INCREASING MODE SPLIT THROUGH PARKING MANAGEMENT: A SUBURBAN SUCCESS STORY

Accommodating commuter trips in rapidly growing suburban cities that do not have high levels of transit service is a difficult challenge. Many cities, including Bellevue, Washington, must face this challenge if development is to continue at the current rapid pace. A new employee transportation program at 450 Bell Terrace, the first building in downtown Bellevue to be constructed under the terms of a new zoning code, is described. The transportation program, serving 900 Pacific Northwest Bell Telephone employees, includes a substantial ($60 per month) parking fee as a disincentive to drive-alone commuting and discounted or free parking for carpools. Parking demand must be accommodated by 410 parking stalls in the monitored Bell Terrace parking garage. The intensive assistance provided by the Commuter Pool Program (the regional ridesharing program) and by the city of Bellevue ridesharing staff was instrumental in achieving a 60 percent employee carpool participation rate. Only 19 percent of the employees are driving alone to work. Seventeen percent use transit. Other factors critical to success are the ability of a single firm to coordinate a program and the predisposition of employees accustomed to high levels of transit service in Seattle to form carpools in Bellevue.