Attachment A
2024 Dixon Downtown Parking Systems Evaluation Report
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 1
Palm Springs Parking Systems Evaluation
Report
Executive Summary
Study Overview
DIXON Resources Unlimited (DIXON) was retained by Palm Springs Resorts (PS Resorts) to produce an updated Parking Systems Evaluation Report (Report) that considers the findings of the 2020 LAZ Parking Study Report, while also conducting an in-depth site assessment of the existing public parking conditions located throughout the Palm Springs Downtown resort district. DIXON conducted its on-site assessment in January 2024 to highlight current issues regarding parking in the Downtown district during the off-peak season. The purpose of DIXON’s site assessment was to analyze the current public parking operations and infrastructure to provide relevant and updated recommendations that would assist the Downtown district in making parking an easy, convenient, and accessible experience for all.
Overall Themes and Key Takeaways
The following key takeaways are intended to provide a general summary of the findings that are identified throughout this Report. The site assessment was conducted on a Saturday in January of 2024, so the findings of this report are largely reflective of the current conditions in Downtown Palm Springs during the off-peak, non-tourist season and therefore may yield different observations compared to an assessment performed during another time of year. • The Downtown district in Palm Springs provides a welcoming and bustling atmosphere to visitors in a well-known, vibrant community. The infrastructure, emphasis on walkability, and access to world-class shopping, restaurants, art galleries, resorts, and hotels makes Downtown Palm Springs an inviting tourist destination. • There is a general lack of uniformity located throughout the Study Area in terms of signage and wayfinding, which makes for a confusing experience for both locals and visitors.
• Located throughout the Downtown core are numerous public parking facilities that offer parking opportunities to residents and visitors. In general, the public parking lots appeared to reach their capacity, while the two parking garages within the study area appeared underutilized.
• On-street parking located along N Palm Canyon Drive was also observed to be highly occupied and, due to a lack of noticeable enforcement coupled with long on-street time limits. Turnover was minimal which incentivizes employees to monopolize the on- street availability.
Many recommendations to improve the parking experience in Downtown Palm Springs are discussed later in this Report that will assist in improving the effectiveness of the current
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 2
parking operations within the study area. These recommendations consider industry best- practices for both on-street and off-street parking facilities include:
• Review of existing parking time limits and parking regulations to encourage turnover and utilization of off-street parking.
• Suggested improvements to parking wayfinding, including the use of digital parking guidance technology, and the potential use of community art projects and installations to revitalize and promote the use of available off-street public parking locations, including the Downtown Parking Garage.
• Establishing an employee parking permit program that incentivizes the use of off- street parking facilities over prime on-street locations. • Establish a no re-parking ordinance to promote parking turnover and deter abuse of on-street parking regulations.
• An evaluation of a potential micro-shuttle or circulator program to provide alternative mobility options for residents, employees, and visitors. • Policy updates to future-proof the City Charter for the possible implementation of paid parking in the future.
Community Outreach
Community outreach and public engagement are important project elements. Input from internal City staff and community stakeholders helped guide the development of these draft recommendations. To continue to understand the feedback of Downtown Palm Springs business owners, employees, and visitors, and align the implementation approach with evolving needs, the City should continue to conduct public outreach and community engagement. The engagement and data collection should not end with this project, and City staff recognize the importance of ongoing communication with the community throughout an incremental and adaptive implementation process.
Community Meetings
Four community meetings were held during the week of September 9th, 2024, to inform the community about the importance of parking management, the status of the project, and collect feedback from business owners, employees, Downtown visitors, and other interested stakeholders about challenges and suggestions regarding the Downtown parking experience.
Two virtual community meetings were held with one virtual meeting taking place during the early morning, and the other virtual meeting taking place during the early evening. Over the course of the two meetings, approximately 25 residents participated to learn about the project, listen to the draft recommendations, and to discuss their experiences and challenges with parking Downtown. Participants shared their feedback and concerns, and the responses have been incorporated into the recommendations.
