By Steve Hymon, April 1, 2015
The parking lot for the Green Line’s Norwalk Station has 1,792 spaces — and all of them are filled on most weekdays. Photo by Steve Hymon/Metro.
Why? The CVC doesn’t provide Metro much flexibility in
writing rules that are particular to the parking lots and garages at its
stations. In turn, that makes enforcement of the rules that do exist
somewhat difficult, particularly enforcement of non-transit riders parking at Metro stations parking facilities.
Thus, the draft parking ordinance posted above (it’s in
Appendix A) accompanied by a Metro staff report. In the coming
weeks, the ordinance will be circulated to the public for review. After
any necessary changes are made, it will be sent to the agency’s Board of
Directors for their approval.
If you read the ordinance, you’ll notice that a lot of attention is given to the issue of parking fees. While all non-reserved daily spaces at Metro parking lots are currently free, the ordinance provides guidelines on how the agency may impose more parking fees in the future — should it so desire.
Fees may also help manage demand for parking at some of
the most notoriously difficult parking lots in the Metro system in the
same way that parking meters and garages with variable pricing helps
balance supply and demand. Fees may also be a source of
funding expanded parking at the most impacted stations, as well as
helping restrict non-transit use at some lots and making lots safer.
A decision to charge for all parking would ultimately up to the agency’s Board of Directors. The
parking ordinance and fee resolution is currently being circulated for
review and will be considered by the Board in their April round of
meetings.
As part of the ordinance, there’s a Board resolution to
establish daily and monthly fees for preferred parking at some
stations (Appendix B on the above document). The fees are typically $4
for daily preferred parking and between $20 and $59 for monthly spots,
depending on the station location. This represents no change to the existing fees.
What do you think of parking at Metro stations? Is it
necessary? Or a necessary evil? Should parking fees be commonplace? Or
would that (pun intended) drive away would-be riders? Comment please.