PARKING

Information session Introductions Parking position paper Government parking levy Park & (St)ride Questions & answers

History of parking system Regularisation for safety reasons (2003) Coincidence of increasing demand Constant dissatisfaction

Reasons for constant dissatisfaction Insufficient parking (15,000 students, 1,500+ staff) Inequity of system (staff v. students) Inadequate provision for visitors Clamping/appeals Socially undesirable responses (early arrival; loss of family-friendly possibilities)

Galway City Council Development Plan limits (1,600 spaces) Currently c. 4,600 permits (“hunting ratio” 2.9:1) Cost per space €8,000 upwards Inadequacy of public transport Lack of other “mobility management” solutions Differing perceptions of equity Why do problems persist?

How do we currently allocate spaces? Staff70643% Students 95 6% Shared65840% Pay & Display 79 5% [Miscellaneous 62 6%] Shared: students – two-thirds to 80%; staff – one-third to 20%

Solutions Mobility management solutions Car parking solutions Other possible partial solutions

Mobility management solutions Travel Pass Scheme Car pooling and car sharing Public transport (dissemination of information) Public transport (lobbying) Cycling and walking

Car parking solutions Central multi-storey (rejected: cost; use of central campus location; increased traffic) Outlying Park & Ride – Cost – Shuttle bus cost – Inconvenience

Management position Full support for Park & (St)ride solution Need for self-financing of shuttle bus system – Constraints on University finance – Many competing priorities – Value per space up to €900-€1,500 per annum Charge a basis for incentivising alternative behaviours

Union position Staff are critical stakeholders Opposed to concept of self-financing Concept of charging not ruled out -provided not compulsory and tightly prescribed -provided equity between staff and students maintained Reduce student places Eliminate use of shared spaces Allocate to give 50% of current shared spaces to students Restrict students to use of Dangan

Students’ Union position Recognition of students as primary stakeholders Strategic aim of student-centred University Important to maintain equity of allocation -parking important for those living at home at distance -parking important for those on crèche runs Students are 88% of population, have 7% of spaces Evidence of usage of shared spaces is evidence of need

Alternative self-financing methods/charging methods Increase in P&D income (number of spaces and/or increased charges) (Higher) charge for main/south campus (Lower) charge for Dangan/Corrib Village/north campus Tendered payment for limited guaranteed places

Government parking levy Within designated urban areas (not yet specified) Part of tax system Unaffected by charges by employer Normally €200 per annum Reduces by 50% when hunting ratio > 2:1 Reductions for work-sharing, etc.

Issues No charge for students –Classification between students and staff –Equity of overall arrangement Designation problems –Employer/physical area Whole campus Campus excluding Dangan/Dangan and Corrib Village South campus –Exclusion of car-pool area

Park and (st)ride Favoured over multi-storey car park solution Delay in planning permission (An Bord Pleanála) Appropriate standards required Shuttle bus desirable Cost significant