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32 The variety of strategies airport operators may consider when addressing constrained public parking conditions are discussed in this chapter. Some strategies are intended to resolve ongoing constraints, while others are short-term operational solutions that are intended to address a specific constrained parking period or event, such as a holiday or spring and summer vaca- tion periods. Strategies discussed in this chapter are categorized accord- ing to whether they are best suited to address an ongoing or a short-term constraint; however, airport operators may find that a strategy typically used by other airport operators to address short-term constraints suits that airport opera- torâs needs to manage an ongoing constraint. The financial, vehicle traffic, environmental, and customer service con- siderations for each strategy are presented at the end of this chapter to facilitate the comparison of considerations among strategies. Subsequent chapters related to strategies that address or resolve constrained parking conditions include the following: ⢠Chapter 6 presents methodologies to predict the outcomes of strategies under consideration. ⢠Chapter 7 provides guidance on how to select the most appropriate strategies from among those under consideration. ⢠Chapter 8 presents information on ways to evaluate the effectiveness of strategies that have been implemented at an airport. Strategies to Respond to Ongoing Constraints Strategies in this category are largely intended to resolve, prevent, or manage an ongoing parking constraint. These strategies require advanced planning, often require capital investment, and may require executive or regulatory approval. Sometimes an airport operator will adopt more than one strat- egy to resolve public parking constraints. General strategies included in this category are as follows: ⢠Increase public parking supply, ⢠Introduce new parking products, ⢠Reallocate supply among public parking products, ⢠Adjust parking rates, ⢠Introduce technology improvements, and ⢠Promote use of HOV modes. Increase Public Parking Supply This strategy involves increasing the parking supply to accommodate demand, which can be accomplished by increas- ing the number of permanent public parking spaces or by pro- viding additional parking spaces on a temporary basis during busy periods, referred to as overflow parking. Permanent Parking Inventory An airport operator can add capacity to the public parking inventory in several waysâby providing a new parking facil- ity, by adding capacity to an existing parking facility, or by re- assigning parking spaces used for a different purpose to public parking. Reassigning other parking spaces to public parking typically involves converting spaces previously assigned to air- port employees or rental car companies. Overflow Parking Inventory An overflow parking facility is typically defined as an area not regularly in service for public parking that may be used for parking during periods when parking is constrained. These facilities are opened only when needed. The overflow facilities may or may not be owned by the airport operator and can C H A P T E R 5 Strategies to Address Constrained Public Parking
include paved parking lots, gravel or grass parking areas, or other available land suitable for parking. Typically, and espe- cially at large airports, overflow parking facilities are located remotely from the terminal area and require a dedicated shut- tle bus service. The airport operator may or may not charge a fee for use of an overflow parking facility. The airport operator may choose to direct all parking cus- tomers to the overflow facility when the permanent facilities reach capacity, may provide customers with a choice of the overflow or permanent parking facilities before the permanent facilities become constrained, or may direct certain customers to the overflow facility based on a travel characteristic, such as trip duration. Introduce New Parking Products New parking products may be introduced to improve or resolve the constrained parking condition at an airport and to provide a desired service for (1) all public parking customers, (2) customers using specific parking facilities, or (3) a specific group of customers. A new product may be offered using the existing parking supply or through the provision of additional parking. Appropriate new products to address parking con- straints will vary by airport, but examples include the following: ⢠Valet parkingâThe provision of valet parking offers parking customers the experience of parking in a con- venient location adjacent to the terminal. Valet-parked automobiles may be stored remotely and then returned to a close-in staging area on the day a parking customer is scheduled to return. This limits the use of space in the terminal area dedicated to private automobile parking. Alternatively, vehicles can be stored within the terminal area if space is available, which improves operational efficiency for the valet parker since automobiles would not have to be shuttled between the terminal area and a remote storage area. ⢠Cell phone lotâOffering a cell phone lot is a possible solu- tion to address heavy curbside congestion resulting from a high volume of automobiles dwelling at the curbside while waiting to pick up arriving passengers. Cell phone lots may also be used to reduce the demand for short-term parking. ⢠Premium parking productsâThese parking options include a range of products and programs that cater to long- term parking customers who prefer close-in terminal area parking (such as the business traveler) and who are willing to pay a premium for the product. Premium parking prod- ucts that provide a guaranteed terminal area parking space can be a reliable solution for certain travelers concerned about airport parking constraints. Airports where premium parking products are offered generally realize improved parking-derived revenues and enhanced customer service for their premium parking customers. ⢠Short-term parkingâLong-term parking spaces have lower turnover rates than do parking spaces accommodating short- term parkers. If these long- and short-term parkers are accommodated in the same facility, the spaces used by long- term parkers will âconsumeâ the available spaces such that spaces are no longer available for short-term parkers. Seg- mentation of the terminal area parking to provide dedicated short-term spaces priced to discourage use by long-term parkers can help the airport operator accommodate demand for short-term spaces, which, in turn, improves curbside operations and reduces recirculating trips on airport road- ways (especially when cell phone lots are not available). Suc- cessful implementation of this strategy requires excess capacity to accommodate long-term parkers in other park- ing facilities. Reallocate Supply among Public Parking Categories This strategy involves the reallocation of space among exist- ing parking products to balance capacity with demand for individual parking products. Achieving the appropriate bal- ance between short-term and long-term parking in the termi- nal area is a common problem, because needs vary by day of the week and time of the year. Sometimes, this problem can be resolved through permanent reallocation of space that improves the balance among products and meets the needs of 33 New Valet Parking Product at San Diego International Airport The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority began offering valet parking to customers at San Diego International Airport (SAN) in February 2008 to reduce demand for self parking in the terminal area. According to authority staff, passengers using terminal area parking at SAN desire immediate terminal access when they arrive at, and depart from, the airport and are not price sen- sitive. The curbside valet parking service improves customer service by increasing the number of parkers who have the convenience of terminal area parking without increasing the supply of terminal area self- parking spaces. (5)
