Cheshire West and Chester Parking Strategy Chester BID Event 26/01/2017 Cheshire West and Chester Council
Cheshire West and Chester Parking Strategy Overview Strategy Brief Programme Where are we now? Stakeholder and public consultation plan Emerging Findings Borough and Chester Proposed Measures Borough and Chester 26/01/2017 Mott MacDonald Cheshire West and Chester Parking Strategy 2
Strategy Brief Mott MacDonald were commissioned to review and provide recommendations on: Parking Policy Parking provision including on-street and blue badge Enforcement and management Charging and tariff structures Residents Parking Zones (RPZs) Development parking standards Marketing and promotion 26/01/2017 Mott MacDonald Cheshire West and Chester Parking Strategy 3
Programme Where are we now? Commissioned in January 2016 Data collection undertaken between February and May 2016 Initial Stakeholder Consultation May August 2016 Draft Strategy Prepared August November 2016 Now undertaking public consultation on proposals Task Jan-16 Feb-16 Mar-16 Apr-16 May-16 Jun-16 Jul-16 Aug-16 Sep-16 Oct-16 Nov-16 Dec-16 Jan-17 Feb-17 1 Commission and Inception 2 Desktop Research 3 Fieldwork 4 Parking Standards SPD 5 Stakeholder Engagement 6 Length of stay surveys 7 Draft Strategy Formulation 8 Reporting 9 Public Consultation 26/01/2017 Mott MacDonald Cheshire West and Chester Parking Strategy 4
Findings
Borough Wide Findings 1 Location of Provision Mismatch between supply and demand in several locations around the borough 2 Control Lack of control of large proportion of offer 3 Charging Lack of charging in majority of borough creates a car park management challenge 4 Policy Lack of harmonisation and consistency between parking policies e.g. Free After 3 and Park & Ride 5 Residents Parking Implementation of new Residents Parking Zones currently challenging due to criteria in some areas 6 Quality Some of the parking stock in the borough (both public and private) requires significant enhancement 26/01/2017 Mott MacDonald Cheshire West and Chester Parking Strategy 6
Borough Wide Findings contd. 7 Signage Directional signage to public and private parking is often sporadic and sometimes nonexistent 8 Station Provision Rail station parking is insufficient in several locations in terms of capacity, quality and accessibility 9 Out of town competition Retail developments with free parking such as Cheshire Oaks, Trafford Centre and Broughton Retail Park 10 New technology Need to capitalise on opportunities presented by new technology 11 Future Scenario Game-changing developments currently underway (Baron s Quay, Mersey Gateway, Northgate etc.) require a forward looking solution 26/01/2017 Mott MacDonald Cheshire West and Chester Parking Strategy 7
Proportion of Total Car Spaces Chester Findings Off Street Parking Total capacity is 3,971 spaces CWaC control just under half Most city centre parking is chargeable 4% of spaces are blue-badge 6% 5% 4.9% 4% 3% 2% 1% 0% 2.5% 1.2% 0.6% 0.6% 0.4% 0.0% 0.1% Disabled Spaces Parent&Child Spaces Motorcycle Spaces Bicycle Spaces Public Private 26/01/2017 Mott MacDonald Cheshire West and Chester Parking Strategy 8
Chester Findings - Off Street Parking Av price paid per hour is 1.42 (public) & 1.64 (private) Most expensive public car park is Trinity Street ( 2.16ph) Least expensive charged public car park is Christleton Road ( 0.49ph) Most expensive private car park is Pepper Street ( 2.46) followed by Brown s Yard ( 2.38) and Grosvenor Centre ( 2.11) Least expensive charged private car park is Canal Street ( 0.81ph) 26/01/2017 Mott MacDonald Cheshire West and Chester Parking Strategy 9
Chester Findings - Off Street Parking Quality issues observed at: Trinity Street Christleton Road Cuppin Street Garden Lane Walker Street Hunter Street Hoole Road Albion Street Canal Street Linenhall Spot weekday occupancy of all car parks was 57% and Saturday was 68% Highest occupancies observed at Walker Street (100%), Canal Street (100%) and Saddlery Way (93%) Publicly owned car parks less busy than private (51% vs 62%) during weekday but this was reversed on a Saturday (78% vs 62%) 26/01/2017 Mott MacDonald Cheshire West and Chester Parking Strategy 10
Chester Findings - Off Street Occupancy Weekday Saturday 26/01/2017 11
Chester Findings - Off Street Parking Profiles Based on 10 pay and display car parks: Annual peaks during June, July and August with highest peak in December Weekly peaks on a Saturday although this is shorter than the weekday FA3 generates a short peak at the Market car park Average length of stay at P&D car parks is 4 hours. 26/01/2017 Mott MacDonald Cheshire West and Chester Parking Strategy 12
Weekday Occupancy Saturday Occupancy 26/01/2017 Mott MacDonald Cheshire West and Chester Parking Strategy Chester Findings On-Street Parking Total on-street bay capacity is 550 97% of bays are restricted to less than an hours waiting while 51% are restricted to less than 30 mins 3% of on-street bays are blue-badge (Blue Badge holders can also park on double yellow lines) Many locations at or exceeding capacity Least demand at Filkin's Lane, Grosvenor St, Queens Park Road, Sealand Rd, and Victoria Rd 13