Two in-person community meetings were held on September 10th, 2024, during the early morning and late afternoon. Approximately 16 total attendees were present for the two in- person community meetings wherein DIXON conducted the same presentation as the virtual
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 3
community meetings, by providing an overview of the project status, the initial draft recommendations, and facilitating an open dialogue with community members. Community members provided valuable insight into their parking experiences Downtown, ranging from on-street parking to off-street parking in the garages and municipal lots. Members expressed their interest in exploring an employee parking permit program that prioritizes convenience and safety for employees. Other attendees suggested investments in digital signage that will direct Downtown visitors to the off-street facilities. Attendees also voiced concern about parking implications related to the current restoration of the historic Plaza Theater, as it will accommodate approximately 700 seats when the restoration is complete in the fall of 2025.
Overall, much of the community is well-informed of the current status of parking needs within the Downtown, and many participants communicated that they are receptive to the strategies that the City is looking to pursue to enhance parking in Downtown.
[SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 4
Site Assessment Findings
During DIXON’s site assessment of the Study Area, nine (9) public parking facilities in the Downtown core parking district were observed: two (2) of these facilities are parking garages and seven (7) are surface lots that provide approximately 1,927 off-street parking spaces intended for public use. In the core area of the Downtown parking district, there are approximately 359 on-street parking spaces.
For the purposes of this Report, the study area spanned the central business district (CBD) in Downtown Palm Springs, which extended from E Alejo Road, Palm Canyon Drive, W Baristo Road, and Indian Canyon Drive.
DIXON conducted a comprehensive analysis of the supply and demand that was observed during the site assessment at on-street and off-street public parking facilities.
On-Street Parking
The on-street parking supply is identified as the available parking spaces located “curbside” within the study area, as nearly every block observed offered on-street parking. The majority of on-street parking is located along Palm Canyon Drive and Indian Canyon Drive, which run parallel through the CBD.
The following key observations were made during DIXON’s site assessment, which provides an overall analysis of the existing conditions of the current parking operation in Downtown Palm Springs:
Time Limits
• Findings
o On-street time limits are inconsistent,
ranging from no posted time limits, 3-
minute time limits, 20-minute time limit, 2-
hour time limits, and 3-hour time limits.
o Placement of short-term time limits
appears randomized and not consistently
located to facilitate active loading,
unloading, and turnover for deliveries and
short-term stays.
o The curb cut-outs located throughout the
Downtown area with posted 20-minute
time limits are narrow and difficult for
vehicles to park in, which creates a safety
hazard and causes congestion.
o With no posted time limits or long-term
time limits in several convenient areas,
employees are inclined to utilize valuable
on-street parking, therefore minimizing
turnover and foot traffic into businesses.
Figure 1. On-Street Bicycle Lane and
Bicycle Rack Markings.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 5
Painted/Marked On-Street Parking Spaces
• Findings
o There is a clear disparity between the number of marked and un-marked on- street parking spaces that were identified in the study area. o The on-street markings are inconsistent going northbound on Indian Canyon Drive and are not uniform in length.
Vehicle Signage and Wayfinding
• Findings
o Signage is difficult to interpret because it is cluttered, not strategically located, and inconsistent in color and style. This causes confusion for motorists because they are unsure where the posted signage applies and what the corresponding policies are.
o Posted signage scarcely includes directional arrows on the signs that assist in the wayfinding element of locating additional parking.
o Signage is inconsistently located along curbs, as there are gaps in placement that do not clearly indicate where posted time limits apply. o The bicycle markings on-street are painted green and lead to on-street bike racks. Generally, green bicycle markings indicate a bike path, so this can be confusing and dangerous for motorists.
Enforcement
• Findings
o There are 3-minute and 20-minute signs located in the Downtown area, however there was a lack of visible Parking Enforcement Officers to ensure compliance with these time limits.
o There is signage that indicates “Public Safety Cameras in Use,” which are operated by the Palm Springs Police Department to monitor traffic volume and common vehicular ingress and egress points.
Curb Designations
• Findings
o Green (short term) and yellow (loading zone) curbs appeared in an inconsistent manner throughout the study area, which reinforces difficulty for motorists to find and utilize proper on-street parking.
