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Downtown Bend Parking Update | Dec 2019

12/18/2019

4 Comments

 
Parking in Downtown Bend is an important discussion in our community.  In 2017, the City of Bend invested in a Downtown Strategic Parking Management Plan (to view the full plan, click here).  In 2018, the Downtown Bend Parking Advisory Committee (DPAC), and the DPAC Work Committee was formed.  This committee achieved several successes:
  • Partnered with Deschutes County to provide access to county lots for weekends and special events in downtown.  This essentially provided the community with the equivalent capacity of an additional parking garage at zero cost to tax payers during our busiest days of the year for parking demand.
  • Developed a relationship between the COB Streets & Operations Department and the Downtown Bend Business Association
  • Increased communication with Downtown Bend business owners & employees
  • Held public meetings/events to talk about parking in Downtown Bend
In 2019, in response from citizen concerns and feedback from the Neighborhood Leadership Alliance (NLA), the City of Bend expanded the scope of the City's Parking Manager position, and moved it from the City's Economic Development department into the City's Streets and Operations Department.  These changes allowed for a more robust, effective management of parking not only in Downtown, but also extending to other parts of the city.  The City then hired Tobias Marx as the new Parking Manager, the DPAC Work Committee began meeting again, and a work plan was created to enact the steps outlined in the Downtown Bend Strategic Parking Management Plan. 
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The steps in this plan are designed to:
  • Improve the customer parking experience
  • Optimize utilization of available parking in Downtown Bend.
  • Establish funding for parking improvements and increasing future parking capacity.  

Some of the project identified for 2020 are:
  • Re-stripe the North Mirror Pond lot
  • Re-stripe the selected streets in the Downtown Bend Economic Improvement District (EID)
  • Center entrances to Troy lot, re-stripe & install more bike parking
  • Replace split elevator systems in the Centennial Garage
  • Repair cracked concrete in the Centennial Garage
  • Design and install new signage on all levels of the Centennial Garage
  • Investigate feasibility to change traffic flow to one-way in the Centennial Garage
  • Create a mural art program in the Centennial Garage
"We are really excited about the parking changes being developed for Downtown Bend," says Mindy Aisling, Executive Director of the DBBA, "and we are excited to work closely with the new parking manager and the City of Bend to assure that the needs our our businesses and customers are met throughout this process."

​The full list of strategies from the  Downtown Strategic Parking Management Plan are as follows:
​​1. Formalize the Guiding Principles as policies in appropriate City documents. 
2. Adopt the 85% Rule as the standard for measuring the performance of the parking supply and triggering specific management strategies, rates, permit prices and efforts by discrete zone. 
3. Centralize the management and administration of parking in a Parking Services Division, integrated with the broader program of transportation services management. 
4. Create the position of Parking Demand Manager for the City of Bend. Develop a job description and submit a service package to hire an appropriate individual. 
5. Establish a Downtown Parking Advisory Committee to assist in the implementation and ongoing review of the parking plan. 
6. Evaluate collection of data to measure parking impacts in select neighborhoods adjacent to the downtown, as well as feasibility and cost of neighborhood permit programs (e.g., administration, process and stakeholder education). 
7. Develop funding options to support parking management, maintain the existing parking supply, and support future growth, ensuring the financial feasibility of the system. 
8. Create a cohesive pricing policy for on- and off-street parking in downtown Bend. Support new policy with a rate/fee study to inform appropriate adjustments to current pricing formats to cover the cost of managing the downtown parking system. 
9. Evaluate and implement solutions to safety impediments that create inconvenient and inefficient connections to parking, e.g., lighting, sidewalk/paths, lot conditions, etc. 
10. Establish business-to-business and residential outreach on parking issues, including education and planning, and a Customer First Partnership with the Downtown Bend Business Association. 
11. Identify off-street shared-use opportunities based on data from the 2016 parking study. Establish goals for transitioning permit users and long-term parkers out of on-street parking, begin outreach to opportunity sites, negotiate agreements, and sell permits. 
12. Implement variable-rate pricing for on-street permits based on location, demand, and availability of parking. This will create pricing differentials between “premium” and underutilized locations. 
13. Reduce or phase out the number of “2-Hour or as Otherwise Specified” on-street stalls in coordination with Strategies 11 and 12 above to simply “2-Hour Parking”. 
14. Based on documented parking behavior, establish four distinct on-street parking management zones in the downtown parking district. Use 2016 or newer data to define the boundaries. 
15. Eliminate free parking for the first two hours at the Mirror Pond lots. 
16. Create a critical path timeline to a new parking brand that can be utilized at all City-owned lots and shared facilities, and in marketing/communications. 
17. Standardize the design of on-street parking signage in the parking management district and incorporate the new brand/logo. 
18. Rename all public parking facilities by address. 
19. Establish best-practice protocols and performance metrics for enforcement personnel and support enforcement with appropriate technology. 20. Where practical, expand the bike parking network to connect parking and the downtown, encouraging employee bike commute trips and drawing customers to downtown businesses. 
21. Develop a reasonable schedule of data collection—every two years —to assess the performance of the parking supply and support the 85% Rule for decision-making. 
22. Using data collected per Strategy 21, evaluate on-street pricing by zone in high-occupancy areas. If peak occupancy exceeds 85%, implement on-street pricing during enforcement hours where appropriate. - If on-street pricing is implemented, review on-street time stays established in Strategy 14. 
23. Eliminate free parking in the public garage when garage occupancies exceed 85% and on-street parking is priced. Implement demand-based pricing for all hours of enforced parking—e.g., hourly, evening, weekend, overnight, and event rates. 
24. Develop and implement improvements at the downtown public parking garage to enhance its appearance, identity, safety, revenue control, communications technology, and pedestrian access. 
25. Solicit firms to establish wayfinding and dynamic signage systems in the public right of way, integrated with the off-street system and using the brand/logo developed per Strategy 16. 
26. If existing parking becomes limited, explore expanding access capacity with new transit and parking. 
27. Develop cost forecasts and feasible financing methods for preferred parking supply and transit/shuttle options. 
28. Expand capacity as necessary and feasible.
For more information, please feel free to reach out to the DBBA at downtownbend@gmail.com

