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CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE <br />III RICH AND ASSOCIATES, INC. – PARKING CONSULTANTS <br /> www.parkingdesign.com <br /> <br />How do alternative modes of transportation fit into the study? <br />Seeking alternative modes of transportation is an intrinsic part of developing a parking study. <br />In Charlottesville’s case we have the added dimension of needing to provide the <br />alternatives, since building new parking alone will not meet the overall need. Conversely, <br />alternative modes of transportation will not alone solve the parking shortage. So long as <br />personal automotive transportation is popular and fuel relatively inexpensive, the inclination <br />to use alternative modes such as mass transit will be restricted to user groups that value the <br />economic benefits of the alternatives and user groups that participate out of social and <br />environmental concerns. A strong alternative modes education and promotion program is <br />essential to influence people to change modes. <br /> <br />It is difficult to predict with a high degree of accuracy the extent to which the use of <br />alternative modes would benefit the parking situation in downtown Charlottesville. A <br />separate transit study, to be completed within the next six months, should include more <br />definitive information as to the extent to which alternative modes can be expected to <br />influence parking demand. That study will also examine the merits of ridership verses cost. <br />For the purpose of this study we have estimated net impacts, which are included in the <br />recommendations section of the report. The overall net effects are not included in the <br />demand projections since, when projecting parking demand, we need to have an unadjusted <br />parking surplus or deficit from which to work. In Charlottesville’s case we are suggesting <br />shuttling efforts that are linked to existing alternative modes such as the Park and Ride <br />system and CTS buses. <br />How should the City’s new parking system be managed? <br />As outlined in the recommendation Section of this report, we are proposing that the city <br />consider continuing to contract out parking management services to a private parking <br />management company.