Off-Street Municipal Parking Lots
There are four (4) City owned parking lots in the North section of the study area located between Chino Drive and Tahquitz Canyon Way, and there are three (3) City owned parking lots in the South section of the study area, which are located between Tahquitz Canyon Way and Baristo Road. Overall, these parking lots were observed to be highly utilized due to their convenient locations and long-time limits, allowing visitors to remain parked for a significant period of time.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 6
Time Limits
• Findings
o There are “unlimited” parking lots
located throughout the study area
that appear to have reached their
maximum capacity. Because these
lots do not have time limits,
employees are likely to utilize these
parking lots and stay for long
periods of time.
o Time limits for parking in the off-
street parking lots vary greatly,
ranging from 1-hour, 3-hour, 12-
hour, and unlimited parking time
limits. This may cause confusion for
motorists due to the lack of
uniformly enforced time limits.
Parking Lot Maintenance and Upkeep
• Findings
o The surfaces of several municipal lots are in poor condition, and striping to indicate parking spaces is severely faded.
Vehicle Signage and Wayfinding
• Findings
o Inside the lots, signage indicating the posted time limits is installed at a low height, approximately 3-4ft high, and is hidden by cars. Signage here is inadequate and needs to be elevated.
o The parking lot entrance along Belardo Road, between Tahquitz Canyon Way and Arenas Road, does not have entry signage, nor any sufficient wayfinding signage that leads to it. The only signs posted are the 2-hour time limit and Municipal Code warning of being towed.
o Signs that are posted at the entrances of the parking lots are difficult to interpret because they claim to have “Free Unlimited Parking,” however there are time limits that drivers must adhere to.
o Parking at La Plaza is confusing as it is difficult to determine if it is public or private due to the lack of visible signage.
o Private 1-hour parking lots exist within the Study Area, but the signage that identifies these lots is unclear and does not face the proper direction.
Figure 2. "Free Unlimited Parking" Signage.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 7
o Many public parking lots appeared to reach their maximum capacity, and signage did not indicate where additional parking could be found.
Enforcement
• Findings
Parking Enforcement Officers were not present on patrol during the time of DIXON’s site assessment.
Downtown Parking Garage
The Downtown Parking Garage located on Museum Way is large, as it spans from beneath the Hyatt Hotel on North Palm Canyon to North Museum Drive. DIXON conducted its data collection on foot, and determined the inventory of the Downtown parking garage is 790 parking spaces.
Figure 4. Mid-Level Height Time Limit Signage.
Figure 3. Parking at La Plaza.
Figure 6. North Museum Drive Garage Entrance.
Figure 5. North Palm Canyon Garage Entrance at Hyatt
Hotel.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 8
Facility Maintenance and Upkeep
• Findings
o Trash and debris were found in several places throughout the garage despite trash cans.
o There were markings, smudges, dirt, and graffiti on the walls as well as chipping paint and potential water damage.
o The south entrance has an attendant booth that appears to be no longer used. o Portions of the garage were deserted, and open chain link fences located throughout the garage gave the impression that people may not be allowed to park in those areas. These fences contribute to the potential concern that the gate may close unannounced, therefore discouraging people from utilizing certain locations in the garage despite there being available spaces. o Existing ledges located near the walls of the garage create safety concerns as they appear to be used for skateboarding, roller skating, and scooter-riding. o There are several tripping hazards throughout the Downtown garage, such as jutted-out curbs and mis-marked steps.
Time Limits
• Findings
o There is only one posted time limit that applies to the garage, allowing visitors to park for a maximum of 4 hours.
o The garage is closed from 3am to 6am.
Employee Parking Zones
• Findings
o There are Employee Parking Zones located throughout the facility that are underutilized, and the existing signage does not clearly state policies regarding whether permits are required.
