[MissoulaGov] Street Lighting

Mon Dec 28 10:29:30 MST 2009

I am greatly saddened by the recent pedestrian fatalities that have
occurred at night time on major roads that do not have adequate street
lighting.  The adage "See and be Seen"  applies when pedestrians are
present, period.  High volume roads need to have higher standards for
lighting than lower volume and residential lighting.  Lighting levels
apply at all locations on the roadway, not just at intersections.  Many
of the streets that are currently lit do not meet current standards.
This is a significant safety issue that we need to address in our
transportation planning.  How many of the pedestrian and bicycle
fatalities that have occurred in the past 5 years occurred at night?
Lets look at this issue in the next update to the non-motorized plan.

My deepest sympathies go out to the parents of these young people.  This
one hits home for me as the parent of a 14 year old Freshman at Hellgate
High.  We need to continue our focus on transportation safety in our
planning efforts.  Lets develop lighting standards for our City Streets,
adopt them and importantly, find funding to get it done.

Brent Campbell, P.E.
President / CEO
WGM Group, Inc.
http://www.wgmgroup.com <http://www.wgmgroup.com/> 

________________________________

From: Ethel MacDonald [mailto:ethelmacd at gmail.com] 
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2009 10:09 AM
To: Brent Campbell
Cc: Scott Sproull; Geoff Badenoch; Sally Brown; missoulagov at cmslists.com
Subject: Re: [MissoulaGov] Parking Kiosks

It all sounds so practical, but I hate it -- i.e. parking structures --
even though I've gradually learned to love (well, not exactly, but USE)
the St. Pat's parking.  Yes, I do actually have to drive and park very
occasionally, almost always in the winter when underground/inside is
appreciated.  Question:  are the current parking structures always full?
Leased spaces?  How about if any new parking facilities are underground?

On Fri, Dec 18, 2009 at 9:50 AM, Brent Campbell <BCampbell at wgmgroup.com>
wrote:

	Right on Scott.  Mature, vibrant downtowns have invested in
structured parking increasing parking supply.  This in turn reduces the
demand for surfacing parking lots which then turn into tall buildings.
Once the downtown densifies, transit becomes much more efficient.
Density drives transit efficiency on the origin and destination ends of
the trip.  Converting surface parking lots in downtown to residential
housing eliminates the need for the trip in the first place and is the
MOST GREEN THING YOU CAN DO.  If you do not have parking, development
will not occur as is the case with the Riverfront Triangle.  Structured
parking is the the critical element that makes the economics work for
the private sector investment.  That is why TWO new structured parking
lots in downtown is the critical first step to implementation of the
downtown master plan.

	Please copy this email and resend this every couple of months as
we seem to need to continually explain this to folks.

	Brent Campbell, P.E.
	President / CEO
	WGM Group, Inc.
	http://www.wgmgroup.com <http://www.wgmgroup.com/> 

________________________________

	From: Scott Sproull [mailto:scottsproull at gmail.com] 
	Sent: Friday, December 18, 2009 9:32 AM
	To: Geoff Badenoch
	Cc: pnooney at earthlink.net; Jordan Hess; Sally Brown;
missoulagov at cmslists.com; Brent Campbell 

	Subject: Re: [MissoulaGov] Parking Kiosks

	I have worked with Geoff Badenoch on many important Downtown
issues over the years and I would just like to say he's doing a great
job of explaining how the Msla Downtown Assoc., the BID and the Missoula
Parking Commission are working together to juggle and keep afloat a lot
of similar and dis-similar Parking Demand Management Balls in the air
all at once.  As a business owner and long-time Downtown Observer, it
seems to me that the Owners, Workers, Employees and a bevy of Downtown
Support Groups are doing a lot more with 'alternative - Downtown
Friendly' transportation options than Downtown Customers are at this
time.  No doubt, being good Customers, they often have arm-loads of
clothing, books or even shoes to bring home with the help of a motorized
vehicle.  I'm feeling pretty good that all the transportation groups
associated with our Downtown are doing their best to 'encourage'
alternative transportation methods, while also doing their best not to
alienate customers who have not been 'enlightened' yet.  Thanks All!
Scott Sproull (below is the finale of my crazy idea for using new
parking concepts to enhance the economic viability of specific, more
economically blighted Downtown areas).