Chester Findings - On-street Resident Parking Zones (RPZs) Weekday Occupancy Total capacity is c595 spaces The capacity per zone varies significantly between <10 and >110 The most heavily occupied RPZs were Zones A and B (both 73% occupied); The lowest take-up was observed at Zone J (28%) during the weekday and E (36%) on Saturday On-site observations of demand and turnover of spaces show potential for RPZs at Hoole, Handbridge, the Garden Quarter and Sealand Road. Proportion of Total Capacity 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 98% 92% 86% 73% 73% 74% 68% 70% 71% 62% 62% 57% 54% 54% 53% 56% 52% 46% 45% 45% 50% 36% 30% 28% A B C D E F G I J K L Overall RPZ Zone Weekday Saturday 26/01/2017 Mott MacDonald Cheshire West and Chester Parking Strategy 14
Chester Findings Uncontrolled On-Street Parking Weekday Occupancy Saturday Occupancy 26/01/2017 15
Proportion of Car Parking Capacity Chester Findings Park and Ride Total capacity is 3,130 spaces Quality of all facilities and infrastructure was considered generally good Upton had the highest weekday usage at 57% utilised 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 36% 35% 36% 25% 57% 35% 24% 21% All other facilities were less than 40% occupied throughout the week 0% Boughton Heath Park and Ride Sealand Road Park and Ride Weekday Occupancy Upton Park and Ride Saturday Occupancy Wrexham Road Park and Ride Wrexham Road had the lowest observed occupancy at 24% on a weekday and 21% on a Saturday 26/01/2017 Mott MacDonald Cheshire West and Chester Parking Strategy 16
Chester Findings - Enforcement 70% of PCNs issued in Chester are for on-street contraventions Of these, 40% relate to infringements concerning use of parking bays and 26% concern the violation of parking prohibitions Highest proportion of PCNs in the Borough are issued in Chester (reflecting the number of restrictions) The remaining 30% of PCNs issued in Chester relate to off-street car park contraventions Of these, the majority (24%) relate to contraventions concerning invalid use of parking bays and 6% concern the violation of parking prohibitions 26/01/2017 Mott MacDonald Cheshire West and Chester Parking Strategy 17
Chester Findings - Enforcement Parking Bay Contraventions Yellow Line Contraventions 26/01/2017 18
Recommendations
Policy Review Recommendations Parking Standards New SPD developed for different land use classes and zones - Non-standard parking provision Disabled provision increase to meet national guidelines. Motorcycle parking to be considered on case by case basis Cycle parking as per standards in SPD Residential Parking Use outcome of benchmarking and public consultation to guide any policy changes Off-street parking Recommendations for: Level of provision Tariffs based on benchmarking Car park quality Investment in new technology Car park ownership and management On-street parking Recommendations for: Level of provision Parking control methods Tariffs based on benchmarking 26/01/2017 Mott MacDonald Cheshire West and Chester Parking Strategy 20
Overarching Policy Direction Potential solutions proposed for the borough as a whole and for Chester individually separated into the following categories P1: Location and provision P2: Charging, Tariffs and Restrictions P3: Parking Quality P4: Signage, Marketing and Technology P5: Disabled Parking P6: Residents Parking P7: Management and Control 26/01/2017 Mott MacDonald Cheshire West and Chester Parking Strategy 21
Reference Measure Borough Wide Proposed Measures Reference QUALITY BWQ2 BWQ4 BWQ3 BWQ5 BWQ6 BWQ1 BWQ7 Measure Consider creation of a ring fenced parking maintenance fund to use for upgrades and prompt repairs Consider creation of a Customer Services team to act as a central point of contact for all information on car parks Improve car park security through CCTV and lighting Review car park layouts and space sizes to maximise use of space, ease of access and improved manoeuvrability. Review entry and exit points of car parks to ensure safety and good flow of traffic Bring all car parks up to a consistent high level of quality Vary car parking bay sizes to meet needs of different users such as wheelchair users SIGNAGE, MARKETING AND TECHNOLOGY BWS2 BWS3 BWS4 BWS6 BWS9 BWS10 BWS1 Create an online car park account system for payment and management of individuals parking, and allow top up of parking credit Create a web-based car park search based on live information and requirement criteria; linked to online account system Create a smartphone app to allow users to search for car parking spaces based on live information and specific user requirements Implement a comprehensive update of all car park and directional signage to ensure it is accurate, clean and unobstructed, and is