Vehicle Signage and Wayfinding
• Findings
Figure 7. Chain Link Fence in Garage.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 9
o There is a lack of signage located near the surface level entrance to the garage on North Museum Drive.
o Generic and unbranded signs make wayfinding confusing by not including relevant information, such as time limits, directional arrows, or exclusions. o When entering the surface levels of the parking garage, there is inconsistent posted signage to indicate upcoming height clearance limits for the lower levels of the garage.
o Turnaround space in these areas is limited and makes for a difficult overall experience.
o Conflicting interior driving routes and painted directional arrows are inconsistent and difficult to navigate.
o Inconsistent ADA signage that did not have signs located at the end of several disabled parking spaces.
Pedestrian Signage and Wayfinding
• Findings
o The identification criteria that establish the north and south sections of the garage provides minimal information that makes it difficult for drivers to navigate when returning to their vehicles.
▪ The north section of the garage is identified by the color blue, a numbering system, and images of people shopping.
▪ The south section of the garage is identified by the color pink, a numbering system, and images of animals/nature.
o Lack of visible pedestrian signage makes it difficult to understand directions to exits and elevators.
South Parking Garage
The second Downtown Parking Garage is located in the South section of the study area at the intersection of Baristo Road and Indian Canyon Drive. It currently holds 363 parking spaces, 10 of which are reserved for ADA parking.
Vehicle Signage and Wayfinding
Figure 8. Blue Pedestrian Signage.
Figure 9. Pink Pedestrian Signage.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 10
• Findings
o Lack of visible signage to
motorists makes it difficult for
drivers to see this parking
garage as an option while
driving southbound on Indian
Canyon Drive.
o The “Free Parking” sign located
near the northbound
intersection on Indian Canyon
Drive is the only signage that is
posted leading to the garage.
o There is a lack of signage to
indicate which rows in the
garage do not have an exit or
turnaround location, which
forces the driver to reverse out
of the row or make a multi-point turnaround.
o Signage to indicate height restrictions is located at the two entrances into the garage, allowing motorists to determine whether their vehicle may access the garage.
o ADA signage is not included within the facility, and there is a lack of ADA parking spaces located near the elevators.
o Inconsistent signage does not clearly indicate that the ground floor of the parking garage is reserved for shoppers and visitors at nearby businesses, while the second floor and upward are available to the public.
Pedestrian Signage and Wayfinding
• Findings
o Access to the parking garage from sidewalks and crosswalks for pedestrians is inadequate and poorly maintained as there are no clear pathways for pedestrians located at any of the garage entrances or exits.
Facility Upkeep and Maintenance
• Findings
o Insufficient lighting in the garage makes it an unsafe and unwelcoming environment for both drivers and pedestrians.
o Elevators within the garage were inoperable, therefore utilizing the parking garage was not an accessible option for individuals who require elevator access.
Time Limits
• Findings
Figure 10. Downtown Parking Garage, South Palm Springs.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 11
o There was one sign located at the main entrance that described the Garage as having “Free Unlimited Parking,” but it was covered by construction and was difficult to see.
o Parking in the garage is restricted between 3:00am to 7:00am, but it was not observed whether there is consistent enforcement to encourage compliance with this policy.
Recommendations
The following recommendations incorporate field observations from the on-site assessment, community feedback, correspondence with City staff, and industry best practices. These recommendations are meant to address current and long-term parking challenges specific to the Downtown Palm Springs parking experience. The City is encouraged to adjust the implementation approach as needed in response to evolving needs and priorities.
Signage and Wayfinding
Implementing consistent, comprehensive signage throughout the Study Area provides an excellent opportunity for Downtown Palm Springs to visually enhance the experience of finding parking among residents, employees, and visitors. • Evaluate opportunities to establish static and digital signage along both Palm Canyon Drive and Indian Canyon Drive that includes a digital display of the current capacity within the two off-street parking garages.
• Introduce a comprehensive signage plan within the Study Area that determines a cohesive stylistic design that incorporates relevant Palm Springs thematic elements, such as a mid-century modern style, to create a more convenient and visually enriched parking experience. For instance, this plan could begin by installing vibrant Palm Springs-branded signage at the garage entrances to highlight that the public is not only able to park there, but that it is encouraged.
Figure 12. Example of Vibrant Palm Springs Signage.
Figure 11. Example of Digital Signage
Display.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 12
• Explore the feasibility of commissioning local artists to revitalize both parking garages with a uniform design that captures the essence of Palm Springs, balancing effective signage with art.