Varying Parking Supply Allocation at Tulsa International Airport A total of 1,929 spaces are offered in the short-term and long-term parking facilities in the ter- minal area at Tulsa International Airport. Of these 1,929 spaces, 111 spaces can be designated for either short-term or long-term parking depending on what the Tulsa Airport Authority deter- mines is needed to accommodate parking demand. The designation of these spaces is controlled by adding or removing signs. (15) parking customers most of the time. Another solution is to dynamically vary the allocation of parking space in response to changes in demand through the use of variable signage, the use of movable barriers, or the designation of âswingâ spaces that can be used for either long-term or short-term parking. Adjust Parking Rates Parking rates can be adjusted to balance demand among facilities, reduce demand for a specific facility, or reduce demand for the entire public parking supply. A curbside drop-off fee is another potential strategy that may influence parking demand. Several parking rate strategies, as well as the potential for a curbside drop-off fee, are discussed in this section. Traditional Parking Rates Traditional parking rates may be adjusted as a means to shift passenger parking demand among facilities or to reduce the demand for parking. Such adjustments are typically based on a detailed analysis of the relationship between park- ing transactions, demand, and revenue as they are affected by relative changes in hourly and daily rates within a facil- ity, between parking products, and between on-airport and off-airport facilities. Alternatively, the adjustment may be based on an assessment of what the market will bear. A com- mon concern among airport operators is that a dramatic increase in parking rates may result in a significant loss of parking customers and parking revenues to privately oper- ated off-airport facilities or may result in shifts of parkers to being picked up and dropped off by private automobile and other single-party drop-off modes, which would add traffic to the terminal roadway system. In addition, political consid- erations may be an impediment to raising public parking rates significantly or frequently. The approach to adjusting parking rates varies from airport to airport based on the nature of the problem the rate adjust- ments are intended to address, the desired change in customer behavior, and the airport operatorâs ability or willingness to change the parking rate structure. Examples of ways that rates may be set or adjusted to influence behavior include the following: ⢠Charge a higher daily rate for short-term parking compared to the daily rate for facilities designated for long-term park- ing. This price differential is intended to discourage long- duration parking in the short-term parking area. ⢠Charge a higher hourly rate in the long-term parking facility compared to the hourly parking rate in the short-term park- ing facility. This price differential is intended to discourage short-duration parking in the long-term parking area. ⢠Charge only a daily rate in the long-term parking facility and charge an hourly rate in the short-term parking facility to discourage short-duration parking in long-term parking facilities. ⢠Increase the differential between the daily rate in the termi- nal area parking facility and the daily rate in the remote 34 Reallocation of Valet Parking to Other Parking Products at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport In 2007, the Port of Seattle reallocated parking spaces at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The reallocation has resulted in more efficient use of hourly (short-term) parking, long-term park- ing, premium parking, and employee parking products. Valet parking was eliminated a few months before this reallocation because it was not well utilized. The reallocation of valet parking to other uses had virtually no effect on traffic, vehicle emissions, or customer service because its elimination affected a small customer base. (6 )
ities. Differential rates may be charged to accommodate peak travel times of different customer groups or to adjust imbal- anced demand between facilities. Examples could include offer- ing a different daily rate depending on the day of the week a parking customer enters the facility, the number of days a park- ing customer parks in the facility, or the specific dates a parking customer parks in the facility. Implementation of this strategy requires the airport operator to have a parking revenue control system in place that is capable of processing differential rates. Approaches to charging differential rates vary with the nature of the issue to be resolved, the desired change in behav- ior, and the airport operatorâs ability or willingness to change the parking rate structure. The best approach depends upon the goal of the airport operator (e.g., maximizing revenues ver- sus managing the demand for parking). Examples of the imple- mentation of differential rates for parking at an airport were 35 Rate Changes to Shift Passenger Demand at Miami International Airport Parking rate changes at Miami International Airport require the approval of the Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) Board. In 2006, MDAD increased the daily rates at the airportâs short-term parking facility from $25 to $30 (20%) and expanded the rate schedule for the long- term parking facility to provide a fee for the fifth hour of parking (effectively raising the daily rate from $12 to $15 [25%] with no adjustments to rates for the first 4 h of parking). These rate increases were intended to discourage long-duration parking in the short-term parking facility; however, MDAD staff does not believe the desired shift in parking behavior was achieved. Revenue increased at both facilities. (4) Rate Changes to Shift Passenger Demand at Port Columbus International Airport In 2008, the daily rate in the long-term parking garage in the terminal area at Port Columbus International Airport was increased from $15 to $17; the daily rate in the economy lots was not raised. The intent of this rate change was to shift demand from the long-term parking garage to the economy lots. Columbus Regional Airport Authority staff do not believe that this rate increase resulted in a shift in demand, but parking revenues did increase. (11) Rate Changes to Shift Passenger Demand at Huntsville International Airport The Huntsville/Madison County Airport Authority adjusted the daily rate for short-term parking at Huntsville International Airport twice to resolve a capacity constraint at the short-term (hourly) parking facility and to increase revenues generated at this facility. The daily rate for short-term parking was increased from $12 to $18 in 2004 and from $18 to $24 in 2006, while the daily rates for long-term and economy parking were increased from $8 to $9 and from $6 to $7, respectively, in 2004 and held constant in 2006. Authority staff believe that the 2004 rate change led to a small short-term shift in demand, while the 2006 rate change led to a long-term shift in demand that achieved the desired results. (14) parking facility to influence some price-sensitive long-term parkers to shift to remote parking. ⢠Charge only a daily rate for valet parking to address a con- straint in terminal area long-term facilities if the intent of valet parking is to accommodate demand for long-duration parking in a convenient terminal area location. A daily rate would discourage short-duration valet parking. The daily rate for valet parking may be set in relation to the daily ter- minal area parking rate and may be lower, equivalent, or higher than that rate depending on the desired behavioral change. Differential Parking Rates Different parking rates may be charged in the same facility to influence demand for a facility or balance demand among facil-
not identified in this research; however, the following examples describe how rates may be set or adjusted to influence cus- tomer behavior in addressing constrained parking: ⢠If the economy parking supply is constrained during week- ends and terminal area parking is typically busy on weekdays and underutilized on weekends, the daily rate in the termi- nal area could be set to be equivalent to the daily rate for economy parking for a customer entering the terminal area facility on a Friday and departing prior to Monday morning. This approach would provide an incentive for the weekend leisure traveler to use terminal area parking, while ensuring that the price-sensitive traveler will continue to patronize economy parking on weekdays. The pricing structure in the terminal area facility would ensure that space would be pre- served for the weekday customer base. ⢠If terminal area parking is constrained because of a high percentage of automobiles parked for a duration exceeding a certain number of days (a threshold), while a significant percentage of those automobiles are parked for a duration below the threshold, the daily rate could be adjusted to be significantly higher for durations longer than the thresh- old. For example, if 80% of exiting vehicles were parked for less than 3 days, and the remaining 20% were parked for 3 days or more, the daily rate may be set lower for stays of less than 3 days, and much higher for stays of 3 days or more. The