The "Smart Parking" Proposal

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BART BUDGET CRISIS: TALC Provides a Solution...

THE "SMART PARKING" PROPOSAL

*Supported by: The Transportation and Land Use Coalition, the Sierra Club, Environmental Defense and a host of other transit, community interest, environmental, and consumer rights groups.

The Smart Parking Proposal is the most fair, just, and equitable solution to the current budget crisis. It could be implemented with some one-time innovative measures, such as lease/lease back programs or real estate sales, to avoid measures that BART cannot afford: service cuts or fare hikes.

This proposal will enhance parking space revenue in a way that provides new choices for parking lot users, and does the most to avoid fare increases and service cuts that would mean fewer riders.

Establish Initial Fees for all Parking Spaces
Parking spaces cost BART $1 or more per day in maintenance, patrolling and other costs. Every parking space must at least cover its cost. Depending on how full each individual parking lot is, the Smart Parking Proposal calls for an initial charge of $1 at those lots that do not fill up, and $2 in lots that are usually full. (Currently nine BART parking lots do not completely fill and would be $1 per space. The remaining 13 stations with parking would be $2 per space.)

Provide Small Percentage of Monthly Guaranteed/Reserved Space Parking Permits
Allow BART staff to provide up to 10 percent of lot capacity for reserved-space permits, at a higher rate than the non-permit spaces. This provides an important service to regular riders who cannot get to the station before the spaces are filled. Reserved-space permit fees can be as much as $3 per day greater.

Establish Trigger and Review
BART staff should be able to adjust the parking fees within established limits based on a capacity "trigger." Non-permit spaces should remain within a $1 to $3 per day range. Fees could be decreased (to no lower than $1) in lots that no longer reach maximum capacity regularly or increased in those that remain over-subscribed. Staff would report on proposed changes to the Board of Directors at least two weeks before such changes are implemented. This trigger is critical for maintaining prices that best reflect demand and do not discourage ridership. Fees should not be increased to $3 until the charges have been in place for at least six months.

Use Any Excess Spaces for Long-term/Airport Parking once the BART-SFO link opens
If there are any lots that do not fill under this parking fee structure, remaining spaces should be allocated to a long-term parking program to serve airport-bound riders.

Maintain Unpaid Parking after 10 a.m. and on weekends
Parking charges after rush hour and during the weekends is likely to discourage ridership on BART as these are often discretionary trips (a vehicle is obviously an option for the rider). Maintaining unpaid parking at this time makes it part of the Smart Proposal.