With Some Reservations: Parking at Transit (Dec 2002/Jan 2003 Monitor)

Unlike bus service, where routes can change and stops can be frequent and close to many riders, rail stations and ferry terminals draw riders from considerable distances and not all of them can walk, bicycle or ride buses to access the service. This is why Bay Area transit systems which operate heavy rail or ferries provide parking for riders. However, parking is an amenity which is expensive, and balancing access for riders against cost of space and facilities is often a source of controversy for transit agencies. The Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) is currently making some major changes in its Station Access program, and has adopted new parking policies to address the needs of riders.

Until recently, the only paid parking in the BART system was at Lake Merritt Station, where a token fee of $.25 is charged, to be deposited inside the paid area of the station, as a way to ensure that BART parking spaces are not used in place of street parking in the area.

For years transit advocates and some BART directors have maintained that BART should charge for parking to accomplish several different purposes. Transit advocates have argued that free parking encourages riders to drive to stations, which is bad for air quality, rather than using connecting buses, walking or bicycling. District board members have faced the costs of building parking garages, often the only way to create enough parking spaces in areas with little available land near stations, without parking fees to offset the expense. Both groups have been concerned that providing parking for suburban riders is unfair to urban riders, who rarely use these facilities but pay for them through increased BART fares.

In May 2000, BART directors approved a policy that would allow the district to charge for parking when new services are offered. In anticipation of BART service to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), the Board approved a long-term parking rate for three stations in August 2002. When the new extension opens early in 2003, air travelers riding BART will be able to reserve long-term paid parking at one station on each of the three main BART routes: El Cerrito del Norte on the Richmond line; Walnut Creek on the Pittsburg/Bay Point line; and Bay Fair on the Fremont/Dublin line. Up to 180 new spaces will be created at Bay Fair and up to 160 new spaces at the other two stations. If there is sufficient demand, BART will consider expanding the program to other stations in the system.

The spaces will be secure and staffed around the clock. The daily fee will be $7.00; by comparison, parking averages $12.00 per day at SFO and $10.00 per day at Oakland International Airport (OAK), which is also accessible by BART. If long-term parking users do not fill all the spaces, the spaces will be available for paid daily parking.

Currently, BART riders can park in BART lots up to 72 hours. This policy created the potential for displacement of parking for daily riders by SFO travelers unwilling to pay airport parking fees. Therefore, when the SFO extension opens, a 24-hour limit will be imposed at all BART station parking lots. The 24-hour limit may be waived if the Board approves a proposal to allow weekend parking at East Bay BART stations between Friday evening and the end of service on Sunday (including a Friday or Monday which is part of a holiday weekend).

In Brief:
BART long-term parking: 3 stations, $7.00/day by reservation, newly created spaces.

BART monthly parking (except Colma and other SFO extension stations): $63/month, paid in advance, using existing spaces near station.

BART parking (Colma and other SFO extension stations): $2/day ($42/month pre-paid available), using existing spaces near station.

Caltrain parking (all stations north of Diridon): $1.50/day, $15/month in all spaces.

Meanwhile, in November 2001, BART began a pilot program for regular riders at the West Oakland Station, allocating spaces in a lot near the station and charging $100 per month for a guaranteed parking space. The program has proven to be popular, and is now being extended to almost all stations in the system for a fee of $63 per month, beginning December 2. Monthly parking may occupy up to 25% of the spaces at each station, depending on the number of reservations sold, and will be sited in designated areas close to the station. Drivers will receive specially coded stickers valid at only one station, which must be displayed on the inside of a vehicle windshield. Monthly spaces not occupied by 10 am will revert to open parking. When the SFO extension opens, the Colma station and the new stations along the extension will also have monthly parking available for $2 per day, or $42 per month.

At approximately 200 spaces, Caltrain parking lots on the Peninsula are smaller than BART lots, which average 1400 spaces. Caltrain riders have been paying for parking for several years at many stations, although stations south of Diridon Station in San Jose have free parking. Daily parking is $1.50; monthly parking permits cost $15 and must be bought at the same time the rider buys either a monthly Caltrain pass or two 10-ride Caltrain tickets. The Caltrain board already has a policy which prohibits parking for longer than 24 hours in station parking facilities.

While ridership levels have dropped since August 2001, when Caltrain carried almost 35,000 riders a day and station parking lots were jammed, new riders will probably be attracted by the ability to transfer to BART at Millbrae and by Caltrain's new "Baby Bullet" trains planned for 2003. A parking garage in Sunnyvale, the new BART garage in Millbrae, and extra lots in other cities have been added in recent years. Some do double duty; in addition to the commuter parking fee, Caltrain opens its Palo Alto lots to general downtown parkers on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings after 5:30 pm for a $4.00 fee.

In addition to BART and Caltrain, ferries also provide transit parking. The Golden Gate, Vallejo Baylink and Oakland/Alameda ferries provide free parking except in San Francisco, where riders must use a private parking garage near the Ferry Building. Faced with a difficult financial situation, the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District has discussed charging for ferry parking to help raise revenues but has not pursued this possibility yet.

When transit agencies charge for parking, there are many considerations involved in the price, from the cost of parking facilities and staff to keeping transit costs affordable for riders. Despite the popularity of the pilot program at West Oakland BART and a good initial response to the expanded program, it is unclear how many suburban riders accustomed to free parking will pay for the promise of a guaranteed parking space. Monthly parking reservations will be evaluated in Spring 2003 and again 6 months later to determine whether to increase the cost or the number of spaces in the program. BART plans to re-evaluate its long-term parking program every 6 months. The success of these programs may also determine whether other agencies which are not currently charging for parking will consider changing their policies and dipping a little deeper into riders' pockets.

For more information: