting parking standards for new developments based on a zone system which considers proximity to the city centre.

How is car parking dealt with currently?

Aberdeenshire Council is responsible for:

Maintenance and management of 109 car parks with some 4,000 spaces;

Just over 1,100 spaces are pay & display and the remainder are free;

On-street parking spaces are restricted by time only and are not pay & display;

Parking permits are offered to residents who live within defined zones;

Enforcement of on-street parking is the responsibility of the Police, not the local authority;

Provision of park and ride facilities at Ellon.

Setting parking standards for new developments.

Similarities, differences and interdependencies between the two areas

Both aim to ensure reasonable availability of off-street and on-street parking for short and long term demand;

Both aim to encourage faster turnover of spaces in city centre and town centre locations to enable access for shoppers and customers throughout the day and longer stay parking at out of centre locations;

Aberdeen City suffers from issues of congestion and air quality to a far greater degree than areas in Aberdeenshire

Parking policy in the city affects city and shire residents alike with a large proportion of Aberdeenshire residents travelling into the city for employment and leisure.

Availability of free private non-residential parking at workplaces;

Availability of public transport as an alternative to car travel is much greater in the city than in Aberdeenshire

Parking infrastructure maintenance and renewal

Plentiful supply of free / cheap / unrestricted parking in city and town

centres and workplaces

All day commuter parking leads to

limited turnover of parking spaces

Vitality of local shops and businesses affected as

customers cannot access parking

Reduces attractiveness of

region for shoppers and

businesses

Encourages travel by single occupancy car use

(particularly for commuting trips)

Congestion on the road network across the region

Poor air quality

Increasing health problems amongst

the population particularly

Reduced punctuality and

reliability of buses

Declining patronage

Increasing bus fares

Comparative cost of car vs public transport worsens

Undermines viability of local bus services

Disincentive for mode shift

Obstructions caused by parked / loading vehicles

Historical planning decisions (including parking zones, edge of

city developments, parking standards at new developments)

Safety implications for existing road users

Other key issues to consider

Contributory issues Private non-residential parking

– Approx 46,000 PNR spaces in the city region almost all providing free parking

Cost of parking– Can be a barrier to mode shift if parking is too cheap or bus fares deemed

too expensive Business permits

– Enable long stay parking in short stay spaces Parking and loading restrictions

– Enforcement

Other key issues to consider

Park and Ride

– Impact of city centre parking policy on the success of park and ride

New developments

– Maximum parking standards Parking infrastructure

– Maintenance and replacement of pay & display machines

Cycle parking

Regional Parking Strategy - Draft Objectives

To support the economic vitality of the city and town centres and the wider objectives of the Regional Transport Strategy through a balanced approach to the management of car parking.

To support and influence increases in the proportion of journeys undertaken by sustainable modes, particularly by bus and rail.

Questions:

Do you agree with the issues identified and draft objectives?

How can Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire use the provision, management and control of parking to meet the two proposed objectives?

Thinking about what is already done, what could be done differently or better?

What policies and actions should be included in the ‘Toolbox’ of the Regional Parking Strategy?