daily rate for economy parking would be set in relation to the rates for terminal area parking to further encourage cus- tomers who park for 3 days or more to use economy parking. Variable Parking Rates Setting a variable daily parking rate schedule is similar to the yield management systems used by airlines and hotels. Under this rate scheme, airline passengers may reserve a space at a facility in advance, which may be offered at a different rate than the rate charged they if they arrived at the parking facility with- out a reservation. Therefore, similar to the experience of airline passengers or hotel customers, two vehicles parked side by side in the same facility may be charged different parking rates. Within a facility, parking rates may vary by length of stay, by season, and by when (i.e., how early) the customer makes a reservation for a parking space. In addition, the price differen- tial between facilities may be dynamic. Parking rates are based on forecasts of parking demand and parking occupancy, and may be set based on experience with parking demand on vari- ous days of the week and times of the year or through a more complex parking demand forecasting effort. Parking reserved in advance would be prepaid, and may be nonrefundable or subject to a cancellation penalty. The intent and value of charging variable parking rates in the context of constrained airport parking would be to influ- ence parking behavior to better balance demand between parking facilities. It also would provide the airport operator with parking reservations data as a basis for estimating demand in advance of busy parking periods, and provide the airport operator with historical information as input to forecasting future demand. Implementing variable rate parking strategies requires the airport operator to have a parking revenue con- trol system in place that is capable of processing the variable rate structure. Curbside Drop-Off Fee An airport operator can implement a curbside drop-off fee to enhance the effectiveness of other strategies aimed at reliev- ing constrained parking by reducing the potential mode shift from parking to the use of curbside pickup and drop-off modes. As an example, vehicles entering Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport are charged a fee to access the airport roadways that serve the terminal curbsides and parking facilities; however, it should be noted that this fee was not implemented to address a constrained parking condition, but serves as an example of how a curbside drop-off fee could be implemented. For this strategy to be implemented effectively, an airport must be configured in a way that allows such a fee to be collected from curbside users and the regulatory environment must allow the airport operator to collect this fee. Introduce Technology Improvements The introduction of technology can be effective in manag- ing constrained parking by allowing for better facility use or by providing parking customers with information about air- port parking based on availability in advance of their arrival at the airport. Automated Parking Guidance Systems When a parking facility reaches its functional capacity (i.e., approximately 85% to 95% occupancy), airport operators typically will deploy staff to assist customers in finding parking spaces or close the facility and redirect customers to another facility to avoid excessive recirculation within the near-capacity facility and resulting customer frustration. The first alternative (assisting customers in finding parking spaces) is costlyâit either adds overtime hours or draws staff away from other impor- tant duties. The second alternative (redirecting customers to another facility) results in a facility not reaching its maximum revenue potential and may still require overtime hours for management. Parking space location technology, also referred to as auto- mated parking guidance systems (APGS), provides customers 36
37 Variable Parking Rates at Manchester Airport, United Kingdom Airline customers at Manchester Airport in the United Kingdom may reserve a space at a specific parking facility in advance under a variable pricing scheme, or they may pay a daily rate to park when arriving at the airport, referred to as âturn up and park.â The rates offered for reserving a space in advance may be 50% lower than the turn up and park rates. The table below provides the quoted advanced-booking parking rates by facility for a weekday trip and a weekend trip in Feb- ruary 2010, and for a weekend trip in August 2010, as well as the turn up and park rates for those facilities where this option is available. Quotes for each trip were obtained in mid-November 2009, early December 2009, and early February 2010. The rate quoted for Multi-Storey Short Stay parking differed between the two trips in February 2010 when quoted on November 12, 2009. The Multi-Storey Short Stay, Long Stay, and Shuttle Park rates for the same trip in February differed between reservation dates. Advanced booking rates were significantly lower than the turn up and park rates for those facilities that offer the turn up and park option. (18) Parking Rate for Trip Duration Travel Dates Reservation Date Multi-Storey Short Stay (T1) Valet (T1) T1/3 Long Stay T1/3 Long Stay (Early Bird) Shuttle Park 12 Nov 2009 £29.00 £39.99 £29.99 £22.99 £23.99 3 Dec 2009 £29.00 £39.99 £29.99 £22.99 £23.99 Mon, 8 Feb 2010â Wed, 10 Feb 2010 3 Feb 2010 £29.99 £39.99 £23.99 n.a. £14.99 12 Nov 2009 £35.99 £39.99 £29.99 £22.00 £23.00 3 Dec 2009 £29.99 £39.99 £29.99 £22.00 £23.00 Thu, 11 Feb 2010â Sat, 13 Feb 2010 3 Feb 2010 £29.99 £39.99 £23.99 n.a. £14.99 12 Nov 2009 n.a. n.a. £29.99 n.a. £14.99 3 Dec 2009 n.a. n.a. £29.99 n.a. £14.99 Fri, 20 Aug 2010â Sun, 22 Aug 2010 3 Feb 2010 n.a. £39.99 £29.99 n.a. £14.99 Turn Up and Park n.a. £81.00 n.a. £45.00 n.a. n.a. Transfer Time: 0â1 min. walk 0â2 min. walk 5â10 min. walk 10 min. shuttle 5â10 min. walk 10 min. shuttle 15 min. shuttle Notes: Assuming that parking customer will use Terminal 1, and will enter the parking facility at 10:00 a.m. on day 1 and depart the facility at 1:00 p.m. on day 3. T1âTerminal 1; T1/3âTerminals 1 and 3; n.a.ârate not available. Source: https://www.manchesterairport.co.uk (as of November 12, 2009 [November 12, 2009 reservation date rates], December 3, 2009 [December 3, 2009 reservation date rates], and February 3, 2010 [February 3, 2010 reservation date rates and turn up and park rates]). Automated Parking Guidance System at Portland International Airport In 2008, the Port of Portland introduced a new automated parking guidance system (APGS) in its parking garage. The APGS informs customers of the number of spaces available by floor and guides parking customers to available spaces. This technology allows for a high utilization of the garage, reduces the amount of time parking customers spend looking for available parking spaces (which reduces vehicle emissions), and lessens the need for extra staff to be positioned in the garage during busy periods to assist parking customers in finding available parking spaces. (12)
Promote Use of HOV Modes An airport operator may promote the use of HOV modes, which may provide some relief in a constrained parking situa- tion. The use of HOV modes can be promoted in a variety of ways, including disseminating information that encourages customers to use HOV modes, encouraging public transporta- tion providers and other HOV operators to provide service enhancements and new services, or by the airport operator providing services itself. The HOV services must be perceived as viable options for the parking customer trips to and from the airport, including the following: ⢠Service hours that accommodate the flight schedules of air- lines serving the airport; ⢠Frequencies that are reasonable in relation to total travel time to the airport; ⢠A total trip time, from the customerâs point of origin to the airport, that is not unreasonable in comparison to using a private automobile, considering that multiple stops or trans- fers from one HOV mode or route to another increases total travel time; ⢠A terminus point in reasonable proximity to the cus- tomerâs origin and destination in the region, or along the customerâs primary travel path to the airport via private automobile; 38 with information on available parking spaces by floor, by sec- tion, or by parking space, depending on the level of system sophistication. This technology allows the customer to find an available parking space in a facility that is nearing capacity more quickly than without the technology. The location tech- nology, when provided at the highest level of sophistication, leads customers to available spaces through the use of