Representatives from various organizations throughout Portland have recently discussed a proposal that would raise parking rates in the University District by 25 percent—from $1.60 to $2 per hour. Revenue raised from the fee increase would go toward on-campus improvements in the areas of transportation and public safety.
Portland State’s estimated benefit from the proposed rate hike would be approximately $300,000 annually.
Representatives from various organizations throughout Portland have recently discussed a proposal that would raise parking rates in the University District by 25 percent—from $1.60 to $2 per hour. Revenue raised from the fee increase would go toward on-campus improvements in the areas of transportation and public safety.
Portland State’s estimated benefit from the proposed rate hike would be approximately $300,000 annually.
According to Dan Zalkow, Portland State director of Planning, Sustainability and Real Estate, this plan was proposed by the Portland Sustainability Institute in November 2010 to “reinvest that additional revenue into the University District for transportation improvements such as crosswalk improvements.” He went on to say that “individuals from the PoSI, the city and PSU met a few times to discuss this proposal to better understand it and examine how this type of proposal would work.”
Catherine Ciarlo, the transportation director in Mayor Sam Adams’ office, suggested that the Lloyd Center neighborhood set precedence for such a change. “The Lloyd District is a parking meter district; they keep 50 percent of meter revenues for Lloyd District projects, and Portland State could see something similar,” Ciarlo said. “The higher parking charge would keep money in the area and be used to make improvements.”
The Lloyd District’s alternate parking rate plan currently charges $1 per hour for meters, and keeps them open from 8 a.m. to either 6 p.m. or 10 p.m., depending on the area.
The proposed increase for the PSU District would take effect in the area surrounding the Portland State campus, where students who drive to campus (one-quarter of the PSU student body, according to recent reports) often have to park.
“The fee increase would probably have me re-think my need for street parking,” commuter student Anthony Leopold said. “Should there be an increase, I might opt for a monthly pass somewhere else. I imagine students’ reactions to a rate increase would be negative.”
“It would force students into using public transportation,” said Susannah Bodman, who commutes from Salem. “It may become their only option, to get a transit pass. It’s not a bad thing to use public transportation, but it depends on the student and how flexible their schedule is.”
Sarah Renkens, manager of PSU Transportation and Parking Services, understands that students are likely to take issue with a possible rate increase. “In general and at PSU, there is often opposition to parking rate increases,” Renkens said. She suggested that such a proposal could “mean a shift to more people purchasing long-term parking permits, rather than paying by the hour on the street.”
However, she indicated that the increased revenue for Portland State would be put to good use. “I think if there were improvements made to transportation infrastructure—streets, bike lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks—around PSU, it would benefit students and employees as they were traveling to and from campus and as they travel across campus throughout the day,” Renkens said.
“Transportation improvements can increase the safety of drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.”
“More money to do the kinds of things you want is always helpful, and it can be really hard to raise money for these kinds of projects,” Ciarlo said. “We did raise parking rates downtown a few years ago and some stakeholders complained, but it has not affected the amount of people that come downtown. Portland’s parking rates would still be relatively cheap, compared to most major cities.”
“Like many fee increases, there are positive and negative results. With this idea, some people would pay more to park and some people would benefit from the street improvements, so there will likely be a mix of reactions,” Zalkow said.
It will likely be a while before discussions become serious. “There is currently no plan to implement the proposal,” Zalkow said. Ciarlo echoed his statement, insisting that the city of Portland is “interested in looking at new ways to change parking,” but that there are “no plans to come in and change the rates.”
At this point, the proposal appears to be simply an idea.
Still, if the plan were to be pursued by PSU officials, the motivation would be for genuine community improvements. “If this proposal, or something similar, were pursued, it would only be because there would be significant benefits to the community, and in the area of safety in particular,” Zalkow said.
If the money would be used to subsidise lowered parking rates for carpoolers or PT users, this would make a tangible difference in congestion around campus. Knowing the City, I suspect the money would be used to hire more metercops to raise MORE money…possibly to fund the illegal campers in City parks.