CITY PARKING IN EUROPE INTERREG IIIC THE “UNIQUE” PARKING PHENOMENON OF ATHENS. NEW PARKING POLICY PROSPECTS. John M. Frantzeskakis Professor Emeritus, National Technical University of Athens WORKSHOP “PARKING IN THE URBAN CENTRES: MANAGEMENT, POLICIES & PROPOSALS” Athens, June 19, 2006 S.A. Development and Engineering Consultants

Α.INTRODUCTION 1.Contents Positive and Negative Factors and Actions Present Situation. The Problems The New Prospects Application in the Municipalities of Athens and Maroussi in the Greater Athens Area J.M. Frantzeskakis, DENCO S.A. “NEW PARKING POLICY PROSPECTS IN ATHENS. PILOT ACTIONS IN THE CITY CENTRE” INTERREG IIIC 2 2.Scope Give an Introductory Overview of the “Unique” Phenomenon of Parking in the Greek Cities and Especially in the Greater Athens Area Stress the Reasons for the Many Failures and Few Successes Present the New Prospects Illustrated by Two Applications

B.POSITIVE & NEGATIVE FACTORS & ACTIONS (1 of 4) 1.Specialized Personnel, Expertise & Studies/Designs Availability of Traffic Engineers and Other Experts Participation in EU Research (e.g. Program “PARKMAN”) Large Number of Parking Studies and Proposals by Greek and Foreign Consultants –1964 – 1974: Ministry of Public Works, Consultant W. Smith & Associates –1979: Planning and Programming of Garages in Athens & Piraeus –Hundreds of Subsequent Studies/Designs by Greek Consultants. Few Implemented 2.Legal Framework Presidential Degree ΠΔ455/1975. Prerequisites for Founding and Operating Parking Garages Law N 960/1979. Defining Minimum Parking Requirements for New Buildings. Wrong Application. Large Number of Subsequent Laws/Presidential Decrees/Ministers’ Decisions on All Aspects of Parking J.M. Frantzeskakis, DENCO S.A. “NEW PARKING POLICY PROSPECTS IN ATHENS. PILOT ACTIONS IN THE CITY CENTRE” INTERREG IIIC 3

B.POSITIVE & NEGATIVE FACTORS & ACTIONS (2 of 4) 3.Special Parking Authority Special Service of Public Works for Parking Garages (ΕΥΔΕ-ΣΑ, now ΕΥΔΕΚ), Founded With the aid of Consultants, ΕΥΔΕΚ Prepared More than 100 Reports Covering Planning, Programming, Studying and Supervising Implementation of Garages (Figure 1) as well as other Activities Related to Parking like: –Data bases for Athens, Piraeus, Thessaloniki –Studies on Parking Demand and Characteristics –Programs of Systematic Selective Police Enforcement (Successful Short-term Applications in 1990 and 1994) –Assistance for Preparation of Laws etc. –Technical and Legal Help to Municipalities and Other Authorities for Designing and Tendering Garages J.M. Frantzeskakis, DENCO S.A. “NEW PARKING POLICY PROSPECTS IN ATHENS. PILOT ACTIONS IN THE CITY CENTRE” INTERREG IIIC 4

5 Fig. 1: Construction of Garages in Athens. Ministry of Environment, Planning and Public Works (ΕΥΔΕΚ) – 2006

4.Large Number of Other Related Authorities Municipalities & Prefectures. Garages and Controlled On- street Parking in their Jurisdiction ATTIKO METRO. Park and Ride at Metro Stations Traffic Police. Enforcement etc. Overlapping and Lack of Coordination. Need for a Metropolitan Town Planning and Transport Authority B.POSITIVE & NEGATIVE FACTORS & ACTIONS (3 of 4) 5.Studies and Designs Preliminary Designs and Traffic Impact Studies for All Programmed Garages (Authorities and Consultants) Final Designs for Garages Tendered (Authorities, Consultants, Contractors) Controlled On-street Parking (Authorities and Operators) J.M. Frantzeskakis, DENCO S.A. “NEW PARKING POLICY PROSPECTS IN ATHENS. PILOT ACTIONS IN THE CITY CENTRE” INTERREG IIIC 6

B.POSITIVE & NEGATIVE FACTORS & ACTIONS (4 of 4) 6.Financing, Implementation and Operation of Garages Private Initiative –Government Subsidy –Uncertainty due to Illegal Parking Public Financing, Construction by Contractors, Operation by: –Authorities (mainly Municipalities) –Contractors –Operators Very slow progress due to lack of money Concession Contracts –Government Subsidy –Uncertainty due to Illegal Parking 7.Controlled On-street Parking A Good Start The Legal Implications Failure of Police Enforcement J.M. Frantzeskakis, DENCO S.A. “NEW PARKING POLICY PROSPECTS IN ATHENS. PILOT ACTIONS IN THE CITY CENTRE” INTERREG IIIC 7