• Analyze the ability to establish shared parking agreements in private off-street parking lots to incentivize and increase turnover.
o There is an opportunity is to leverage businesses with private parking lots that close for the evening that can be used by evening-shift employees who work at nearby locations.
• Ensure that signage with proper policies (i.e., ADA, towing, time limits, private parking) is accessible for review by drivers and pedestrians.
Off-Street Municipal Parking Lots
• Elevate signage to the height of industry standard, a minimum of 80 inches, to ensure visibility and encourage compliance.
• Ensure signage appears frequently in the line of vision for motorists to provide ample time to guide them to parking locations.
Downtown Parking Garage
• Incorporate clear signage to be posted at the entrance of the garage located underneath the Hyatt hotel that indicates the facility is available to the entire public with posted height clearance restrictions.
• Restripe the parking stalls within the garage to make each parking space wider so that drivers feel more comfortable parking their vehicles.
• Include designated oversize/tall vehicle parking on rooftop of the garage with signage that clearly indicates that height restrictions may prohibit them from entering lower levels of the garage.
• Mark areas inside of and surrounding the garage with clear signage that indicates height clearance restrictions.
• Restructure the signage within and surrounding the garage to display distinctive identifying locations to improve the navigation experience for both drivers and pedestrians.
• Incorporate improvements to interior driving routes by repainting the directional arrows consistent with the vehicle flow of the garage.
• Improve pedestrian navigation signage and position near elevators and access/exit points to clearly indicate nearby destinations.
• Provide signage with clear instructions for drivers that may have a vehicle inside the garage after entrance and exit gates have been closed.
• Include ADA-compliant signage that clearly indicates the locations of disabled parking spaces to maintain legal enforcement procedures.
South Parking Garage
• Designate an east-facing turn-lane on W Baristo Road that leads into the parking garage in order to reduce traffic congestion.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 13
• Create additional wayfinding opportunities that clearly direct motorists to the back entrance of the garage along N Museum Drive.
Enforcement
• Modernize the parking management program and
utilize license plate recognition (LPR) technology to
optimize enforcement and assist in data collection.
• Deploy consistent enforcement that patrols the
entirety of the parking garages, municipal parking
lots, and on-street parking spaces to ensure visitors
are following the posted policies and time limits.
• Explore municipal enforcement opportunities to
routinely patrol the La Plaza location, which would
encourage compliance among visitors who are
utilizing the private parking lot.
Facility Maintenance and Upkeep
• Introduce a routine maintenance plan for both Downtown Parking Garages that includes regular sweeping, power-washing, painting, and other facility maintenance to ensure compliance with quality and safety standards. Doing so will also help to revitalize the garage by improving its appearance to one that is more inviting. • Reevaluate the overall layout of each parking garage to allow for cars to circulate through the end of each parking row, as there are currently dead ends that force drivers to turn around under difficult, narrow, and inconvenient circumstances.
Downtown Parking Garage
• Incorporate preventative measures that discourage skateboarding, roller skating, scooter-riding, etc. to promote the safety of the community. • Properly mark all potential tripping and safety hazards with bright paint to proactively prevent accidents.
• Integrate improvements to pedestrian elements of the garage, such as ensuring walking routes are safe, well-lit, clean, and inviting. • Strategically remove trash receptables to encourage visitors to dispose of their trash elsewhere, thus allowing the garage to have a cleaner appearance and be more convenient to maintain.
• Update online information to include entrances to the garage located at the south end of N Museum Drive and on Tahquitz Canyon Way.
• Consider conducting an engineering assessment to determine the functionality and safety of utilities within the garage.
South Parking Garage
• Incorporate additional shade options by installing solar panels on the roof to encourage year-round usage of the garage.
Figure 13. Existing Public Safety Camera Signage.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 14
Time Limits
• Adjust on-street parking time limits to encourage
compliance and turnover among business owners,
employees, and visitors. Employees will be directed
to park in off-street locations, therefore maximizing
the availability of the curb and increasing turnover.
