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Today I presented to the @WgtnCC on the proposed Smarter Ways to Manage Parking policy.
Wanted to share a few points from the meeting because how we treat parking has deep implications for our transport systems.
As @DonaldShoup says, there is a & #39;high cost to free parking& #39;.
Wanted to share a few points from the meeting because how we treat parking has deep implications for our transport systems.
As @DonaldShoup says, there is a & #39;high cost to free parking& #39;.
For context for the non-Kiwis: NZ has one of the highest levels of car ownership in the world (second only to Lebanon).
Wellington is also one of the most congested cities in Australasia, and it& #39;s getting worse with a big new highway about to add a heap more traffic.
Wellington is also one of the most congested cities in Australasia, and it& #39;s getting worse with a big new highway about to add a heap more traffic.
Cars are so valuable to our transport mix because we can drive/park them cheaply and we& #39;ve underinvested in PT.
We& #39;ve got min parking reqs, box stores with free car parks, and unless it& #39;s downtown, it& #39;s cheap.
& #39;Kiwi& #39;s love their cars& #39; and we& #39;re used to parking being the norm.
We& #39;ve got min parking reqs, box stores with free car parks, and unless it& #39;s downtown, it& #39;s cheap.
& #39;Kiwi& #39;s love their cars& #39; and we& #39;re used to parking being the norm.
Nowhere is this norm more obvious than resident car parks in Wellington.
In the suburbs less than 3km from the CBD, renting a room costs >$280/week but you can get a onstreet resident parking permit for $2.50-3.84/week for something the same size.
In the suburbs less than 3km from the CBD, renting a room costs >$280/week but you can get a onstreet resident parking permit for $2.50-3.84/week for something the same size.
But this land isn& #39;t free.
Market rent for a garage in these areas is $50-75/week.
I know - friends use theirs for storage and park onstreet bc it& #39;s & #39;cheap& #39;.
So I calculated the difference between the revenue of parking vs what it is worth assuming a conservative $30/week.
Market rent for a garage in these areas is $50-75/week.
I know - friends use theirs for storage and park onstreet bc it& #39;s & #39;cheap& #39;.
So I calculated the difference between the revenue of parking vs what it is worth assuming a conservative $30/week.
The long and short of it - cheap resident parking costs the Wellington Council at least $11m a year.
That& #39;s $11m that, if better captured, could be put towards helping rebuild the library, better busses or even lowering rates in those areas.
And again, $11m is conservative.
That& #39;s $11m that, if better captured, could be put towards helping rebuild the library, better busses or even lowering rates in those areas.
And again, $11m is conservative.
We are constrained in our ability to put costs up by the Local Government Act 2002, which states that councils can only do & #39;cost recovery& #39; for parking.
But this *is* a cost: opportunity cost.
We subsidise our often richest residents with cheap parking.
But this *is* a cost: opportunity cost.
We subsidise our often richest residents with cheap parking.
For reference, in Mt Vic, the $3.1m a year they currently lose out on due to cheap resident parking equates to $1500 for every household in the area.
Average rates in Wellington are $2754 (higher there though - it& #39;s a boujie spot).
It is material.
Average rates in Wellington are $2754 (higher there though - it& #39;s a boujie spot).
It is material.
I think it& #39;s unfair that it& #39;s so cheap.
I recommended to them that they recalibrate how they think about the & #39;cost& #39; of this parking.
Parking is a contentious issue, but our transport system is dependent on cars because we& #39;ve made them so cheap. Let& #39;s start by fixing parking.
I recommended to them that they recalibrate how they think about the & #39;cost& #39; of this parking.
Parking is a contentious issue, but our transport system is dependent on cars because we& #39;ve made them so cheap. Let& #39;s start by fixing parking.
Cr Rush said that renters would be harder hit with more of them per flat.
They also live near the city and can bus/Mevo/ebike. Parking is just one of the considerations, and most tenancies are <12 months.
Or as @IslaStewart suggested use the money to make the busses better ;)
They also live near the city and can bus/Mevo/ebike. Parking is just one of the considerations, and most tenancies are <12 months.
Or as @IslaStewart suggested use the money to make the busses better ;)
All of which is to say that I support the moves outlined in the policy today, even if I think they should go further.
I highly commend @DrJennyCondie for her leadership here. It& #39;s a tough gig!
Also, if you like this, you& #39;ll like Urbanerds. Come join! https://forms.gle/DDp3ZHqtsX5N7cSJ6">https://forms.gle/DDp3ZHqts...
I highly commend @DrJennyCondie for her leadership here. It& #39;s a tough gig!
Also, if you like this, you& #39;ll like Urbanerds. Come join! https://forms.gle/DDp3ZHqtsX5N7cSJ6">https://forms.gle/DDp3ZHqts...