	================================

	Part Two - What are the Amazing Benefits associated with
replacing a few Antiquated Parking Meters in one small corridor of our
Downtown with (Customer-Attracting, Customer-Convenient & Business
Enhancing) 'Two-Hour-FREE' Parking spaces?

	This is the  'Rest of the Story' on why I made the 'seemingly'
crazy suggestion that the ELIMINATION of a small (token) number of
Parking Meters (only 42 out of 1,100... or less than 4%)... and their
replacement with 'Two-Hour-Free-Parking' spaces, on Higgins Avenue
(specifically NORTH OF BROADWAY), has a HUGE number of potential
benefits that would greatly improve the economic and cultural vitality
of that part of our Downtown (North of Broadway, on Higgins, but also on
streets adjacent to North Higgins) that is in so much need of some
critical, ASAP Business & Economic Development help (which would also
benefit much of the 'Core' and 'Heart' of our Downtown in the long-term
as well!).

	* Please note:  This 'how to provide new customer-friendly
parking management concepts and technology' discussion amongst dozens of
readers of the missoulagov blog has been specifically focused on the
North Higgins Project, which is located on Higgins Avenue, NORTH of
Broadway, and all the way North to the old train depot.  We all continue
to repeat this location information because in the past, and again just
yesterday, I and others are too-often horribly misquoted in the media
(see an independent newspaper nearest you) where it says that, Scott
Sproull... " believes two-hour free parking IN FRONT OF HIS HIGGINS
AVENUE STOREFRONT [my emphasis] would make an immediate impact on his
business."  If the reader doesn't know, my 37 year old business (Hide &
Sole)... (1) has NEVER been North of Broadway, where the North Higgins
Improvements Project is taking place... (2) has had very steady,
healthy, organic, above-average growth for dozens of years, including
the last two years... (3)  does not need the extra economic stimulus
that other businesses might need in our Downtown... (4) and I have no
idea why this obviously unsaid and untrue statement about wanting
'two-hour-free' parking spaces in front of my store was written into the
misguided article, since the reporter and I were talking about how
"Businesses North of Broadway" could really use some Economic
Development help (which new parking management concepts can play a
helpful and positive role).  

	============

	The quote below from Missoula's Master Plan Consultant and
Parking Guru (Dennis Burns) sums up why Downtown Associations, Downtown
Businesses, Downtown Stakeholders and Parking Commissions don't always
have the same Big-Picture Economic Development Ideas and Visions as each
other. 

	"Downtown associations are driven by efforts to revitalize
downtown areas and see parking costs as one element that places them at
a competitive disadvantage (compared to the perception of "free parking"
at the malls/suburbs).  Parking system managers are being pushed,
usually by municipal governments, to generate revenues.  The bottom line
is they lack a shared vision and therefore are pulling in opposite
directions."

	The Question Begs:  Are the proposed parking controls within the
North Higgins Improvement District going to be a real benefit to the
economic vitality of the (many suffering and blighted) businesses in
that area, or is the parking commission's need for revenue and
efficiency enhancements going to get top priority???  I think THAT
should be the real question for 'evaluating' and 'modifying' the parking
controls in the North Higgins Improvement District - Yes?  

	No doubt, to financially justify a limited number of
'Two-Hour-Free' Parking Spaces in the Improvement District, some of the
other 'hopefully non-customer-related' parking revenue (like employer &
employee lease rates) can and should be 'enhanced' to pay for the
customers increased support of our Downtown.

	Now on to some 'Alternative & Crazy Parking Options" for the
Economic Enhancement of the Businesses - North of Broadway (and
including those Businesses on and adjacent to Higgins)!

	Problem: Some people reading this blog find it very inconvenient
and a pain when they don't always have their 'meter coins' with them to
pay the 'antiquated' mechanical parking meters that are definitely not
as convenient as the more-modern, electronic, single-space meters (or
multi-space machines which conveniently take coins, credit cards or
debit cards).

	Alternative Solutions: 'Two-Hour-Free' Parking does not require
coins, credit cards or payments.  In fact, the Parking is FREE, to the
customer and visitor, but for a limited time of two-hours or less (which
is plenty of time for a lunch, shopping or stroll through the Downtown.
Parking Enforcement Officers (PEO's) aka 'Meter Maids,' are just as
essential to the success of 'Two-Hour-Free' Parking Programs as with
Meters, so that Business Owners and Downtown Workers do not attempt to
hog parking spaces for long periods of time (or compete for vital
parking with their own and Business neighbors customers).  