• Evaluate opportunities to expand the existing
employee parking permit program by encouraging
employees to park in nearby off-street locations.
o Update the existing municipal code language
to prohibit overnight vehicle storage and
explain how the employee parking permits
will be enforced.
o Under the existing municipal code, employee
permits are issued for a fee to qualified
individuals who submit an application
authorized by the owner/operator of a
Downtown merchant. Employee parking
permit holders are exempt from posted time-limits.
• Analyze the feasibility of implementing paid parking to manage the occupancy of on- street parking, which would increase turnover, and further encourage employees to park in off-street parking facilities.
o Introduce a special event parking management plan that could include paid parking during events at the soon-to-be restored Plaza Theater, Palm Springs Pride, Palm Springs Village Fest, and more.
• Establish a no re-parking ordinance that would deter abuse of on-street parking regulations and encourage parking turnover.
• Update painted on-street parking spaces to reflect a standardized size to maximize curb availability, promote visibility, and increase turnover.
Figure 14. Existing On-Street Time Limits.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 15
Appendix A. Parking Utilization Study and Analysis
Methodology
Study Area
The on-street parking was evaluated within the Study Area. The on-street east and west boundaries of the Study Area extend from N Palm Canyon Drive and N Indian Canyon Drive, while the north and south boundaries reside on N Alejo Road and W Baristo Road. The off- street parking in the Study Area includes 7 public parking lots and 2 public parking garages located between N Museum Drive and N Indian Canyon Drive, extending from W Chino Drive to W Baristo Road. Data collection on Thursday, May 9th was impacted by street closures for Palm Springs Village Fest, a weekly, year-long event held from 7pm-10pm. Streets were closed off to parking and thru-traffic from N Palm Canyon Drive to N Indian Canyon Drive, and E Amado Road to E Arenas Road. Data was intentionally collected during the Palm Springs Village Fest in order to provide realistic and accurate data that the City can use as a foundation in future data collection efforts.
Study Times
On-street parking utilization data was collected 4 times per day over a 2-day period within the Study Area. Collection times occurred on May 9th (Thursday), and May 11th (Saturday) of 2024 during Morning (9:00am), Noon (12:00pm), Afternoon (3:00pm), and Early Evening Figure 15. Study Area Map.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 16
(6:00pm) intervals. 359 on-street parking spaces were identified. 1,927 off-street parking spaces were identified, for a total of 2,286 parking spaces within the study area. Data was collected utilizing DIXON’s License Plate Recognition (LPR) equipment. Data collection categories include Inventory, Occupancy, Turnover, and Repeat Parking.
Parking Inventory
On-street and off-street parking inventory data was recorded within the Study Area. “Parking inventory” is also commonly known as the parking “supply” or parking “capacity” and refers to the number of parking spaces. In order to estimate the number of on-street parking spaces, curb length measurements were captured using satellite imagery. For the purposes of this study, on-street parking spaces were measured assuming a 22’ standard space size.1 Parking Utilization Data Collection
To collect the data, parking utilization was studied using LPR cameras, which were mounted on a vehicle driven throughout the study area. The data analysis process automatically anonymizes all license plate numbers by hashing the data. No real license plate numbers were retained.
Data collection occurred along a consistent driving route, which allowed for data to be captured consistently and efficiently. The data was then analyzed through a data analysis software product called the Rapid LPR Tool to anonymize and process the data. Parking utilization metrics were generated for each block-face. “Parking utilization” refers to several metrics about how parking is being utilized, including:
Dat
Data Description
Occupancy Rate
Refers to the percentage of occupied parking spaces:
# parked cars ÷ # of parking spaces
The parking industry considers the ideal target parking occupancy rate to be 85 percent. This occupancy rate minimizes congestion and maximizes utilization of parking assets. Areas that regularly exceed 85 percent occupancy are considered overly congested. Likewise, areas that regularly are well below 85 percent are considered underutilized.