The DBBA is a small nonprofit with a mission is to 
grow the vitality of Downtown Bend by enhancing the experience, image, and lifestyle of the Economic Improvement District (EID).  For more information about the DBBA, visit www.downtownbend.org.
4 Comments

Parking Expanded in Downtown Bend

6/29/2019

3 Comments

 
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The Downtown Bend Parking Advisory Committee (DPAC) has announced a partnership with Deschutes County and the City of Bend to provide access to free public parking at the Deschutes County Administration building parking lots on weekends and during special events. The Deschutes County Administration building parking lots, located between Wall Street, Lafayette Ave and Olney Ave, contain as many parking stalls as the Downtown Bend parking garage on Lava Rd and Oregon Ave.  DPAC anticipates that utilizing these parking lots at the Deschutes County Administration building, during the busy summer tourist and special event season, will allow more people to easily access Downtown Bend.  The parking lots will be available from Friday evening after 6pm to Sunday night.  
 
“Downtown Bend is one of the greatest assets of our City, and currently we are seeing parking reach capacity during our popular events and attractions”, says Aisling, Executive Director for the Downtown Bend Business Association, “This partnership will allow more people to experience our vibrant Downtown with ease.”

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The Deschutes County parking lots are only 3 blocks from the core of Downtown Bend, with well-lit sidewalks on both sides of the road, making it easily walk-able to and from Downtown Bend.  For those who would rather catch a ride or require mobility assistance, DPAC has partnered with Ride Bend, a free shuttle service that operates 12pm to 8pm daily July 1st through Labor Day.  Ride Bend operates a ten-passenger shuttle van that riders can request on demand using the new Ride Bend app.

“Commute Options is excited to add a new park and walk option for folks to easily attend exciting happenings in Downtown Bend." said Kim Curley, with Commute Options and member of the DPAC, "Carpoolers can access free parking off the Bend Parkway and Wall Street and take an enjoyable walk to downtown. Ride Bend adds additional accessibility for families and individuals with disabilities.” 

The 
DPAC was created based on the goals outlined in the Downtown Strategic Parking Management Plan adopted by Bend City Council on June 7th, 2017.  The committee is responsible for outlining, advocating, and initiating decisions that will improve and maintain a vital transportation system for the City of Bend, and create a model that can be used city-wide for the betterment of the entire community.

Scott Douglass, CEO of Cascade Relays and member of the DPAC, said  “Parking demands are at their highest during our busy tourist season and especially during special events.  Through this partnership with Deschutes County, we are providing convenient free parking to the public within a few blocks of Downtown Bend.”

Additional Information
  • Ride Bend, click here
  • The Downtown Bend Parking Advisory Committee (DPAC), click here

