Downtown Development Downtown Development Authority of AugustaAuthority of Augusta

Proposed Parking Management Plan for the Broad Street Corridor

Current Parking FactsCurrent Parking FactsThe current supply is 2,150 on-street spaces and

11,792 off-street spaces.Many of the off-street spaces are made up of private

surface lotsOn-street parking is free with a two-hour limitTime limits are not strictly enforced as resources are

not allocated for this activity

The fine for an overstayed parking time limit is $20There is a perception that there is a scarcity of on-

street parkingThere is no real mechanism for citation appeals or

collecting outstanding tickets in the current parking ordinance

Parking Facts cont.Parking Facts cont.

Parking Consultant ReportParking Consultant Report

DDA commissioned a study in April 2005 with Carl Walker, Inc. as requested by Augusta-Richmond County Commission

Goals ◦ Baseline our current parking conditions◦ Understand strategies to manage inventory and promote the

health of downtown commerce ◦ Make future recommendations to the City of Augusta

Key Report FindingsKey Report Findings On-street parking occupancy in the Broad Street Corridor

(5th to 13th Streets, between Reynolds and Ellis) is 100% at peak times and averages 80%

Off-street parking occupancy in the Broad Street Corridor is 37% at peak times

On average all day parkers (employees/commuters) consumed 30.4% of the total of on-street spaces and as high as 40% in the Broad Street Corridor (Busy On-street)

212 parkers actually parked 6-7 hours

Report RecommendationsReport RecommendationsManagement

◦ Management of on-street parking policies and restrictions should be examined by the City

Off-street parking

◦ There is ample off-street capacity to serve present needs of commuters and retail employees

Recommendations cont.Recommendations cont.Growth

◦ As development along Broad Street continues and excess parking capacity is consumed, the site adjacent to and on the west side of the Commons should be considered for development of a parking structure (Completed-Convention Center Parking Deck)

Market

◦ The lack of paid parking many of the normal market dynamics that help manage the parking system

2014 Parking Conditions2014 Parking Conditions

The following new projects have been completed in Downtown Augusta

Tourism Growth:

Augusta Convention Center opened in 2013 with 37 conference in its first year.

Business Growth:

In the last 2 years 30 new businesses have located to the Broad Street Corridor

YMCA Corporate offices have located to Broad Street

ADP Spin-off to open this year with 90 employees

2014 Parking Conditions2014 Parking ConditionsGrowing Residential Population-

100 new living units been completed on Broad Street and are seeing a greater than 96 percent annual occupancy rate. JB Whites Condos are selling at a rate of one per month

30 new units will be completed in 2015

Future Development◦ DDA’s retail strategy includes an active list of over 35 prospects

◦ There are 26,059 employees and 11,557 residents within a 5-minute drive time from downtown

Potential developers ( Marion Building) must have sufficient parking as a requirement for project funding.

Proposed Parking PlanProposed Parking PlanFree 2 hour parking available south of Ellis and North

of Jones Street

User-friendly meters will be deployed in the Broad Street Corridor from 13th Street to 5th (half of the on-street inventory)

Enforcement will be Mon-Sat 8:00am-6:00pm excluding federal holidays

Rates to be determined with a 2hr limit with the exception of the below grade median lots which will have a 3hr limit

Drive long Term parking to the new Convention Center Deck

Proposed Parking Plan cont.Proposed Parking Plan cont.A residential and employee permit program will be

implemented at a reasonable cost

Adjudication process provided for parking tickets through an administrative appeals program

Public awareness campaign to educate the public on the program

Initial capital for program will be through a private source

Next StepsNext Steps Hold 2 public meetings in the coming weeks to

gain input from downtown businesses and residents. Other outside agencies will assist with this initiative

Adopt revised parking ordinance