Campustown/Intermodal Transportation Facility

[Jammin’]

According to cyride, we'll find tomorrow how much funding we should get for the facility.

-Some background with a rendering link half way down the page
CyRide - Ames Transit Feasibility Study

-cyride release
CyRide Signals October 2009

 

[alarson]

Best part of that is the 750 spot parking deck... would make it easier to park and walk to welch.

 

[Clonehomer]

Best part of that is the 750 spot parking deck... would make it easier to park and walk to welch.

I wonder how this will work. Will these spots be metered (and thus bringing in money to the city) or will they be public parking. I worry with the location that if they are not metered, you're going to have people parking there longterm, but yet having to deal with feeding the meter is rather annoying if you are out at a restaurant or bar.

 

[CycloneDaddy]

 

[IcSyU]

It makes too much sense for Ames to ever do.

 

[alarson]

I wonder how this will work. Will these spots be metered (and thus bringing in money to the city) or will they be public parking. I worry with the location that if they are not metered, you're going to have people parking there longterm, but yet having to deal with feeding the meter is rather annoying if you are out at a restaurant or bar.

If you went the metered route, you could just use a ticket system, like they already have in the MU (i'd hope for lower rates, especially at night). If you went the public parking route, yes, you'd have to find a way to keep long term parking out of there.

 

[alarson]

Another thought, how quickly would those lots fill during the day? If you could jump onto a route that goes around campus from there, it might be quicker than the commuter lot by hilton. Could see it taking some revenue from the MU ramp.

 

[JP4CY]

More taxi availability there would be great! Ames has always needed a stronger taxi presence at 2am.

 

[ribsnwhiskey]

This would be fantastic. I'm a bit skeptical they'll get funding though.

 

[Enginerd]

I wish Ames luck but they have a ton of competition for Tiger grant money.

 

[ornryactor]

In response to the parking concerns: the spots in the ramp will be shared by the city and ISU. The university and the city will each have a certain number of spots that they "own", and there will be a certain number of 'swing spaces'- stalls that are ISU by day and city by night/weekend. There was insinuation that most city spots would be free, especially after 5pm. I believe the idea is to use a permit & ticket system similar to what ISU already uses- you need an ISU permit or an entrance timestamp ticket to be parked in a spot. DPS will have its new headquarters there, so enforcement will be simple. Belive me, they're not going to overlook the concept of people parking there without a permit and leaving their cars all semester.

 

[alarson]

I bet i know where we could get $365k in funding for this. :wink:

 

[Clonehomer]

In response to the parking concerns: the spots in the ramp will be shared by the city and ISU. The university and the city will each have a certain number of spots that they "own", and there will be a certain number of 'swing spaces'- stalls that are ISU by day and city by night/weekend. There was insinuation that most city spots would be free, especially after 5pm. I believe the idea is to use a permit & ticket system similar to what ISU already uses- you need an ISU permit or an entrance timestamp ticket to be parked in a spot. DPS will have its new headquarters there, so enforcement will be simple. Belive me, they're not going to overlook the concept of people parking there without a permit and leaving their cars all semester.

So there will be no parking for people going to stores and restaurants around Welch? If you need a permit to park there then it really doesn't help much. I guess I thought this was more of a boost to campustown businesses, not to create a place for people to park and ride the bus to work.

 

[SCNCY]

So there will be no parking for people going to stores and restaurants around Welch? If you need a permit to park there then it really doesn't help much. I guess I thought this was more of a boost to campustown businesses, not to create a place for people to park and ride the bus to work.

As of right now, campus town business is primarily done at night, mainly on Friday and Saturday nights. It sounds like there are rules for when the ramp will be free of charge, just like many university parking sports expire after 5 or 7 pm.

 

[ornryactor]

So there will be no parking for people going to stores and restaurants around Welch? If you need a permit to park there then it really doesn't help much. I guess I thought this was more of a boost to campustown businesses, not to create a place for people to park and ride the bus to work.

As of right now, campus town business is primarily done at night, mainly on Friday and Saturday nights. It sounds like there are rules for when the ramp will be free of charge, just like many university parking sports expire after 5 or 7 pm.

Exactly. Homer, if you'd read my post closer, you'd understand. The spots that are "owned" by the city will likely replace most of the current metered spots in Campustown. It will be exactly like using any other pay lot in the area.

 

[Enginerd]

Ames was granted their Tiger Fund request.

 

[Frak]

Are you freaking kidding me? That's awesome news!! IMO this is the jumpstart that was needed to really renovate Campustown.

 

[Enginerd]

$8.5 Million of tax payer money.

 

[alarson]

$8.5 Million of tax payer money.

how much were they requesting?

 

[Frak]

how much were they requesting?

They were requesting around $35M. So you wonder how or if they'll make that work.