maintained to high standard Implement a major refresh of car park information on provision, location and maps. Provide accurate and coherent information on issues and developments related to parking Upgrade payment options to include card payments, supported with ANPR enforcement DISABLED PARKING BWD1 BWD3 BWD4 BWD2 RESIDENTIAL PARKING BWR1 BWR2 BWR3 BWR4 BWR5 Increase disabled parking provision to meet minimum national standards Charge for blue-badge holders in car parks to fund parking, and maintenance enhancements Incorporate up to date information on disabled parking provision on website Implement disabled parking quality improvement scheme to ensure car parks meet access standards and aim to be an example of best practice for disabled parking Streamline RPZ process by lowering threshold percentage for implementation/extension of criteria, make process available online Improve ease with which visitors can park in an RPZ through using an online system, whilst ensuring adequate steps are taken to prevent fraudulent usage Identify and implement RPZs in new streets and areas where needed Consistently enforce RPZs to improve benefits for residents Introduce charge for new RPZs so that costs are met by those who benefit from it MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL BWM3 BWM4 BWM5 BWM6 BWM8 BWM9 BWM10 BWM1 BWM2 BWM7 Ensure tariffs and controls in car parks and on-street are fully supported by accurate Traffic Regulation Orders Establish service level agreements with new privately owned car parks to prevent undermining the Strategy Establish service level agreements with current privately owned car parks to prevent undermining them undermining the Strategy Adopt the draft Parking Standards Supplementary Planning Document following consultation Increase cycle parking in car parks to encourage cycling in borough Review CWAC s travel plan to ensure sustainable and active modes are being promoted and having a positive impact Replace free parking and Park & Ride use for CWAC staff with salary sacrifice discount scheme Work with Cheshire Police to deter obstructive and illegal parking through effective enforcement and raised awareness Continue improving enforcement methods through more enforcement officers and better responsiveness Look to increase proportion of car parking under public ownership or control to ensure consistent parking strategy 22
Chester Proposed Measures Reference Measure CHARGING, TARIFFS AND RESTRICTIONS CC5 CC15 CC16 CC1 CC3 CC9 CC6 CC7 CC17 CC18 CC10 CC12 Implement a weekend parking regime with a parking ticket covering Friday-Sunday in selected car parks and at Park and Ride to serve visitors. Implement on-street charging in bays for up to 2 hours, to improve management of spaces Offer 24 hour parking facility at selected Council car parks Implement a new unified pricing strategy for all car parks and onstreet bays to support short stay core and long stay outer zones Offer residents free short stay parking at selected car parks for a limited period to replace Free after 3pm Consider alternatives for Free after 3pm as it is shown to have a limited effect in stimulating demand Park & Ride monthly and annual passes Offer businesses Park & Ride contracts for use by staff to increase P&R usage Extend Park & Ride operating hours to support commuters with irregular working hours Introduce restrictions and new pricing strategy at Hoole (Bishop St) car park to deter commuter parking - remove maximum stay, add and new pricing strategy. Introduce reduced charges to Park & Ride service after 3pm Reduce parking charges for Low Emission Vehicles (LEVs) Reference QUALITY Measure 26/01/2017 Mott MacDonald Cheshire West and Chester Parking Strategy 23 CQ4 CQ10 CQ5 Enhance the facilities at Park & Ride sites to include cycle lockers, retail facilities, online order collection - remove cycle lockers Temporarily refurbish Trinity St car park, including paint and clean Implement safety and infrastructure enhancements at Park & Ride sites to improve users feelings of safety and reduce isolation SIGNAGE, MARKETING AND TECHNOLOGY CS6 CS9 CS12 DISABLED PARKING CD1 CD6 RESIDENTS CR3 Install Park & Ride signage on strategic route approaches such as M53 and A55 Replace, upgrade and extend Variable Message Signage (VMS) on all key corridors and motorway, with associated maintenance and management Promote the late opening hours of Delamere Street and Trinity Street car parks Increase the number of disabled bays in car parks to meet recommended standards Construct new disabled parking facility at Northgate development with associated ShopMobility unit Review charges for RPZs in Chester relative to demand and costs of scheme operation MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL CM14 Improve parking management during events through online system, people on ground and technology to direct traffic flow and reduce congestion
Thank You Questions? Cheshire West and Chester Council