April 3, 2007 Parking Meeting Q&A and Zone Map
(Zone Map Updated July 2007)

Latest update of Lanier's proposal

Responses to Fan Residents Comments About Residential Parking Permit Program Review

Q. We are concerned about the recommendation to split the Fan Parking District into zones, and the lack of detail about the proposal?

A. The Fan Parking District has reached the size where the original purpose of the zone, which was to allow residents to find parking close to their residences, is being exceeded. We have observed that the program is serving other trip purposes, and such will only get worse as the district expands. Some residents are using the permits for more convenient parking closer to VCU and to adjacent commercial areas. We are including for residents’ review a draft map showing one possible scenario with zones.

Q. As a disincentive against illegal parking within the Fan, why not increase fines?

A. This is an excellent suggestion we think will help discourage parkers who seem repeatedly to be willing to accept citations. In the revised ordinance, which will be posted on this website, we will include a recommendation that fines for exceeding the time limit a residential parking district, without an authorized permit be increased from the current $20 to $75.

Q. Why not put the parking permit in a “hang pouch”?

A. First, we believe that decals should stick on and be reasonably permanent, to minimize some of the abuse we have seen with the Visitor’s Passes, which are movable. Secondly, it is our intent to try to move away from a decal system and to one in which the license plate itself is the permit. Residents may still be issued decals, but it would only be as an identifier among the residents themselves and not as the permit upon which enforcement is focused.

Q. Why not designate the spaces on the streets for only the residents?

A. These streets are public streets and not intended for the exclusive use of any individual, business or group. Further, such restrictions make it very difficult to manage visitor and service personnel who must use these streets.

Q. Why not more emphasis on use of transit?

A. The City is currently working with GRTC to develop a shuttle system which will serve the downtown as well as the university area. Our staff will also meet with GRTC to determine if there are other initiatives that might relieve parking demand in the neighborhood.

Q. Can bus stops be resized/eliminated to add more parking spaces?

A. Lanier will review all bus stops in the Fan Parking District to determine if there are any additional parking opportunities, and then make a recommendation to the City accordingly.

Q. Can Lanier work with VCU to encourage them to build more parking and manage the current parking better, including allowing faculty parking to be used in the evenings?

A. Although Council President Pantele indicated he already had had conversations with VCU, Lanier and City staff will meet with VCU to discuss these issues.

Q. Can enforcement of parking regulations be relaxed during periods when VCU is not in session?

A. Lanier provides limited enforcement on selected State and City holidays. Beyond that, we feel that one of good parking management’s guiding principles is that there should be even and consistent enforcement. In this manner, both Fan residents and frequent visitors will know and conform to the program’s expectations, and not be confused by shifting requirements.

Q. Can you provide more detail on the pay parking pilot?

A. Lanier will recommend that one block (two block faces) within the Fan be selected and pay parking be tested for a 90-day period. On these two block faces would be installed new high-technology “paystations” – one in the center of each block face. The purpose of the test would be to determine if they would help, through a pricing strategy, to regulate non-resident visitors (residents with decals or passes would park free). We also want to see if the public can accept and easily use the machines, which accept credit cards, cash, coin, and give change. We do understand that a pilot in such a limited area may push some of the parkers who formerly parked there to other blocks, but in a pilot where the hardware alone will cost $25,000-$30,000, we cannot justify the test over larger area. We are interested in such impacts, and will be monitoring these results. These findings certainly will play a role in helping to determine a larger pay parking zone, should the pilot be successful and the pay program be expanded to a wider area.

Lanier Parking Solutions encourages any additional comments/questions about the City of Richmond’s Residential Parking Permit Program.

Contact information is provided below.

Randy Jones
Senior Vice President
Lanier Parking Solutions, LLC
(404) 290-9108
rjones@lanierparking.com

Proposed Fan Residential Restricted Parking District
Zone Roadmap
Updated July 2007

Notes:

1. There are some straggler blocks that are not shown on the diagram (i.e. 00-block S. Morris St
2. Some blocks within the zone are not in the restricted parking district (i.e. 1600-block Grove Ave)
3. If blocks are not in the district, they will not be added at this time (i.e. 1600-block Grove Ave)
4. No street in the district will have one zone to the east and another to the west, each street will be in the same zone, boundaries will run in the alleys.
5. Dotted line indicates the western boundary of the present district. Stretts west of the dotted line will only be added by request, Meadow Street would be the limit of extension if the zone were to grow that far west by request.