indi- cators. This technology has proven to increase functional capacity to almost 100% of a parking facility without requir- ing additional management resources to direct customers to available parking spaces. Real-Time Parking Information Technology can be used to provide real-time information to parking customers regarding parking availability and allow the customers to make decisions about where to park in advance of arriving at an airport with a constrained parking facility. Information, such as parking facility closures, available spaces in a facility, or parking facility recommendations, may be obtained through the parking customerâs initiativeâby view- ing an airportâs website, calling a telephone number, listening to traveler advisory radio broadcasts, or signing up to receive messages on mobile devices or via e-mail. Information may also be provided to the parking customer via variable message signage posted along the airport access route or on airport roadways. Real-Time Parking Information at Chicago OâHare International Airport Real-time parking information is maintained on the website for Chicago OâHare International Airport. The parking status summary indicates whether a parking facility is open or closed. Addi- tionally, parking customers may subscribe to real-time parking facility status notifications sent to usersâ mobile devices, via e-mail, or by following a link on the parking status webpage to browse parking facility status on a mobile device. (2) Promotion of High-Occupancy Vehicle Modes at Boston Logan International Airport Since the 1980s, the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) has had an active airport ground access program that includes the promotion of HOV alternatives to the private automobile as a way of managing traffic and parking demand at BOS. Massport sponsors a network of four nonstop, direct express bus routes, referred to as the Logan Express, that operate between the airport and suburban locations within the BOS catchment area. Additionally, Massport partners with the public transportation provider, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in providing bus rapid transit service to downtown Boston at South Station, an intermodal transportation center. Massport also operates a free shuttle bus service that transports customers between the terminals and the airport subway station and another free shut- tle bus service between the terminals and the water shuttle dock. (1)
⢠A reasonable experience with baggage storage during the trips to and from the airport; and ⢠Fares that are reasonable in relation to fares for other modes and that are perceived as reasonable for the service provided. Each parking customer will have a different perception of what is reasonable. The airline passenger who is sensitive to time concerns will be less likely to switch from private automobile to an HOV mode than the airline passenger who is sensitive to price concerns. An airline passengerâs choice to drive and park at an airport may indicate that the customer is accustomed to a door-to-door mode and values the convenience of driving, or does not feel that the combination of price and travel time of alternative modes is a reasonable option. This is an important consideration when the increased use of HOV modes is being evaluated as a strategy to address constrained parking. Strategies to Respond to Short-Term Constraints This category of strategies consists of short-term operational solutions that are intended to manage constrained parking for the duration of a specific constrained parking event. At some airports, such events may occur a few times per year, such as holiday periods and school vacations. At other airports, short- term operational strategies may be used several times per month while the airport operator may be formulating strate- gies to achieve longer-lasting solutions. At airports where short-term solutions are frequently used to manage parking constraints, it may be as cost-effective in the long-term to adopt some of the strategies to address ongoing parking con- 39 straints, as described in the previous section of this chapter. Additionally, several of the strategies discussed in this section could also be used from time to time to supplement the long- term strategies identified in the previous section. General strategies considered to be short-term solutions for managing constrained public parking events include the following: ⢠Provide hands-on management in constrained parking facilities, ⢠Adjust parking rates on a temporary basis, ⢠Disseminate public information, ⢠Provide temporary overflow parking, and ⢠Direct parking customers to privately operated parking facilities. Provide Hands-On Management in Constrained Parking Facilities To maximize the use of parking facility capacity, parking staff may direct parking customers to available spaces or to another parking facility. Parking customers may be directed to areas that are typically off limits for parked automobiles, such as the end of rows if vehicle traffic will not be blocked. This approach is sometimes referred to as âstuffing and stacking.â Adjust Parking Rates on a Temporary Basis Temporary rate changes may be used to balance demand among facilities. These rate changes may involve the following: Temporary Rate Adjustments at Tampa International Airport When the economy parking facilities at Tampa International Airport become constrained, the Hills- borough County Aviation Authority occasionally uses excess capacity in the short-term or long- term parking facilities, and charges the economy rates. (7) Temporary Rate Adjustments at Oakland International Airport It is rare for all public parking facilities at Oakland International Airport to reach capacity during the same period. When a facility does reach capacity, Port of Oakland staff direct parking customers to parking facilities that have excess capacity and they provide vouchers so that parking customers pay the rates they would have paid at their original parking facility of choice. For example, when the economy lot reaches capacity, parking customers may be redirected to a terminal area parking facility, but they would be charged the economy lot rate. (10)
Often, these spaces are located at a distance from the termi- nal area, which requires a shuttle ride between the overflow parking area and the terminal area. Furthermore, the spaces are often located in areas that are less convenient to the park- ing customer than public spaces in permanent service. The airport operator may or may not charge a fee for the use of overflow parking spaces. If a fee is charged, it may be equiva- lent to, or less than, the rate for the lowest priced parking product to acknowledge the inconvenience to the customer. The airport operator may choose to direct all parking customers to the overflow area when a facility reaches capacity, may provide parking customers with a choice of the overflow or permanent facility before the permanent facility reaches capacity, or may direct certain customers to the overflow facility based on a travel characteristic, such as trip duration. Direct Parking Customers to Privately Operated Parking Facilities An airport operator may direct customers to privately oper- ated off-airport parking facilities when the public parking sup- ply at the airport is nearing capacity. Because the privately operated facilities may be constrained as well, the airport oper- ator should communicate regularly with operators of the pri- vately operated parking facilities to determine which facilities have available capacity to accommodate additional parking cus- tomers. The airport operator may negotiate a revenue sharing arrangement with the private operator for making the referral. 