These universal questions brought representatives from the Chicago Regional Support Office of the efficiency branch of the U.S. Department of Energy to Ann Arbor yesterday to present solutions other cities have implemented or will implement to attack the problem.
The presentation and subsequent open discussion, led by Mark Burger and Melinda Lattimer of the CRSO, was attended by about 25 members of the Ann Arbor community.
Burger brought out a series of questions that Ann Arbor should consider before deciding how to deal with the current parking shortfalls while maintaining its downtown setting. The first issue he addressed was the problem of using urban space solely for parking.
"You can't just build a parking garage," Burger said. "In Portland, parking structures had to have at least one floor of retail space. They placed the parking on top of the retail space."
Ann Arbor residents seemed to agree with the notion of keeping lower levels of facilities more appealing to foot traffic.
"We want downtown to be a pedestrian environment," said Ann Arbor resident Ray Detter.
Burger went on to describe how centralized parking solutions can benefit a community.
"Owensboro, Kentucky, rebuilt downtown resources and made it so people could go to one parking location instead of having to park and move, park and move," Burger said.
Burger also mentioned how technology might play a role in future solutions to the matter. Lattimer in turn mentioned alternative fuel sources that would reduce waste in transportation systems.
"Jefferson County, Colorado wants to use a computer controlled system to dispatch public transport to individuals on demand," Burger said.
Ann Arbor Transit Authority Executive Director Greg Cook said AATA is looking at using technology to improve public transportation, thus helping to reduce the parking shortage. Cook said a rail system is currently being considered to shuttle passengers to the downtown area from surrounding lots.
"A lot of people in downtown Ann Arbor are 8 to 5, brown bag workers for whom shuttling to remote parking would be ideal," Cook said.
While Burger insisted that the Ann Arbor community would have to decide for itself how best to tackle its parking problems, he stressed that CRSO will be there to advise them on how to take action on the decision they make.
"There is funding out there in the private sector," Burger said. "We can help you use that money or your own money more effectively."