By March 18, use survey to help manage busy street parking

Take a survey to help shape a variety of proposals for how the City of Berkeley would manage on-street parking near transit stations, on its busiest streets, and in business districts. 

This set of parking management proposals seeks to increase the vitality of these areas by maximizing the use of the most sought-after parking spaces and reducing congestion caused by drivers circling in the search for spaces.  

The proposals include several options, including extending evening meter hours from 6 pm to 8 pm, introducing paid Sunday parking, and adding new parking meters to high-demand areas. 

While on-street parking is the most desired, the City also provides off-street parking through lots and garages downtown, in the Southside and in the Elmwood District.  

Driving is also not the only option. The City has made a variety of street safety upgrades to make it easier to walk, bike or take public transit around town. 

City staff will incorporate your survey feedback and present recommendations to City Council in the near future.

Complete the Parking Management Program Survey by 5 pm on March 18 to help guide the future of parking management in Berkeley’s most popular areas.

Survey includes seven proposals

The survey consists of two parts. In the first part you will indicate whether you agree or disagree with goals of the City’s Parking Management Program. Then, you will be asked your opinion on seven proposals City staff are considering recommending to the City Council. 

The proposals are:

• Extend evening meter hours from 6 pm to 8 pm on Mondays-Saturdays in high-demand areas.  
• Introduce paid parking on Sundays, one of the busiest days for commercial districts. 
• Expand parking meters to new high-demand areas that currently have no meters or time-limited parking.
• Replace older parking meters with meters that accept credit/debit/Clipper cards instead of cash and coin.
• Shift transaction fees currently paid by the City to the customer, resulting in an additional 25 to 35 cents per meter transaction.
• Creating an optional Monthly or Annual Meter Permit – ranging between $4,000 to $6,000 annually – that lets drivers park in any metered zone without paying the meter every time.
• Make the Center Street Garage more desirable for short-term parking use – under 4 hours.

Some of these proposals are adopted from cities in the Bay Area. Oakland, for instance, introduced paid Sunday parking this year. San Francisco offers contractor permits that lets permit holders park by parking meters without having to pay at the meter.

Berkeley provides alternative modes of transportation, parking options

In Berkeley, 52% of all trips are by car or truck. Nearly half of Berkeley residents, workers, students, and visitors use alternative modes of transportation such as walking, biking, rolling, or public transit.  

Protected bicycle lanes and bus-only transit lanes in Southside and Downtown allow more people to bike, roll, or take the bus, encouraging folks to take modes other than automobiles.  

Help the City improve efficiency and availability of parking by taking the survey before 5 pm on March 18.

Links

• Parking Management Survey
• Parking Garages and Lots
• Other cities’ parking examples 
  • Oakland introduces paid Sunday parking 
  • SFMTA (San Francisco)’s Contractor Parking Permit Program