Laguna Beach’s street meter rate hike didn’t deter summer demand, city finds
An increase in on-street parking meter rates last summer in Laguna Beach did not appear to deter motorists from taking up curb space, the city said in a report to the City Council.
The council on Tuesday will review parking and trolley ridership statistics and could recommend a host of new strategies for next summer, including modifying trolley routes and giving City Manager John Pietig approval to enter agreements with private lot owners to make their spaces available to the public.
Parking revenue this past summer was $2.9 million, a 12% jump from summer 2016, according to the report. Officials noted how this year’s new street meter rate — from $3 an hour to $3.75 — did not appear to reduce demand.
In addition, on average, 90% of on-street public parking spaces along Broadway Street and Ocean and Forest avenues, which comprise the downtown core, were occupied during both summer weekday nights and weekend days, according to the report.
In summer 2016, 87% of the parking spaces along those streets were occupied during weekday evenings. Ninety-one percent of the spaces were occupied during weekend days.
Last summer the city experimented with two trolley routes traveling along South Coast Highway to address concerns that the trolleys were crowded and, as a result, too full to pick up passengers from stops in South Laguna.
One of the routes, the Short Coastal Route, began in north Laguna at North Cliff Drive and traveled south to Mission Hospital before turning around.
The second route, the Limited Stop Coastal Route, began at the downtown transit depot. Trolleys then stopped at the Ranch at Laguna Beach and the Ritz-Carlton resort in Dana Point.
This past summer, the Short Coastal Route averaged 44 passengers per hour while the Limited Stop Coastal Route averaged 34 passengers per hour, the report said.
In summer 2016, the city had one trolley route along South Coast Highway that averaged 50 passengers per hour.
City staff is recommending adjusting the routes to include the same stops and rename the Limited Stop Coastal Route to the Long Coastal Route.
The city received complaints from the public about a lack of access to destinations north of the Montage Laguna Beach resort, according to the report.
Tuesday’s meeting begins at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 505 Forest Ave.
Twitter: @AldertonBryce
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