3 Comments

Parking in Downtown Bend

4/11/2019

9 Comments

 
More than 5,900 spaces - including one for you!
With the recent parking changes, there has been some questions about where (and how) to park in Downtown Bend.  There are more than 5,000 parking spaces, 3 public lots and a 4 story parking garage - keeping it simple and convenient to come downtown.  So while you are dining at one of our award-winning restaurants, shopping for the perfect gift, seeing the latest live performance or attending one of our Downtown events – you won’t have any problems parking downtown.  
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Where to park for FREE!
We have lots of free parking in Downtown Bend! 
In the core of Downtown, you can park for FREE anytime in
  • The Mirror Pond lots for 2 hours free
  • On the streets for 2 hours free
  • In the parking garage for 3 hours for free. ​
​After 7pm and on Sundays ALL of the parking in Downtown is free!   
Paid parking options
If you are going to be Downtown for longer than 3 hours, your best option is to pay for parking.  Parking in Downtown Bend is more affordable than in almost any U.S. city, and, remember parking is free on Sundays and after 7 p.m. on weekdays.
Here are your options for paid parking in Downtown Bend:
  • The Mirror Pond lots for an additional 2 hours (total of 4 hours with your two free hours noted above).  The Mirror Pond lots are $1 per hour, so you can get 4 hours for $2.
  • The Parking Garage is $10 for the entire day
  • The Greenwood parking lot (right next to NW Home Interiors on the corner of Greenwood and Wall) is a max of 4 hours for $1 per hour.  *Please note this parking lot is app payment only, so you'll need a smartphone to park in this particular lot.
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Alternative modes of transportation
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Riding your bike is a great way to get around Bend.  Here are some helpful links to check out so that you can create your perfect route:
  • https://www.traillink.com/city/bend-or-trails/
  • https://www.visitbend.com/things-to-do/activities/cycling-biking/road-cycling/
  • https://www.bendbulletin.com/outdoors/5175550-151/bends-urban-trail-system-a-way-to-ease
  • https://www.bendparksandrec.org/parks-trails/trail-list/
You can also bike share through the OSU Zagster Bike program. 

Uber is also a great way to get around Downtown, and during the day the CET Bus is easy to ride (and you can even put your bike on the bus).  In the summer, they also provide the free Ride Bend service!  Finally, if you carpool or ride your bike, make sure that you are logging your trips so that you can win rewards from Commute Options.

4/21/2019 - Update

Today the Downtown Bend Parking Advisory Committee decided to change the Greenwood parking lot and Irving street parking to match the 2 hours free + 2 hours paid in the Mirror Pond parking lots.  They also voted to change the signage in all 3 areas to add more clarity for the user.  Although these changes might take 4-6 weeks to implement - you can expect them promptly.  We will most a new map reflecting these rate changes when the change is officially made and new signage is installed.  
9 Comments

NEW PARKING PROGRAM FOR RIVERSIDE BLVD

5/21/2018

4 Comments

 
PictureRunners in Drake Park along Riverside Blvd.
Parking pilot program aims to make it easier to access Drake Park this summer.  

​
Bend Park and Recreation District and the City of Bend are partnering to facilitate easier access to Drake Park this summer.

With a new, limited-duration parking program, the City and the park district are initiating four-hour parking limits along Riverside Boulevard to allow more park users the opportunity to visit Drake Park between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day.

Drake Park is a very popular river exit location for thousands of river floaters each day in the summer and it also hosts numerous events and festivals.

“Residents and visitors are encouraged to continue enjoying activities in the park with alternative modes
of transportation or within the four-hour parking limits as we aim to make it easier to come and go to
the park more frequently,” said Michelle Healy, planning and park services director, Bend Park and Recreation District.

Cascade East Transit’s seasonal shuttles and Bend fixed route services provide easy and affordable transportation options. Cascades East Transit’s Ride the River shuttle transports river users from Bend Park & Float, located at Simpson Avenue and Bradbury Drive next to The Pavilion. This location will serve as the new start and end of the river floating activities with abundant parking available. Running every 15 minutes during the summer, the $3 fare includes transportation of river tubes to and from the floating launch and exit.

For other park activities, including festivals, picnics or a walk along Mirror Pond, the free Ride Bend shuttle stops within a five-minute walk of Drake Park, making it easy to leave the vehicle parked at home, work or other parking areas.
The City of Bend and Bend Park and Recreation District will gather input from neighbors and others through the pilot program to determine if parking limits achieve the goals. The agencies will also evaluate the cost-effectiveness of time-restricted parking beyond the Downtown Parking District.
​
“Our hope is that this parking pilot program will provide greater access to Drake Park and give
Downtown businesses much-needed parking stall turnover during our busy summer season, “ said City of Bend Economic Development Director Carolyn Eagan.

Vehicles cited for exceeding the four-hour parking limit will receive a $50 parking ticket as part of the 24-hour enforcement activity. Diamond Parking, the City’s parking enforcement contractor, will enforce the restriction along with Bend Police Department. To report a vehicle that has exceeded the four-hour parking limit on Riverside Boulevard during the day (8 am to 6 pm) call Diamond Parking Services at 541.317.2805. To report a vehicle overnight (6pm to 8am) contact the Police non-emergency number 541.693.6911.

Neighbors who would like to provide feedback are asked to call 541.317.3000, option 3. Calls to this number will be logged and the feedback recorded. Calls to this number will not be forwarded to enforcement.

4 Comments

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