Economic & Sustainable Development: Pick Up/Drop Off Zones

The Challenge

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, restaurants were required to limit indoor seating. Additionally, many people felt more comfortable dining outdoors or picking up food to-go. In conjunction with the local business community, the City of Bloomington’s Department of Economic and Sustainable Development (ESD) sought ways to help local restaurants and shops transition to a takeout or call-ahead ordering model. Paying the parking meter its minimum charge (if using a credit card) for time they did not plan to fully use proved to be a barrier to both businesses and their patrons. Motivated in part by the idea that cities should and can learn from each other’s projects and innovations, ESD conducted research to see how other cities implemented parking changes during COVID times, and how similar innovations might be tailored to fit Bloomington’s needs and concerns. 

The Idea

Research demonstrated that many other cities across the nation, from similarly-sized college towns to large cities like Los Angeles and Washington DC, had implemented some sort of parking modification to accommodate carry-out orders from restaurants. Just as with other parking innovations related to COVID-19, ESD worked with partners such as the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Bloomington, Inc. to get feedback and determine what actions would be most beneficial to downtown businesses. The result: Pick Up/Drop Off (PUDO) zones in Bloomington. ESD staff used maps, eye witness investigation, and user data to pinpoint restaurant/retail-dense areas around Bloomington where PUDO zones might be useful. Since August 1, 58 free, 15-minute parking spaces have been designated as PUDO zones on over 30 blocks in downtown commercial zones (as indicated at this map https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1DzDxW-K-I4Y08wxVjUvH5HQ3fG3kll1M&ll=39.17051699240009%2C-86.53588577239135&z=18) to facilitate the curbside pickup model to which many area restaurants have recently transitioned. Parking at the PUDO spaces and regular metered spaces is monitored from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday to ensure regular turnover. 

The Cost

There is no cost to local restaurants and shops for their customers to use nearby PUDO spaces. The biggest cost associated with this innovation relates to the revenue lost from meters at these parking spaces. While this strategy does reduce revenue to the City from parking meters, the cost is outweighed by our ability to support local businesses in complying with health orders and staying in business.

The Benefit

The primary benefits of PUDO spaces are that they increase the potential for sales by local businesses while protecting the health and wellness of patrons and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before, patrons may have either struggled to find parking nearby or been uninterested in paying for parking when simply picking up or dropping off from a restaurant or shop. Now, the PUDO zones benefit not only residents who are more comfortable with a curbside service model, but the businesses themselves who depend on providing service. Initially approved through the end of September, the Department of Public Works has extended the PUDO zones through the end of 2020. 

Metadata

City Department(s): Economic and Sustainable Development, Public Works, Parking, Office of the Mayor

City Point of Contact: Kaisa Goodman (Special Projects Manager, Department of Economic & Sustainable Development)

Partner(s): Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, Downtown Bloomington Inc., Bloomington Chamber of Commerce

Partner(s) Point(s) of Contact: N/A

Type of Innovation: Parking; Brand New Service; Process Improvement 

Date Implemented: August 2020