	Missoula currently has short-term FREE Parking in high-demand
locations like City Hall and the Post Office, but few have thought about
the Economic Development Potential of changing a few meters in the N.
Higgins Improvement District to 'Two-Hour-Free,' Customer-Friendly,
Business-Enhancing, Parking.

	With 'Two-Hour-Free' Parking... Customers & Visitors do not have
to deal with broken mechanical and/or electronic meters, and they do not
have to search up and down the block for a multi-space, electronic,
(sometimes broken) machine... that actually might be in the opposite
direction of where they want to go (these were serious concerns
mentioned by some on the blog).

	BUT MORE SO... from a Business Development & Downtown Enhancing
point of view, setting aside a few (token) short-term parking spaces,
that are (very important here) FREE to customers and visitors (and paid
for by owners and workers), would do a couple of other really positive
and important things:

	A)    Create Customer Demand [Economic Driver], and no doubt
customer competition for parking spaces that are FREE, but purposely
placed on Higgins (North of Broadway), where there is a specific
district where many of the under-developed Businesses would really
appreciate some extra customers and economic incentives.

	B)     Create a FANTASTIC Customer BUZZ & Extra Customer
Referrals to the Downtown!!!  This would be a Marketers Dream, since for
the first time in decades, there really WOULD BE (just a few, but at
least some) Free Parking Spaces for Customers in a very specific part of
our Downtown.  In reality, you might only stumble across an open Free
Parking Space on Higgins every once in a Blue Moon (rarely), but I
suspect many Downtown Supporters would find themselves driving further
up into the North Higgins Improvement District to see if they can WIN a
Free Parking Space (like a Free Lottery).  

	C)    Most business-people know that the best, cheapest, most
effective Advertising is hard-earned 'Word-of-Mouth' excitement from
customers who are super-happy about a product or service they received
and want to tell their friends, (internet friends) and families about.
FREE-TWO-HOUR Parking is just the ticket to create a Downtown Economic
Buzz that would quickly spread throughout the Missoula and regional
community, and very much benefit the entire Downtown.

	D)    If we are going to test a new, revolutionary (small-scale
& experimental) way to improve the parking controls and customer service
in the North Higgins Improvements District, let's put up a few, very
simple, low maintenance, non-mechanical, non-electric 'Two-Hour-Free'
Parking Signs and see what happens.  It can always be modified a little,
or a lot later on.  

	Test this Idea - Modify It - Other Input?

	Scott Sproull
	Hide & Sole
	Downtown Since 1972

	On 12/17/09, Geoff Badenoch <geoffb at ism.net> wrote: 

		There are too many variables in the cost of developing a
parking facility to nail down a figure that exactly.  Is land included?
Each space must have a way to get to it with a car.  That is called
circulation and varies with the size and configuration of the structure.
Internal utilities-lighting, water, security cameras, fire suppression,
ventilation, etc. all have costs that vary with each structure.
Architectural detail to dress up the structure can vary depending how
important aesthetics are to the community.  Most professionals use a
range that these days is generally between $24K and $32K per space.

		Typically financing of municipal parking structures is
done through use of cash reserves of the parking authority, revenue
bonds (fees for parking retire the debt), or tax increment financing, or
a combination of those methods.  Some exploration of use of what are
known as "new market tax credits" for a potential new structure in
Missoula has been done, but I don't believe any conclusions have been
arrived at with regard to whether it is a feasible or appropriate
method.  Oftentimes, municipal parking can be developed in conjunction
with private partners, but it is very complicated.

		Our Missoula Parking Commission has been a good partner
to transit and made several significant cash contributions of parking
revenues to subsidize public transportation as a means of what is called
"parking demand management." PDM is the philosophy that follows what
Jordan was talking about-reducing the demand for parking by giving
people an alternative means (not cars) to get to Downtown.  Are there
other ways to devote parking revenues (as opposed to tax supported
payments) to transit?  Probably, but it is all part of a development of
a long-range strategy to accommodating people's travel to and from
Downtown.  

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