The advent of smart and shared transportation systems, spanning from automated shuttles to electric scooters, is rapidly changing mobility in our downtowns. From creating loading zones for rideshare pick-ups, finding space for expanded bike share docks, and defining micro-mobility parking zones, to re-purposing travel lanes, designing shared spaces, managing increased shipping + deliveries, and removing parking requirements, downtowns across the country are handling new challenges creatively.
Rideshare
Sub Categories: Rideshare
Parking Management
Following significant budget cuts for the City of Tempe in 2010, the Downtown Tempe Agency proposed to City leadership to take over the parking enforcement and presented a plan that involved using existing funds generated by the on-street meter program. They knew introducing a more consistent program would enable parking revenues to increase. The DTA also planned to replace the single space coin-fed meters with credit-card-enabled meters.
Nighttime Economy Infrastructure Planning Guide and Checklist
A checklist of priorities a BID should have in mind at various stages of the development of a nighttime economy.
Multi-Modal Engagement and Progress: Multi-Partner Efforts
BIDs across the U.S. describe how they advocate for planning strategies, invest in research and community outreach, support new infrastructure and technology, and develop partnerships to collaborate on multi-modal transportation initiatives that shift the language around parking challenges in downtowns. Collaborations and marketing efforts by the organizations ensure multi-modal transportation networks are successful additions to urban livability and vibrancy.
Curb Appeal: Tools for Prioritizing Curb Uses
Innovative disruption in mobility and economic development have created new demands on curb space in dense urban places. Traditional uses like metered parking and valet stands are often in conflict with new uses like food delivery, rideshare, and dockless mobility services. Learn how to quantify and analyze competing curb uses in existence today and gain tools to advocate for the reallocation of curb space to serve new priorities in your community.
Door To Downtown
The City of Boulder and the Downtown Boulder Partnership saw an opportunity to mitigate a significant parking shortage by getting visitors to use transportation network companies (TNCs) like Uber or Lyft. Door-to-Downtown (d2d) offered TNC credits for potential shoppers traveling to and from downtown. The pilot was designed to target retail and restaurant patrons since they are critical to the success of downtown and are the most vocal critics of parking availability.
34th Street Partnership Taxi Stand
The 34th Partnership (34SP), completed a year-long pilot project to improve their taxi stand on Seventh Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets. This stand is directly outside the main entrance of Penn Station, the continent’s busiest train terminus. The project had two goals, the first of which was to alleviate the chronic automobile congestion that had plagued the location for over a decade. The second was to efficiently direct people leaving Penn Station in need of a cab to the proper area.
Downtowner Free Ride Service
After five years of planning, on October 20, 2016 the Tampa Downtown Partnership launched an innovative micro-transit service to complement the existing downtown mobility options within the 760-acre Special Service District. Made possible through the generous support from both the public and private sector, this mobile app-based, on-demand free ride service, Downtowner, was quickly adopted by Downtown workers, residents, visitors and students.