Parking: Problem or Solution?

Lisa Salsberg Metrolinx

Manager, Strategic Policy & Systems Planning

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Metrolinx and GO Transit

Station access and parking management

The GO Transit Rail Parking and Station Access Strategy

Method

Key findings

Lessons learned

Overview

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The Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA)

6.7 million people today

8.62 million by 2031

30 municipalities

4 levels of government

8,242 km2

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was created in 2006 for the

purpose of providing residents and businesses in the Greater

Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) a transportation system

that is modern, efficient and integrated.

GO Transit PRESTO Union Pearson Express Three Metrolinx Operating Divisions

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GO Transit

Launched in 1967

2,000,000 passengers in first year

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GO Transit rail and bus service has grown

significantly… 62m

boardings in

2011/12 (rail

and bus)

7 lines and

62 rail

stations

444 rail route

kilometres

189 weekday

train trips

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• From a peak hour commuter service to a

regional rapid transit service (all-day, two-

way)

• 75 million passengers projected by 2016,

supported by an ambitious capital

investment program

• A revitalized, expanded Union Station

• PRESTO (fare card) will be in use on all

transit systems in the GTHA by 2016

…and continues to grow

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THE CHALLENGE OF PARKING: The Metrolinx Dilemma

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GO provides over 62,000 parking spaces

2.3 km2

430 football fields

More than 5 Disneyworlds

Larger than Monaco

Over the past ten years, GO has added approximately

2,500 parking spaces each year.

GO Rail Parking by the Numbers

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Balancing Competing Objectives

Customer service: Customers want more

parking and improved station access

The Big Move (Regional Transportation Plan)

goals include:

Increase transit & active transportation

mode share

Intensification around major transit stations

Asset maximization

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The Challenge of Change: Where are we starting from?

Source: 2011/12 GO Rail Passenger Survey

Current Modal Split

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

1999 2004 2009 2014 2019 2024 2029

AM Peak Rail Riders (forecast)

Historic Ridership

Historic Parking Supply

Drove Myself

60%

Carpool 3%

Kiss and Ride 17%

Bicycle 1%

GO Bus 2%

Local Transit

9% Walk 9%

Historic Ridership and Parking

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Parking Management at GO Transit Reserved Parking

Provides a guaranteed space for $80/month

4,000 reserved parking spaces (~7% of total parking supply)

Carpool to GO

Provides priority parking for GO passengers carpooling to the

station.

Currently operating at 5 GO Stations with 95 spaces and

slated for expansions in the coming year.

Bicycle Parking

All GO buses are equipped with bicycle racks

GO stations have parking available for almost 3,000 bicycles

Locked bicycle enclosures at Hamilton GO Centre and

Burlington Station and bike lockers at several other stations

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Pressures

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The GO Transit Rail Parking and

Access Strategy

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Objectives of the Strategy

Support ridership growth

Enhance the customer experience

Manage demand for new parking

Promote cost effectiveness

Support implementation of The Big

Move

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Overview of Method

The key questions for the Strategy :

What are the most effective options to meet GO rail parking needs and support ridership

growth?

What other actions or investments are required to support multi-modal access to stations?

GO Rail Parking Strategy

Parking Policy Statement

• Decision Making Framework

• Strategic Parking Forecasts

• Corridor Level Strategies

• Short Term Actions

• Pilot Programmes & Projects

• Recommendations for

Implementation and Phasing

Stakeholder

Engagement with:

• GO Rail Riders

• Province

• Municipalities

• Local Transit

Agencies

• Key Metrolinx /

GO staff

Evidence Base:

• Existing policies

and initiatives

• Site visits

• Customer

Surveys

• Data analysis

• Modelling

• Multi Account

Evaluation

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Key Findings - Strategic Needs and

Opportunities

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0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

100,000

110,000

120,000

130,000

140,000

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031

Parking expansion has facilitated ridership growth What is the relationship between parking and rail ridership?

Range of future

parking supply

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Station Site Review – Station Profiles What is happening on the ground?

Active Transportation

Over half of stations identified as having either too few bicycle amenities and/or lack safe

connections to access station

Transit Integration

Bus loop capacity issues impeding the expansion of local transit at some stations

Vehicle Access & Traffic

Customers often experience significant delays leaving the station (~half of stations)

Local traffic constraints identified as a major issue at a majority of stations

Issues with Kiss & Ride at about 1/3rd of stations – design, size, location, etc.

Parking

About 1/3rd of stations have readily available land to expand surface parking

About half of stations are at or above 95% occupancy, limited off-peak spare capacity

Land Use & Community

Shared parking opportunities - nearby municipal and institutional parking at several stations

About 1/3rd of stations have some development potential in the short-medium term

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Local Transit Service to GO Stations

Oshawa Station

Methodology:

• Identified neighbourhoods with concentrations of

GO passengers who are underserved

• Created recommendations to create better bus

connections:

• Better route coverage

• Serve origins and destinations

• Enhanced bus/rail schedule synchronization.