The goal is to seek a balanced parking system that remains at or near 85 percent occupancy during most times on average, knowing that there will realistically be some exceptional or outlier times. In the analyzed results described later, parking occupancy rarely exceeds a 30%
1 The California Vehicle Code defines a standard on-street parallel parking space as 22’ in length. When an agency marks spaces, this is typically the measurement used to allow for ample space to pull in and out of a parking space for standard sized vehicles. For unmarked spaces in particular, it was beneficial to analyze the study area utilizing the industry standard to identify realistic recommendations for the Downtown study area.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 17
average for each collection interval, with the average overall occupancy rate being 29% across all data collection days and times.
Turnover
Refers to when a car departs a parking space, turning it over so that another car can then park in that space. The estimated duration that each car was parked was measured based on the observation intervals.
For instance, if a vehicle was observed during the 9:00am interval but not observed at the 12:00pm interval, then the car would have been parked for less than three hours.
When durations are long, this means that turnover of parking spaces is low. Conversely, when durations are short, this means that turnover is high.
High turnover maximizes the number of drivers that can utilize parking assets. This is important for generating revenue for the area’s businesses such as restaurants, retail, and tourist attractions.
Repeat Parking
Refers to when a vehicle is observed to be reparked within the Study Area (left and then came back). Trends can be observed for a single day and across multiple days or months. In this instance, these data trends were collected over the course of one day (daily parking) or two days (weekly parking).
Key Takeaways from On-Street and Off-Street Data
Occupancy
• The average occupancy of the study area was 29% including on-street and off-street parking.
• Noon (12pm) was the most impacted (35%) across all data collection dates and times. • Weekday parking (Thursday) was more impacted (32%) than Weekend (Saturday) (27%).
o The lowest weekday occupancy time was 9am (23%) and the highest was 3pm (38%).
• Overall, on-street parking was more impacted (47%) than off-street parking (26%).
This was largely due to the Downtown Garage which averaged 15% occupancy over the course of the data collection.
• Some on-street and off-street parking did maintain high levels of occupancy throughout the study. The off-street municipal lot along E Arenas Rd had an average occupancy of 68% throughout the data collection. On-street, E Andreas Road had an
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 18
average occupancy of 95% on Saturday (which was not accessible after 6pm Thursday due to street closure).
Turnover
• Most cars observed were short term parkers, with 92% parked within one collection period (0-3 hours). The prevalence of short-term parking was especially true on the weekend (Saturday) with 94% parking in the 0–3-hour time interval. In fact, no cars were observed to have stayed longer than 9 hours at any time during the data collection period.
Repeat Parking
• Repeat parking occurs when a vehicle parked in the Study Area was observed during data collection, leaves the Study Area during another round of data collection, and has returned to the Study Area during an additional round of data collection. • Because data was collected over the course of two days, trends are observed based on the “Daily” number of repeat parkers (who left and then came back) for each individual day, and the “Weekly” number of repeat parkers (who left and then came back) over the course of the two collection days:
o Daily
• On Thursday, 2,317 cars were observed. Of this total, 2,192 (95%) vehicles were observed to have parked once. 125 (5%) of the vehicles were repeat parkers.
• On Saturday, 2,043 cars were observed. 1883 (92%) vehicles were observed to have parked once, while 160 (8%) vehicles were repeat parkers who left the Study Area and later returned that day.
• A high percentage of transient parkers is indicative of a bustling commercial area.
o Weekly
• Weekly parkers are analyzed by the data collected over the course of Thursday and Saturday combined. In total, 4,142 vehicles were observed over the course of the data collection.
• 95% of vehicles were observed on a single day only, while 5% of vehicles were observed on both days of the study.
• A very low number of repeat parkers is indicative of tourist parking.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 19
DIXON’s Rapid LPR Tool On-Street Data
Data collected utilizing LPR was analyzed through the Rapid LPR Tool, which is an online software program that allows for in-depth analysis of several parking utilization metrics. Users are provided the opportunity to toggle the data within the interactive dashboard by assessing inventory, occupancy rates, turnover, and repeat parkers. In addition, individual time(s) of day, day(s) of the week, and block face(s) can be selected and analyzed in a granular fashion that allows viewers to identify varying trends within the data. Each map represents data among the study area block faces that were included in the inventory count.