J.M. Frantzeskakis, DENCO S.A. “NEW PARKING POLICY PROSPECTS IN ATHENS. PILOT ACTIONS IN THE CITY CENTRE” INTERREG IIIC 8 C.PRESENT SITUATION. THE PROBLEMS 1.Lack of Parking Spaces, Growing due to: a.Increase of Car Ownership b.Decrease of On-street Parking Spaces due to: -Decrease of Illegal Parking (Police Enforcement, Obstacles) -Pedestrianizations Increase of Off-street Parking (New Garages) Inadequate to Cover Parking Demand Garages are not Fully Occupied During Parking Peaks due to Illegal On-street Parking Illegally Parked Vehicles, Some at Critical Locations (Traffic Lights, Corners, Bus-stops etc.), Reduce Capacity and Safety Severe Lack of Parking Space in Densely Build-up Areas (Fig. 2)

Fig. 2: The Parking Problem of Residents J.M. Frantzeskakis, DENCO S.A. “NEW PARKING POLICY PROSPECTS IN ATHENS. PILOT ACTIONS IN THE CITY CENTRE” INTERREG IIIC 9

D.THE NEW PROSPECTS (1 of 2) 1.Central Areas Implementation of Controlled On-street Parking –Complete Banning of Illegal Parking. Considerable Increase of Road Capacity –Reduction of Long-term Parking. Favoring Short-term Parking –Adequate Parking to Residents Acceleration of Construction of Garages by Private Investors and Concession Contracts –Increasing Interest by Private Investors due to: Increasing Demand (car ownership, new activities added) Decreasing Supply (banning of illegal parking) Improvement of Mass Transportation to Reduce the Use of Private Cars and the Traffic Flows Below the Increased Capacity of the Existing Roads J.M. Frantzeskakis, DENCO S.A. “NEW PARKING POLICY PROSPECTS IN ATHENS. PILOT ACTIONS IN THE CITY CENTRE” INTERREG IIIC 10

J.M. Frantzeskakis, DENCO S.A. “NEW PARKING POLICY PROSPECTS IN ATHENS. PILOT ACTIONS IN THE CITY CENTRE” INTERREG IIIC 11 2.The Dense Residential Areas Secure Adequate Parking for Residents through Controlled Parking Increased Minimum Parking Requirements in New Buildings (New Law) Larger Subsidies (Percent of Cost Instead of Lump Sum) Convert Proper Space in Existing Buildings to Parking Stalls (Underground Floors, Courtyards etc.) Construction of Small Low-cost Mechanical Garages D.THE NEW PROSPECTS (2 of 2)

E.APPLICATIONS IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF ATHENS AND MAROUSSI 1.Central Area of Athens Municipality Detailed Presentation by Vice-Mayor Mr. C. Akritides Main Reasons to Expect Success: –Legal Problems Solved –Detailed Surveys and Studies –Assignment to Experienced Contractors-Operators –Adequate Municipal Police Force –High Quality Public Transport (Metro etc.) –Available Off-street Parking Spaces J.M. Frantzeskakis, DENCO S.A. “NEW PARKING POLICY PROSPECTS IN ATHENS. PILOT ACTIONS IN THE CITY CENTRE” INTERREG IIIC 12

J.M. Frantzeskakis, DENCO S.A. “NEW PARKING POLICY PROSPECTS IN ATHENS. PILOT ACTIONS IN THE CITY CENTRE” INTERREG IIIC 13 E.APPLICATIONS IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF ATHENS AND MAROUSSI 2.Central Area of Maroussi Municipality Concentration of Big Traffic Generators –Olympic Stadium and Other Olympic Installations –Commercial/Recreation Centres etc. Reduction of On-street Parking due to Extensive Pedestrianizations Lack of Off-street Parking Metro Station –Large Park & Ride. Temporarily Abolished During Olympic Games. Not yet Opened Detailed On-street Controlled Parking Study (Table 1, Figs 3 & 4) Successful Related Constructions Failure in Implementation –Lack of Required Police Force –No Systematic Enforcement –No proper Checking of Residents Permits (Provision & Use) –Free Parking of Residents in Visitors Parking Necessary During Olympic Games when Visitors Parking was Prohibited and Use of Cars by Residents was Reduced Unjustified for Normal Conditions. Visitors Parking Occupied by Residents, Some Using Permits from Other Parking Zones

J.M. Frantzeskakis, DENCO S.A. “NEW PARKING POLICY PROSPECTS IN ATHENS. PILOT ACTIONS IN THE CITY CENTRE” INTERREG IIIC 14 Table 1:Maroussi Central Area. Existing On-street Parking (April 2004) and Implemented Controlled Parking (September 2004)

Fig. 3: Controlled Parking. Maroussi Central Area North 15

Fig. 4: Controlled Parking. Maroussi Central Area South 16