Transportation System Plan 2018-2038

Chapter 12 Parking Management Overview This chapter addresses the Transportation Planning Ru le requirem ent that local governm ents adopt land use and subdivision regulations to reduce relian ce on the autom obile through the use of parking managem ent strategies. The TPR requires that these regulations implem ent a parking plan that “achieves a 10 percent reduction in the number of parking spa ces per capita in the MP O area over the planning period” (OAR 660-012-0045 (5)(c)). This reduction can be achieved through a variety of means including a reduction in the num ber of new parking spaces, redevelopm ent of existing parking spaces for other uses, or other strategies. This chapter includes a discussion of the state and regional goals and re quirem ents for parking managem ent, identifies key issues with respect to existing parking practices, identifies opportunities for alternative m anagem ent practices for both the on- and off-street parking supply , sum marizes current city parking practices, and give direction for future parking m anagem ent practices. Policy Context and Background It has long been known that the availability of free pa rking in our cities has contributed significantly to many of the quality of life problem s experienced in these sam e cities. According to the Congress for the New Urbanism : “Existing parking policies and practices that favor free parking promote solo driving, increase the costs of developm ent, and encourage a built environment that rewards driving over walking, cyc ling or using transit. Free parking has a number of direct and indirect impacts on travel choices, congestion and pollution and is at odds with state and federal policies to reduce auto travel and emissions. The parking standards of most communities result in buildings set back from the street like islands in a sea of parking spaces. This built landscape does not contribute to the public realm; it is difficult to serve by transit and demonstrates a community’s dedication to cars over people." 16 With the goal of reducing reliance on the single-occupant auto, encouraging the use of walking, bicy cling and transit, and im proving the quality of life in Or egon’s com munities, the Transportation Planning Rule requires that Transportation Sy stem Plans address th e need for parking m anagem ent to achieve these goals. More specifically , the TPR requires that metropolitan area jurisdictions reduce their overall parking capacity by 10 percent over the next 20 y ears. As indicated in the 2001-2023 Rogue Valley Regional Transportation Plan , the challenge of this goal is to redu ce the parking supply in way s that not only help to achieve m ulti-m odal travel goals, but wh ich is also equitable for all parties involved. The 2001-2023 Regional Transportation Plan identifies a num ber of policies for im plem entation by local governm ents that are relevant to the issue of parki ng managem ent to achieve the per capita reduction in parking supply in the City of Medford. These policies include: 16 “Free Parki ng”, Transport ation Tech Sheet , Congress for t he New Urbani sm (www.cnu.org), 1999. Medford Transportatio n System Plan 12-1 Parking M anagement