Inventory – The total inventory of the study area is 359 on-street parking spaces and 1,927 off-street parking spaces.
On-Street Inventory.
Off-Street Inventory.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 20
Occupancy – The average occupancy rate of all days and all times is 29% based on observed times across each data collection period.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 21
Occupancy – The average occupancy rate of all days during the Morning (9:00am) collection period is 21% based on observations during data collection.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 22
Occupancy – The average occupancy rate of all days during Noon (12:00pm) collection period is 35% based on observations during data collection.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 23
Occupancy – The average occupancy rate of all days during the Afternoon (3:00pm) collection period is 30% based on observations during data collection.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 24
Occupancy – The average occupancy rate of all days during the Early Evening (6:00pm) collection period is 31% based on observations during data collection.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 25
Occupancy – The average occupancy rate on Thursday during all times is 32% based on observations during data collection.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 26
Occupancy – The average occupancy rate on Thursday during the Morning (9:00am) collection period is 23% based on observations during data collection.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 27
Occupancy – The average occupancy rate on Thursday during Noon (12:00pm) collection period is 37% based on observations during data collection.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 28
Occupancy – The average occupancy rate on Thursday during the Afternoon (3:00pm) collection period is 37% based on observations during data collection.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 29
Occupancy – The average occupancy rate on Thursday during the Early Afternoon (6:00) collection period is 37% based on observations during data collection. (Note that streets were closed off to parking and thru-traffic from N Palm Canyon Drive to N Indian Canyon Drive, and E Amado Road to E Arenas Road for Palm Spring Village Fest).
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 30
Occupancy – The average occupancy rate on Saturday during the all times collection period is 27% based on observations during data collection.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 31
Occupancy – The average occupancy rate on Saturday during the Morning (9:00am) collection period is 20% based on observations during data collection.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 32
Occupancy – The average occupancy rate on Saturday during Noon (12:00pm) collection period is 33% based on observations during data collection.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 33
Occupancy – The average occupancy rate on Saturday during the Afternoon (3:00pm) collection period is 21% based on observations during data collection.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 34
Occupancy – The average occupancy rate on Saturday during the Early Evening (6:00pm) collection period is 21% based on observations during data collection.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 35
Turnover – The overall average turnover percentages over the course of both days are shown based on observations during data collection. The table shows a percentage breakdown of the number of cars that were observed between 0-2 hours, 2-4 hours, 4-6 hours, 6-8 hours and 8+ hours based on data collection rounds. The heat map below shows the average daily length of stay per block face.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 36
Turnover – The overall average turnover percentages over the course of Thursday are shown based on observations during data collection. The table shows a percentage breakdown of the number of cars that were observed between 0-2 hours, 2-4 hours, 4-6 hours, 6-8 hours and 8+ hours based on data collection rounds. The heat map below shows the average daily length of stay per block face.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 37
Turnover – The overall average turnover percentages over the course of Saturday are shown based on observations during data collection. The table shows a percentage breakdown of the number of cars that were observed between 0-2 hours, 2-4 hours, 4-6 hours, 6-8 hours and 8+ hours based on data collection rounds. The heat map below shows the average daily length of stay per block face.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 38
Daily Parkers – The number of daily parkers observed during all days and all times is shown based on observations during data collection. The “Parked Once” category displays the number of vehicles that were observed to be parked once without leaving and returning to the Study Area that day. The “Repeat” category displays the number of vehicles that were observed to have left and returned to the Study Area that day. A vehicle that is observed across multiple days is categorized in each day it was observed, so some vehicles are counted multiple times in this display.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 39
Daily Parkers – The number of daily parkers observed on Thursday during all times is shown based on observations during data collection.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 40
Daily Parkers – The number of daily parkers observed on Saturday during all times is shown based on observations during data collection.
DIXON Resources Unlimited | 41
Weekly Parkers – The number of weekly parkers observed during both days and all times is shown based on observations during data collection. Transient cars are defined here as vehicles that were only observed on one of the data collection days. Returning cars are those that were observed on multiple data collection days. However, no returning cars were observed during this study.