40 ⢠An advertised rate promotion offered in advance of an antic- ipated parking constraint to influence the parking cus- tomerâs choice of parking facility; or ⢠A discount offered at a parking facility with available capac- ity when the lower priced facility is nearing capacity. These temporary rate changes are sometimes offered as a customer service measure or to retain parkers in airport- operated facilities that may otherwise divert to privately oper- ated off-airport parking facilities. Disseminate Public Information An airport operator may disseminate information to the public in advance of an anticipated constrained parking event and during the constrained parking event, using various forms of media and the airport website. Messages typically warn air- line passengers of upcoming parking challenges and advise them to allow extra time for their trips to the airport. The advi- sories may also encourage passengers to consider using pub- lic transportation and other ground access modes to access the airport. Provide Temporary Overflow Parking Spaces may be made available for public parking in areas that are typically used for other purposes. For example, employee spaces may be temporarily used for public park- ing, or a valet lot may be temporarily used for self parking. Customer Service Considerations Airport staff interviewed for this research project stressed the importance of initiating commu- nication with airline passengers in advance of their trips to the airport during anticipated periods of constrained parking. Advance information, communicated through media such as radio announcements, general website alerts, and parking alerts via e-mail, helps airline passengers understand what to expect at the airport and to better plan for their trips to the airport. Employees Diverted to Overflow Parking during Periods of Constrained Parking at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport In November 2006, during a period of constrained parking at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the Port of Seattle redirected approximately 500 to 600 employees who typically park in the ter- minal area parking garage to remote employee parking. When this strategy was implemented, it added approximately 7% to the public parking supply. Port of Seattle staff believe that this strat- egy was successful in preventing closures of the garage. (6)
Considerations for Evaluating Strategies to Resolve or Manage Constrained Parking The financial, vehicle traffic, environmental, and customer service considerations for each strategy identified earlier in this chapter are summarized in this section by strategy. All consid- erations should be interpreted in the context of an airport operatorâs goals and objectives for its parking program. Strategies to Respond to Ongoing Constraints Increase Public Parking Supply When considering an increase in the public parking supply to accommodate demand, the following financial, vehicle traffic, environmental, and customer service issues should be considered. Financial Considerations. Financial considerations related to operating and capital costs associated with increasing the parking supply may include the following: ⢠Design and program management fees; ⢠Construction; ⢠Revenue control equipment; ⢠Staffing costs or management fees for increased staffing; ⢠Shuttle operations; ⢠Safety and security (such as new fire fighting equipment); ⢠Opportunity cost of the land if it has a higher and better use; ⢠Leasing cost if the land is owned by a third party; ⢠Sunk capital and temporary operating costs necessary for providing temporary replacement parking so that the per- manent parking supply can be expanded; ⢠Sunk capital costs for permanently relocating airport facil- ities to expand the public parking supply; and ⢠Long-term reduction in operational costs to manage con- strained parking, if they are reduced with the additional capacity. Financial considerations related to cash flow and debt ser- vice associated with increasing the permanent public parking supply may include the following: ⢠Current debt capacity of the airport owner or operator; ⢠Amount of time it will take the airport operator to recover any capital investment associated with increasing capacity (return on investment); ⢠Differential of net parking revenues from the existing con- strained parking supply and expected net revenue with the additional capacity (i.e., marginal increases in revenues resulting from increased public parking supply); and ⢠Estimation that the airportâs debt service coverage require- ments still are met after the addition of new parking capacity. Financial considerations related to providing or expanding overflow parking facilities may include the following: ⢠Comparison of the net revenue per space and per event with the revenues that could be earned from the development of new permanent public spaces to determine the point at which the addition of permanent capacity or the implemen- tation of another strategy makes better financial sense; and ⢠Revenue lost from customers who may choose privately operated off-airport parking options rather than the over- flow facilities provided by the airport operator. Vehicle Traffic Considerations. Considerations related to vehicle traffic generated by the airport as a result of increasing the supply of public parking may include a change in vehicle trips generated by attracting parkers lost as the result of park- ing constraints back to the on-airport parking supply. It should be noted that this strategy may result in a reduction in trips generated if fewer pickup, drop-off, taxicab, and single- party limousine trips are made to the airport, and an increase in trips if parkers shifted from HOV modes to the on-airport parking supply. 41 Directing Parking Customers to Off-Airport Privately Operated Parking Facilities at Boston Logan International Airport At Boston Logan International Airport, Massport occasionally directed parkers to a privately operated off-airport parking lot. Massport received $4 per automobile per day from the private operator for the referral. Because the private operator transported the airline passengers to the ter- minal area in its shuttle, Massport did not bear the cost of operating an additional shuttle serv- ice that would have been required to serve overflow lots. Massport discontinued diverting passengers to privately operated lots because it felt that the parking customer is provided with a better level of service if accom- modated on the airport. (1)
Other considerations related to vehicle traffic generated by the airport may include reduced vehicle circulation within parking facilities if new capacity eliminates the need for recir- culation by parkers searching for parking spaces and reduced vehicle traffic on airport roadways if parkers are no longer redirected to alternate parking facilities. Considerations related to vehicle traffic generated by the air- port as a result of the provision of overflow parking inventory may include the following: ⢠Increased vehicle traffic on airport roadways if parkers are redirected to overflow parking from the constrained park- ing facility, ⢠Reduced numbers of redirected automobiles if information on overflow parking is provided to parkers before they arrive at the constrained parking facility, and ⢠Increased curbside congestion if overflow parking solutions result in parkers dropping off and picking up members of the travel party at the curbside prior to parking or after retrieving the automobile. Environmental Considerations. Environmental consid- erations related to airport and regional vehicle traffic conges- tion and vehicle emissions as a result of increasing the public parking supply may include the following: ⢠Potential changes in regional VMT and related vehicle emis- sions resulting from changes in trips to and from the airport once the parking constraint is resolved (it should be noted that this may result in a reduction in the number of trips generated if fewer pickup, drop-off, taxicab, and single- party limousine trips are made to the airport); ⢠Changes in vehicle emissions related to the operation of new shuttle bus service to the new parking product or overflow facilities or the elimination of shuttle service due to closure of overflow parking facilities; and ⢠Changes in curbside traffic congestion and emissions if the additional parking capacity causes changes in curbside activ- ity levels (e.g., fewer curbside drop-offs or pickups). Environmental considerations related to development of a new parking facility at an airport may include the following: ⢠Creation of additional impervious surfaces or storm water impacts if overflow parking facilities are developed or expanded on unpaved areas and ⢠The potential requirement of FAA environmental review and approval of a project to increase the public parking supply depending on the scope of the expansion project and necessary changes to the ALP. Customer Service Considerations. Customer service con- siderations related to the increased permanent on-airport public parking supply may include how the provision of addi- tional permanent capacity improves customer satisfaction compared to other strategies under consideration. Customer service considerations related to the increased overflow on-airport public parking supply may include inconvenience to the parking customer related to the use of overflow parking compared to other strategies under consid- eration and importance of providing information on over- flow parking in advance of the airline passenger partyâs trip to the airport. Introduce New Parking Products When considering the introduction of new parking prod- ucts to