Flimsy_Patience_7780 t1_je1gr5i wrote on March 28, 2023 at 6:52 PM

I agree that some of that money could definitely be reallocated, and that $47 mil for a parking garage is a little excessive. Definitely need to rebudget that.

However, I do not agree with your idea of aggressively pricing employee parking. Healthcare professionals work their assess off. They work long 12 hour shifts, making not nearly enough for what they’re actually worth most of the time. Many of those nurses, doctors, techs, they don’t want to screw around with public transportation after a physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting day. Your idea of aggressively pricing parking for a demographic that is already overworked and underpaid seems punitive and grossly unfair to people who do nothing but give of themselves and their skills.

Rather than such a financially punitive approach, how about offer positive incentives. Hospitals could give additional benefits or stipends for individuals who carpool or choose to use public transportation. I believe those things will be much more fruitful than cornering healthcare professionals into a decision that costs them more money they don’t have.

bomgd3 OP t1_je1h21a wrote on March 28, 2023 at 6:54 PM

Hypothetically what if they gave $5,000 to each employee and then charged $200/month for on-site parking versus free or nominal fee off site parking? I'm a health care worker. I worked my ass off through the pandemic and I work 12 hour shifts. I'd take that bargain in an instant.

If pricing and incentives were well calibrated and (extremely importantly) well communicated, I bet magically there would be plenty of on site parking for employees who want it, patients, and less congestion down Main and Washington. Adding more parking would actually worsen the horrible congestion on those roads at peak hours.