DATE: Saturday, September 20, 1997          TAG: 9709200304

SECTION: BUSINESS                PAGE: D1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY DEBBIE MESSINA, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   95 lines

PLAN: GIVE CAR-POOLERS BEST DOWNTOWN PARKING

With downtown construction projects gobbling up parking spaces and snarling traffic, transportation officials are encouraging commuters to share rides and participate in a new preferential parking program for car-poolers.

Car pools and van pools reduce the number of cars on the road and free up parking spaces, said Carrie L. Donley of Traffix, a regional public agency that promotes transportation alternatives.

Car-poolers also benefit by saving time and money, she said.

While Traffix has been working with businesses on sharing rides for over a year, it's now planning to offer preferential parking for car-poolers in cooperation with the city's Division of Parking.

Setting aside premium parking spaces in city garages and lots for car-poolers will be a first for Norfolk.

About 50 downtown business leaders were treated to breakfast this week to learn details of how to set up car pools and register for preferred parking.

Once commuters register for the program, preferred parking areas will be established in city garages and lots. It has not been determined how many spots will be reserved.

About 3,100 parking spaces were lost in the past year for construction of the MacArthur Center. And 650 spaces will be lost soon with a residential development in the Freemason area and a new downtown hotel.

Downtown business owners are feeling the pinch.

``I have clients who can't get to my office due to parking,'' said lawyer Jon P. Eichler of the Plaza One Building on Main Street, who attended the breakfast meeting. ``My issue is not unique.''

Eichler contends some downtown businesses are considering moving because of the parking problems. Some already have left, he said.

``I would like someone to deal with the reality of the problem,'' he added. ``If I sound fed up, I am.''

Iris Jessie, assistant city manager, responded that the city is studying the parking inventory, and offered to meet with business owners to work out solutions.

There are 17,000 public parking spaces downtown and 22,000 daily commuters. MacArthur Center parking garages will provide 4,700 spaces, 1,000 of which will be designated as monthly parking.

Still, city officials maintain that parking is not scarce - it's just not as convenient as downtown workers are accustomed to.

``We're dealing with a convenience issue,'' said Robert G. Gargiullo, business retention manager for the city's Department of Development. ``We want to park real close to where we're going.''

Gargiullo added that, of the businesses his office has worked with on parking issues in the past year, none has left downtown Norfolk.

Jessie said the parking issue is ``a sign that things are really picking up in the downtown area.'' Downtown revitalization ``is something we've wished for for years,'' she said.

But with growth come problems and change, Jessie said. Car-pooling and preferential parking are some changes that downtown workers need to embrace, she added.

``It's an attitude change and a lifestyle change,'' Donley said. ``You may not see (the need) right away, but it's coming. We may as well be prepared now.''

Many already recognize the need for car-pooling.

A July survey of downtown commuters indicated that 33 percent would ``likely use HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lanes,'' on Interstate 264 that are under construction. Additionally, 58 percent are in favor of HOV lanes for relieving congestion.

William J. Cannell, a Virginia Department of Transportation spokesman, said those are higher approval ratings than for the Interstate 64 HOV lanes to the Norfolk Naval Base that opened in 1990.

``It's a good base of support to work from,'' Cannell said.

The I-264 HOV lanes are scheduled to open next summer.

Businesses can contact Traffix at 1-800-700-RIDE to assist in arranging car pools and van pools.

Traffix will survey employees on commuting habits and needs. Computer databases will link employees who live nearby and have similar schedules for car-pooling or van-pooling.

Traffix offers a discounted van leasing program, as well as a ``guaranteed ride'' program that provides car-poolers who must leave work early or late with a taxi ride home for just $1.50. The program subsidizes the rest.

The program can also coordinate bus service to employment hubs, when possible.

Companies that participate in Traffix programs are eligible for Commuter Checks, vouchers of up to $65 a month to defray employees' commuting costs. Commuter checks are tax-deductible for employers and tax-free for employees.

Traffix has had some successes downtown already, including the new Park and Sail for commuters to park for free in Portsmouth and ride the TRT ferry to Norfolk. There's a waiting list.

Park and Sail was established to accommodate the needs of employees of the U.S. Coast Guard Maintenance and Logistics Command Atlantic.

Traffix is also working with the city of Norfolk and is beginning to survey NationsBank employees for car-pooling. Traffix hopes to expand its programs to more downtown commuters with the impending opening of the I-264 HOV lanes. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

Fact KEYWORDS: CAR-POOL PARKING NORFOLK

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