address a constrained parking condition, the following financial, vehicle traffic, environmental, and customer service issues should be considered. Financial Considerations. Financial considerations asso- ciated with the introduction of new parking products may include the following: ⢠Costs to develop, maintain, and operate a new parking facil- ity or reconfigure the existing parking supply (whether per- manent or overflow); ⢠Costs of construction, parking revenue control systems (new or expanded system capabilities), changes in staffing requirements, changes in shuttle operations, security; ⢠Opportunity costs of the land if it has a higher and better use, or leasing cost if land is owned by a third party; ⢠The net revenue potential of the new product; ⢠Comparison of the projected financial performance of the total public parking supply including the new prod- uct with the financial performance of the public parking supply in its existing configuration; analysis should consider capital costs and changes to operating and maintenance (O&M) costs, and an estimate of changes in net revenue from lost customers if the new product reduces capacity of an existing parking product; and ⢠Changes in operational costs to manage constrained parking. Vehicle Traffic Considerations. Considerations related to vehicle traffic generated by the airport due to the provision of new parking products may include the following: ⢠Changes in vehicle traffic patterns within facilities if new a parking product requires changes in parking circulation systems; ⢠Changes in vehicle traffic patterns on airport roadways due to shifts in the use of parking products (e.g., new valet ser- vice offered at curbside location); and ⢠Changes in vehicle traffic levels on airport roadways if new products change the total number of vehicles accessing the 42
airport (e.g., new service attracts parkers from off-airport parking facilities or from other access modes, resulting in increases in on-airport vehicle traffic). Environmental Considerations. Environmental consid- erations related to airport and regional vehicle traffic conges- tion and vehicle emissions due to the provision of new parking products may include the following: ⢠Potential changes in regional VMT and related vehicle emissions resulting from changes in trips to and from the airport once the parking constraint is resolved (it should be noted that this may result in a reduction in the num- ber of trips generated if fewer pickup, drop-off, taxicab, and single-party limousine trips are made to the airport); ⢠Changes in vehicle emissions related to the operation of new shuttle bus service to the new parking product or the elimination of shuttle service due to closure of overflow parking facilities; and ⢠Changes in curbside traffic congestion and emissions if the new product causes changes in curbside activity levels (e.g., fewer curbside drop-offs or pickups). Customer Service Considerations. Customer service con- siderations related to the introduction of new parking prod- ucts may include the level of satisfaction of customers using new parking product(s) and of those customers displaced (if applicable). Reallocate Supply among Public Parking Products When considering the reallocation of parking spaces among parking products to balance capacity with demand, the fol- lowing financial, vehicle traffic, environmental, and customer service issues should be considered. Financial Considerations. Financial considerations asso- ciated with a reallocation of the existing public parking supply may include capital costs necessary to reallocate supply and comparison of the projected financial performance of the exist- ing allocation of the public parking supply with the financial performance of the potential new allocation of the public park- ing supply. Analysis should consider capital costs and changes to O&M costs, as well as potential loss of parkers to other oper- ators or modes of airport access. Vehicle Traffic Considerations. Vehicle traffic consider- ations related to reallocation of the public parking supply may include the following: ⢠Changes in vehicle traffic circulation within a constrained parking facility if the reallocated supply alters internal circu- lation systems; ⢠Changes in vehicle traffic on airport roadways if the reallo- cated supply alters the need for travel between facilities dur- ing constrained conditions; and ⢠Changes in airport roadway traffic volumes if the reallocated supply attracts parkers lost to pickup and drop-off modes or HOV modes back to the on-airport parking supply. Environmental Considerations. Environmental consid- erations related to airport and regional vehicle traffic con- gestion and vehicle emissions may include changes in VMT and emissions resulting from increases or decreases in the number of vehicle trips, as well as from changes in vehicle trip length on airport roadways generated by parkers using real- located parking products and those parkers displaced by real- located products. Customer Service Considerations. Customer service considerations related to the reallocation of the public parking supply may include the level of satisfaction of customers ben- efiting from the reallocation or displaced by the reallocation. Adjust Parking Rates When considering the adjustment of parking rates to bal- ance demand among facilities, reduce demand for a specific facility, or reduce demand for the entire public parking supply, the following financial, vehicle traffic, environmental, and cus- tomer service issues should be considered. Financial Considerations. Financial considerations asso- ciated with changing parking rates may include the following: ⢠Reprogramming of parking revenue control system(s); ⢠Enhancements to, or replacement of, the current parking revenue control system (if necessary) for new parking prod- ucts offered or being developed; and ⢠Changes in gross and net revenues before and after the rate adjustments, including estimates of induced parking demand if rates are lowered or diversion of parkers to other modes or privately operated parking facilities if rates are increased. Differential and variable parking rates are commonly charged for some parking products, such as downtown park- ing garages or garages that serve entertainment venues. How- ever, differential and variable parking rates at airports in the United States generally are not implemented. The airport oper- ator may wish to consider the following if contemplating charging differential or variable parking rates to manage park- ing demand during peak periods: ⢠Advertising and promotion costs; ⢠Procurement of a new or upgraded parking revenue control system that supports differential or variable rate pricing; and 43
⢠Analysis to determine the projected financial performance of the airport parking supply with differential or variable rate pricing. Vehicle Traffic Considerations. Vehicle traffic consider- ations related to the adjustment of parking rates may include the following: ⢠Changes in vehicle trips on airport roadways resulting from shifts in demand between airport parking facilities and shifts between airport-operated and privately operated off-airport parking facilities; and ⢠Potential changes in vehicle trips and the effects on curbside congestion resulting from shifts between airport-operated parking, privately operated off-airport parking, pickup and drop-off modes, and HOV modes. Environmental Considerations. Environmental consid- erations related to the adjustment of parking rates, including regional traffic congestion and vehicle emissions, may include changes in regional vehicle emissions based on changes in vehicle trips generated by the airport resulting from passen- gers being attracted to, or discouraged from, using on-airport parking. Customer Service Considerations. Customer service considerations related to the adjustment of parking rates may include the level of customer satisfaction with rate struc- ture changes (will vary by the rate structure adopted and the effect of the rate change on level of service). Introduce Technology Improvements When considering the introduction of technology improvements to manage constraints, such as improving parking facility use with an automated parking guidance sys- tem or influencing airline passenger ground access behavior by providing information in advance of the airline passen- gerâs arrival at the airport, the following financial, vehicle traffic, environmental, and customer service issues should be considered. Financial Considerations. Financial considerations rela- ted to investments in technology improvements to manage constrained parking may include the following: ⢠Capital and O&M costs of technology