• Further consultation with local transit agencies

required

Case Study: Oshawa GO Station

• High ridership

• Constrained parking

• Multiple neighbourhoods with hundreds of

passengers not currently served by direct links

to the GO station.

• Recommendation: Several potential new routes

identified

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Parking costs of accommodating new riders What is the cost of providing parking and alternative modes?

Approximately five spaces for every ten riders in 1999 to seven spaces for every ten riders in 2012

With the same auto driver mode share, 40,000 new parking spaces would be required by 2031

little spare capacity across the network currently

limited land available / variations in land values and increased cost of structured parking over surface parking

constrained funding

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Customer Views: Private auto is often the quickest access mode

Survey of over 3,000 GO riders

Travel time is the key factor in access mode choice: Most customers choose modes to get them to the station in 15 min or less. Most local transit users are within 20 min.

Most GO Rail riders (80%) have access to a car

Potential for drivers to try other station access modes: approximately 30% of drivers are looking for better ways of accessing GO Rail stations

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Drive and Park

Kiss and Ride

Public Transit

Walk Total

Travel Time to GO Station by Mode

15 - 20 min

< 15 min

Note: Carpool and cycle modes excluded due to low

sample size.

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Core Aspects of the Strategy

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The New Strategy: Vision – The Future of the GO Transit Rail

Parking & Station Access GO Rail Parking and Station Access will be planned and delivered in an integrated, sustainable and financially efficient manner to grow ridership, enhance all customers’ experience and safety, and reduce the dependency on single-occupant vehicles.

Parking will be planned, delivered, and managed in collaboration with key local and provincial partners to support transportation and land use objectives for increasing the economic competitiveness of the GTHA, improving the quality of life of local communities, and contributing to the region’s environmental sustainability.

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Range of Parking Policy Options + Scenario Analysis

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

100,000

110,000

120,000

130,000

140,000

Historic AM Riders for GO Rail and Related Bus (including midday and contraflow)

Forecast AM Riders for GO Rail and Related Bus (including midday and contraflow)

Historic Parking Supply

Prioritize Parking Expansion

High Investment in All Modes

Balanced Investment in Parking Expansion and Alternative Modes

Prioiritze Alternative Modes

Prioritize

Parking

Expansion

Prioritize

Alternative

Modes

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1. Estimate ridership

growth & future station

access demand

2. Determine

appropriate form of

parking type

3. Assess technical

and financial feasibility

and policy alignment

4. W

orki

ng in

par

tner

ship

with

key

sta

keho

lder

s

Based on forecasting and long range

planning as well as on the ground

opportunities and constraints.

Includes set of critical questions to

consider:

• How much parking / other station

access modes is required to achieve

potential growth, and when?

• What type of parking is most

appropriate and feasible?

• How does this align with policy?

• What stakeholder support is available?

The New Strategy: Decision making framework to determine

the best approach at each station

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Moderating Parking Expansion: reduce automobile mode share

from 60% to 50%

Short Term

Strategic Forecast Medium Term Long Term

TOTAL NEW SPACES

2014-2032:

17,500-24,000

~7,500 – 10,000 at potential new

stations

~10,000 – 14,000 at existing stations.

Opportunities for

shared / structured parking and joint development are

maximized at existing stations.

Ridership

Parking Supply

Strategic parking forecast (High &

Low range)

Ridership forecast

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Implementing the Strategy – improvements to other access modes

1. Opportunities for improvements to station access infrastructure

2. Opportunities to improve local transit connections to GO Rail services

3. Program of Pilots recommended: 1. Shuttles

2. Station Travel Plans

3. Station Travel Pages

4. Station Catchment Analysis

5. Green Zone

4. Continuation of GO Programs to improve station access

➡Delivered in the short term, sustained in medium to long term

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GO Rail Parking Strategy

Rouge Hill

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Lesson Learned

Establish a collaborative process at the outset:

engagement throughout the planning process

for successful delivery to ensure attractive alternatives exist - short journey times and

timely connections

The need for a strong evidence base

Develop a system-level policy before detailed station-level recommendations

Station access proposals need to be tailored to individual station contexts

Considering different geographical scales of the network - allowed trade-offs to be made at a

different levels:

system level – between rail and ‘drive all the way’

corridor level – between stations

station level – between surface access modes

Considering and integrating all modes of station access - both infrastructure and marketing

and promotion

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www.metrolinx.com

Lisa Salsberg, Manager

Strategic Policy and Systems Planning

Lisa.salsberg@metrolinx.com

Thank you!