Parking Study
Comprehensive Downtown Parking Study
In June 2006 the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority selected Nelson/Nygaard Consulting Associates to assemble a comprehensive study of the downtown parking system. The primary goal of this project was to provide sufficient information about existing and expected downtown parking conditions so that the DDA and City could develop new strategies to better manage existing parking and to assess the need for additional downtown parking. Specific project purposes include:
- Assessing the current balance of parking supply and demand in the downtown and within the subareas of downtown
- Gaining an improved understanding of parking patrons and their reasons for coming downtown
- Anticipating future parking demand
- Identifying policy options and their expected implications on downtown parking conditions
- Involving the public to get their input on parking conditions and operations
Nelson/Nygaard's work included utilization counts, land use analysis, an inventory of downtown private parking spaces, responses to a mail-in survey from 3,000 parking patrons, and several dozen patron interviews, as well as a public workshop which drew many dozens of community members who shared their perceptions of downtown parking demand, parking priorities, and most importantly, how parking can be managed to support the community’s overall goals and priorities. Some of the reports completed during this study include:
- Stakeholder interviews – this document summarizes interviews with two key stakeholders, used as part of an effort to collect existing quantified date and qualitative views from local sources.
- Employment profile – this presents a summary of Downtown employment levels, the means by which employees commute, the number of daily commuting vehicles brought into the area, and the distance from which employees commute.
- Private Parking Analysis – an assessment of private parking spaces was one aspect of completing a comprehensive review of existing parking conditions. Specifically, it sheds light on how much parking demand is currently being met by the private sector, the availability of private parking has an impact on commuter choices, and the effectiveness of on-site parking requirements for Downtown land uses, as defined in the City’s zoning codes.
- Summary of Ann Arbor Zoning and Regulations for Parking – the City of Ann Arbor’s vehicular and bicycle off-street parking requirements for developments within the Downtown District, including requirements for new and re-use developments, are presented in this document.
The results of the parking study will be beneficial not only to the DDA, but to the City as well in pursuing new downtown parking strategies.
The comprehensive downtown parking study was completed in January 2007, and is available for download on the Data and Reports page of this website.