systems; ⢠Comparison of the projected financial performance of the existing public parking supply with the financial perfor- mance of the projected parking supply with the implemen- tation of technology improvements, including capital costs and changes to O&M costs, and potential shifts of parkers to or from other modes of airport access; and ⢠Return on investment (increased revenues versus cost of technology system[s]), including estimated changes in park- ing system management and staffing costs with technology versus costs to manage constrained parking. Vehicle Traffic Considerations. Vehicle traffic consid- erations related to introducing technology improvements may include the following: ⢠Reduced travel distances and circulation time within a park- ing facility if technology includes parking guidance and wayfinding systems and ⢠Fewer parkers redirected to alternative facilities because of increased use of the existing parking supply or advanced information about parking alternatives to the constrained facility, thereby reducing traffic on airport roadways during high demand periods. Environmental Considerations. Environmental consider- ations related to the introduction of technology improvements, including regional traffic congestion and vehicle emissions may include the following: ⢠Reduced emissions and improved air quality in parking facilities, particularly parking structures, where parking guidance and wayfinding systems are deployed; and ⢠Reduced emissions associated with a reduction in traffic on airport roadways resulting from reduced diversion of vehi- cles to alternative facilities. Customer Service Considerations. Customer service con- siderations related to the introduction of technology improve- ments, such as parking guidance and wayfinding systems, may include and acknowledge that parking guidance and wayfind- ing systems are a customer service improvement in constrained parking facilities and those facilities nearing capacity because they reduce the amount of time necessary to find available parking spaces. Customer service considerations related to the provision of real-time parking information to parking customers may include, but not be limited to the concept that parking cus- tomers may be displeased that their parking facility of choice may not be available, but the customer who accesses this infor- mation in advance will be prepared for the inconvenience, rather than reacting to it upon arrival at the constrained park- ing facility. Promote Use of HOV Modes When considering the promotion, enhancement, or pro- vision of HOV services, the following financial, vehicle traf- fic, environmental, and customer service issues should be considered. 44
Financial Considerations. Financial considerations asso- ciated with promoting, enhancing, or providing HOV services may include the following: ⢠Promotional costs; ⢠Net financial contribution related to providing or enhanc- ing HOV services; ⢠Capital costs of roadway, terminal, or curbside improve- ments (if applicable); and ⢠Lost parking revenues resulting from changes in demand for airport parking facilities. Vehicle Traffic Considerations. Vehicle traffic consider- ations related to promoting, enhancing, or providing HOV services may include reduced traffic on airport roadways from those airline passengers that shift from single-party access modes, such as a private automobile, to HOV modes. Environmental Considerations. Environmental consid- erations related to promoting, enhancing, or providing HOV services may include reduced regional traffic congestion and vehicle emissions based on changes in vehicle trips and VMT by airline passengers accessing the airport using the regional ground transportation system. Customer Service Considerations. Customer service considerations related to promoting, enhancing, or providing HOV services may include the realization that if airline pas- sengers do not perceive the value of the HOV modes, they will not use them. HOV users are more likely to become repeat users if their first experience yielded a reliable and acceptable level of service, as discussed in the description of this strategy earlier in the chapter. In that case, there is a higher likelihood that the airline passenger will choose the HOV access mode on a future trip. Strategies to Respond to Short-Term Constraints Provide Hands-On Management in the Constrained Parking Facilities When considering the provision of hands-on management in a constrained parking facility to maximize use of the facil- ity, the following financial, vehicle traffic, environmental, and customer service issues should be considered. Financial Considerations. Financial considerations asso- ciated with the provision of hands-on management in con- strained parking facilities may include increased payroll related to the deployment of additional staff to assist in directing and guiding parkers to available facilities. Vehicle Traffic Considerations. Vehicle traffic consid- erations associated with the provision of hands-on man- agement in constrained parking facilities may include the following: ⢠Reduced vehicle circulation within the parking facility because hands-on management assists in directing parkers to available parking spaces and ⢠Changes in vehicle circulation from the constrained facility to other on- and off-airport parking facilities due to hands- on management. Environmental Considerations. Environmental consid- erations associated with the provision of hands-on manage- ment in constrained parking facilities may include short-term reduction in VMT and emissions resulting from reduced cir- culation and vehicle idling related to parkers searching for a space or being diverted to other parking facilities. Long-term environmental impacts are not anticipated from the occasional provision of additional parking management staff during constrained conditions. Customer Service Considerations. Customer service considerations related to the provision of hands-on man- agement in constrained parking facilities may include the following: ⢠Recognition that time-constrained parking customers are less likely to miss their flights with the provision of hands- on management than are customers who spend time search- ing for a parking space in a constrained facility or must find another parking space in an on- or off-airport park- ing facility and ⢠Provision of hands-on management alleviates parking cus- tomersâ uncertainty of finding a parking space due to a con- strained parking facility. Adjust Parking Rates on a Temporary Basis When considering the temporary adjustment of parking rates to balance demand among facilities, the following finan- cial, vehicle traffic, environmental, and customer service issues should be considered. Financial Considerations. Financial considerations asso- ciated with the temporary adjustment of parking rates may include the following: ⢠Increased revenue from new on-airport parking customers attracted by this strategy and from parking customers who may have otherwise diverted to privately operated off- airport parking facilities, 45
⢠Decreased revenue during a constrained event if parkers used a lower-priced product than they would have if the promotion or discount were not offered, ⢠Advertising and promotion costs, and ⢠Personnel costs if additional staff are used for redirecting customers to other parking facilities with temporary rate changes. Vehicle Traffic Considerations. Vehicle traffic consider- ations related to adjusting parking rates on a temporary basis during constrained periods or in advance of projected con- strained periods may include the following: ⢠Changes in traffic patterns due to the diversion of parkers to the facility with the temporary rate change compared to customer diversion without a temporary rate change, and ⢠Changes in traffic when parking customers chose to use an on-airport parking facility because they were attracted to the on-airport parking supply or to a specific parking product by the temporary rate change that was advertised in advance. Environmental Considerations. Environmental consid- erations related to adjusting parking rates on a temporary basis during constrained periods may include potential changes in vehicle emissions based on changes in vehicle trips and VMT related to parking customers being redirected from a con- strained parking facility to another airport parking facility. Long-term environmental impacts are not anticipated from a temporary adjustment of parking rates. Customer Service Considerations. Customer service considerations related to the adjustment of parking rates on a temporary basis may include the realization that pricing promotions, such as comparable pricing for facilities that are