Parking Meter increase for Ridley Park.

Comment

Comment by Kenneth Harper on January 17, 2011 at 8:55pm

Hi Alica, the council hasn't passed an increase for the meters. There are some meters on Chester Pike that need to be changed to a higher rate.  While looking at this, we are looking at all meters in the borough.  We have heard already from many of the business owners in the CBD.  I myself have spoken with the owner of the 711.  He is a business owner with a giant headache over this, whenever there is parking problems in downtown RP, he gets people who want to use his parking lot to run in to the state store. This happens because there isn't any parking spaces.  Also people will park there to run into Double Decker to pick up their orders.  I do realize that parking is needed for the businesses in Ridley Park.  In earlier years, the borough council missed out on a greeat opportunity to purchase a property in the business district so it could be used for a parking lot.  Now business owners are upset with PA-DOT over the plans for the new railroad bridge.  It seems the borough will lose 9 parking spaces.  I hope to see plenty of residents at the council meeting Tuesday night.

Comment by Alicia O'Donnell on January 17, 2011 at 8:10pm

You didn't indicate what the borough council wants to increase amount of the fee.  Media, PA (Everyone's Hometown) has free parking on Saturday and Sunday.  Just a thought.

Another thought for next Winter Season, the town of Wellsboro, PA holds a Dickens Weekend every year, it is very successful for the business district and a lot of fun if advertised correctly - AND the business participate.  I have a contact I can share with you in Wellsboro.  This person created this event and ran it successfully for quite a few years.  It has grown ever since.  Something to think about ... Alicia O'Donnell

Comment by Rebecca Clemmer on January 17, 2011 at 11:35am

Linda, it seems to me that a fair number of the spaces near the train station (on the Gaslight side) are shorter than 12 hours.  I remember being quite frustrated by that and posting about it months ago.

Comment by Linda Shockley on January 17, 2011 at 10:53am

Jim,

Actually the parking spaces around the train station allow parking for either 10 or 12 hours, I forget which, because they are FOR train commuters.

Comment by Jim Walls on January 16, 2011 at 2:56am

Also, Howard, I believe the spots around the train station are limited to 2 hours to keep Septa commuters from parking there, but I could be wrong.

Comment by Jim Walls on January 16, 2011 at 2:53am

Howard and Kenneth, here's how I understand the big cities go about it:

 

If more than 85 percent of the spots are full most of the time during peak hours, it's an indication that the meter rates are too low. They then raise the rates incrementally until they get around that 85 percent mark. It's trial and error. In the city, free parking is usually scarce, so people are faced with a choice: park in a garage (and pay a premium), or drive around and wait for a metered spot to open up. That's why cities can charge a lot for meters; they're still cheaper than paying for a garage.

 

Parkers in Ridley Park face a different choice: park a block or two away (where there's no meters) and hoof it, or pay for a meter in a convenient spot. If RP can raise the parking meter rates and people are still parking, then the rate hike is probably acceptable to most people. If the rates go up and a lot of spots are sitting empty, then it's a sign that people would rather park elsewhere and walk. Simple supply and demand.

 

I've heard some blame business troubles on a lack of parking in the Central Business District. I've lived here 10 years, and have never had a problem finding a parking spot. In my opinion, it's the types of businesses and the location of our business district (not being on a main thoroughfare) that are to blame, not the parking. But a retail specialist or urban planner would be better to speak on this.

Comment by Linda Shockley on January 15, 2011 at 5:20pm

Parking costs at Crozer Chester is based on their parking garage, which is costly compared to meters: $3.00 for the duration of a typical medical test or doctor's appointment. And they don't even validate.  Every time I have to go into their parking garage, I think "The doctor had better not be running late or I'll pay a King's ransom to get my car out of here."

Comment by Hollywood 151 on January 15, 2011 at 10:54am

Remember Taylor has both employee and visitor parking. The question of how much to charge for parking meters at Taylor may be to learn the visitor parking rates at the other CCMC hospitals. I'm sure the same medicines are the same cost at their hospitals, how about their parking costs for visitors?

Comment by Howard McCoy on January 15, 2011 at 9:28am

Great comment Jim. "Curious: Is that $80,000 bottom line revenue, or does meter maintenance, enforcement, etc. come out of that?"  Ken Harper should be able to fill us in more about that.

 

I have a few questions about the 85% occupancy with regards to the three types of parking in RP and how the 85% occupancy is determined. The three parking situations I'm aware of are; parking around Taylor, parking around the train station, and parking in the CBD (Central Business District)  "the general rule of thumb is they should be priced to maintain roughly 85 percent occupancy throughout the enforcement period. That is, if more than 85 percent of the spots are occupied on average, the rates are probably too low."  To ask my question I making a broad assumption about the nature of the parked vehicles, but I think you'll get my drift.

 

Around Taylor, couldn't less than an 85% occupancy also mean there were fewer folks visiting the sick, and couldn't and occupancy greater than 85% mean there are lots of visitors at visiting hours? Assuming there is very limited parking and the occupancy at the meters around Taylor is 100%, are you saying that increasing the parking rates would increase the parking occupancy around Taylor?  I imagine if the parking meters were $2.00 per hour there would be lots of empty spaces, but how would we judge what price increase is effective and fair to the Borough and Taylor's visitors?

 

Around the train station I'm unfamiliar with our parking meter rates but if I assume that the drivers parking there are commuting on the train, how would the Borough apply the 85% occupancy rule if the number of commuters doesn't change ?  Is there another rule that applies to commuter parking?

 

And last, the CBD parking.  I think there are special considerations in our CBD and the need to hear from the RP Business Association to fully understanding the parking needs of their different businesses; in & out shopping, lateral business shopping, and client appointments, etc.  Shoppers at the State Store are in an out in minutes, while customers getting a shampoo at Patricia's or at Daisey's need to park their cars in the CBD a lot longer. At night the parking changes to taproom patrons along with in and out food pickups.  How would the 85% occupancy rule apply to the different daytime and nighttime parking needs in the CBD?  Thanks

Comment by Gina Newman on January 14, 2011 at 8:51pm

As a business owner, FREE parking in the business district would be my preference, but to raise parking meter fees in this economy is just WRONG!  We are trying our best to keep customers.  We have to compete with big box stores with huge, free parking lots.  Give us a break!!

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