in a better location compared to the constrained facility, gen- erally are received favorably by parking customers. Disseminate Public Information When considering the dissemination of public information to airline passengers in advance of an anticipated constrained parking event to encourage their consideration of selecting alternative ground access modes, the following financial, vehi- cle traffic, environmental, and customer service issues should be considered. Financial Considerations. Financial considerations rela- ted to implementing a public parking information program may include the following: ⢠Costs associated with providing and maintaining the infor- mation source, such as the dissemination of public infor- mation, including advertising and website maintenance; ⢠Cost of procurement, installation, and maintenance of avail- able technology, such as variable message signage on road- ways serving the airport, which directs parkers to available parking facilities; ⢠Reduced parking management staff costs resulting from implementation of public information strategies to reduce parking demand at constrained facilities during peak peri- ods; and ⢠Potential lost revenues resulting from airline passengers electing to use an alternative mode of accessing the airport rather than driving to the airport and parking in an alter- nate, but available, airport parking product. Vehicle Traffic Considerations. Vehicle traffic consider- ations related to disseminating information on parking con- straints at the airport may include changes in the number of vehicle trips generated by airline passengers who would typi- cally park for the duration of their trips, but may have shifted to other modes given the constrained parking environment. Overall changes in traffic volume are not expected to be sig- nificant in most cases. Environmental Considerations. Environmental consid- erations related to disseminating information on parking constraints at the airport may include temporary changes in regional airport-related vehicle emissions due to changes in vehicle trips and VMT resulting from shifts to alternative modes of airport access. Long-term environmental impacts are not anticipated from public notification of temporary constrained parking conditions. Customer Service Considerations. Customer service considerations related to the dissemination of public informa- tion about a parking constraint may include the realization that notifying parking customers in advance of a constrained park- ing event is a good customer service strategy that allows park- ing customers to plan their trips to the airport accordingly. Provide Temporary Overflow Parking When considering the provision of temporary overflow parking to accommodate demand during a constrained event, the following financial, vehicle traffic, environmental, and cus- tomer service issues should be considered. Financial Considerations. Financial considerations rela- ted to the provision of temporary overflow parking facilities may include the following: ⢠Capital costs to develop, maintain, and operate the tempo- rary facility (this strategy can be implemented for ongoing and occasional constrained parking conditions, but because 46
of high operational costs, it may not be effective in lieu of increasing the permanent parking supply); ⢠Shuttle operation costs to serve overflow facilities; ⢠Land available to use for overflow parking (airport operatorâowned, or cost to lease or purchase if not owned by the airport operator); ⢠Security and lighting; ⢠Roadway signage and other wayfinding requirements; ⢠Comparison of the net revenue per space and per event to the net revenue that could be earned from permanent pub- lic spaces to determine the point at which the addition of permanent capacity, or the introduction of another strategy, demonstrates a stronger return on investment; ⢠Determination of whether the airport operator will charge for overflow parking and, if so, potential revenues that could be earned to offset capital and O&M costs for providing the facility; and ⢠Estimate of the numbers of airport parkers who may choose privately operated off-airport parking facilities (if available) instead of overflow on-airport facilities to project lost poten- tial revenue. Vehicle Traffic Considerations. Considerations related to vehicle traffic generated by the airport as a result of the provi- sion of temporary overflow parking may include the following: ⢠Increased traffic on airport roadways if parkers are redi- rected to overflow parking and increased traffic from tem- porary shuttle bus operations, ⢠Reduced number of redirected automobiles if information on overflow parking is provided to parkers before they arrive at the constrained parking facility through technol- ogy or public information strategies, and ⢠Increased curbside congestion if overflow solutions result in parkers dropping off and picking up members of the travel party at the curbside prior to parking or after retriev- ing the automobile. Environmental Considerations. Environmental consid- erations related to the provision of temporary overflow park- ing may include the following: ⢠Temporary changes in vehicle emissions based on changes in VMT associated with parking customers being redirected to temporary overflow parking, ⢠Temporary changes in vehicle emissions related to opera- tion of shuttle bus service to a temporary overflow facility, ⢠Creation of additional impervious surfaces or storm water impacts if overflow facilities are developed or expanded on unpaved areas, and ⢠Potential FAA review and environmental approval required depending on current use of land being considered for over- flow parking. Long-term environmental impacts are not anticipated from the temporary and occasional diversion of parkers to overflow parking facilities. Customer Service Considerations. Customer service considerations related to the provision of temporary overflow parking may include the following: ⢠Inconvenience to the customer compared to other strate- gies being considered, such as the strategy to increase the permanent parking supply; and ⢠Provision of information to the customer in advance of the airport trip, which is the best approach if this strategy is used. Direct Parking Customers to Privately Operated Parking Facilities When considering directing parking customers to privately operated parking facilities to accommodate demand, the fol- lowing financial, vehicle traffic, environmental, and customer service issues should be considered. Financial Considerations. Financial considerations rela- ted to directing parkers to privately operated off-airport park- ing facilities may include the following: ⢠Increased personnel costs to direct parking customers to privately operated facilities, ⢠Potential execution of a revenue sharing agreement with one or more private parking operators, ⢠Potential lost revenue associated with diversion of park- ers to privately operated facilities compared to alternate strategies that provide the potential to generate net rev- enue, and ⢠Determination of whether diversion to privately operated facilities during occasional constrained parking conditions is preferable to investing in the provision of overflow park- ing or implementing other strategies to address occasional constrained parking conditions. Vehicle Traffic Considerations. Vehicle traffic consider- ations related to directing parkers to privately operated off- airport parking facilities may include the following: ⢠Temporary increase in traffic on airport roadways because parkers are redirected to off-airport parking facilities, ⢠Increased curbside congestion if implementation of strat- egy results in parkers dropping off and picking up members of the travel party at the curbside prior to parking or after retrieving the automobile from the off-airport parking facility, and 47
⢠Long-term changes in traffic related to parkers who choose to use off-airport privately operated parking facilities in the future even when public parking at the airport is not constrained. Environmental Considerations. Long-term environ- mental impacts are not anticipated from the temporary diver- sion of parkers to off-airport parking facilities. Customer Service Considerations. Customer service considerations related to directing parking customers to privately operated parking facilities may include the following: ⢠The inconvenience to the customer compared to other strategies; when parking customers are diverted from one facility to another, some time-constrained airline passen- gers will miss their flights; and ⢠Provision of information to the airline passenger in advance of the airport trip, which is the best approach if this strategy is used. 48