Impark adapts to urban need to go green
Canada's largest parking company plans to keep its spot in an energy-saving, commuter-driven future
Bruce Constantineau
Vancouver Sun
August 13, 2007
As CEO of one of North America's largest parking management firms, Herb Anderson sees a bright future for Impark, even in energy-conscious cities. Herb Anderson knows the Big Yellow Taxi lyric only too well -- they paved paradise to put up a parking lot. But the chief executive of Vancouver-based Impark insists parking does not have to symbolize urban blight. "If the market controls things, then parking spaces close to destination points will cost more and that will push more people onto public transit," Anderson said in an interview, citing U.S. parking expert Donald Shoup's recent book on the subject.
He also noted Canada's largest parking company has become more environmentally responsible in recent years -- with 13 of 80 company vehicles being fuel-efficient Smart Cars, tickets printed on recycled paper with soy ink and $12,000 spent on carbon offsets from Tree Canada that will result in at least 2,500 trees planted across Canada this year. (The company says the Tree Canada investment offsets the carbon footprint from its office space and vehicle usage but not company air travel.)
Impark -- a private company owned by U.S. and Australian interests -- is the largest parking management firm in Canada and the third largest in North America, behind only Central Parking Corporation of Nashville and Chicago-based Standard Parking. It operates about 1,800 parking locations in the U.S. and Canada and company revenues increased by 15 per cent last year to $200 million. Impark employs 3,700 people and about 70 per cent of its operations are in Canada. Anderson said the company will grow through acquisition, as the North American parking industry is still very fragmented, with about 80 per cent of the business controlled by local and regional operators.
"Many of them have been in the business for a long time and are looking for exit strategies," he said.
Impark has acquired two parking companies in the past year -- Urban Parking of Winnipeg and Metro Parking of Vancouver.
Canadians have been quick to accept automated parking services -- like pay-by-cellphone technology -- and more than 50 per cent of Impark operations are automated to some degree. Anderson said Impark competitors have only about five per cent of their operations automated. "It usually takes about 35 seconds to exit a parking lot through a cash line," he said. "But it's only about 15 seconds if you pay at an automated line or pay in advance and just go through."
So what is the future of big parking companies if environmentally-conscious governments push to get more cars off the road and more people onto public transit? Anderson said the future looks promising, even though big cities like London, England, now tax people for the privilege of driving in the downtown core. New York is considering a similar measure. "That encourages greater use of commuter trains, which offers new opportunities for us," Anderson said. "We'll look to manage parking lots along the train line [where commuters drive to catch the trains]."
Shoup, a UCLA urban planning professor, agrees parking management companies have a viable future. "Companies that manage existing spaces and figure out how to make the best use of them will do okay," he said in an interview.
Shoup's book, The High Cost of Free Parking, contends that free or cheap curbside parking in cities encourages wasteful practices as drivers cruise around and consume more gas as they search for parking spots. He expects drivers will have to pay more for those spots in the future. "That will require more sophisticated metering and technology, a lot of which is made in Vancouver [by Digital Payment Technologies]," Shoup said. "The right price will be one that yields about 85 per cent occupancy, so it's well used but parking is still readily available."
Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Monday, August 27, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Ontario Government Helps Cities Plant Trees To Fight Climate Change Cleaner Air And Water, Energy Conservation Among Benefits
LONDON, ON, Aug. 22 /CNW/ - The planting of native trees in urban areas means cleaner, healthier cities that are fighting the effects of climate change, Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay announced today. "Trees clean the air and water, provide shade and wind protection, supply habitat for birds and wildlife and make our cities beautiful," said Ramsay.
"Supporting tree planting on publicly accessible land will expand our urban forests and reduce the effects of climate change on Ontario's cities." The province is investing $1 million over two years in a partnership with Evergreen, a national non-profit environmental organization that works with people to create and sustain healthy, natural outdoor spaces in cities. The province-wide program will support the planting of 100,000 trees in urban areas such as parklands, conservation areas, publicly accessible corporate lands and industrial parks, university campuses, hospital grounds, road allowances, boulevards and medians.
Evergreen will grant funds to groups for the purchase of trees native to Ontario, facilitate tree plantings, and provide education and outreach to involve community volunteers and citizens in tree planting. As well, the program will work with existing provincial partners involved in tree planting and environmental initiatives such as stewardship councils for advice and
support.
"Evergreen works with hundreds of communities and schools across Ontario to bring nature back to our cities," says Geoff Cape, executive director, Evergreen. "Evergreen focuses on educating people through direct participation: by planting a tree, individuals can see they are making a difference, which leads them to other ways they can improve their local environment. It's a sustainable model with long-term impact, which is why Evergreen is delighted to partner with the Province of Ontario to address climate change through individual and community action."
Proposals to Evergreen for grants will be required to demonstrate:
- Good matching of tree species to the site, good care of trees after planting, and regular monitoring of planting sites
- Significant numbers of native trees planted
- Engagement of the community in tree planting, and
- For tree planting around buildings, a focus on improving energy conservation, where feasible, through the placement of trees and choice of species to provide shade in summer and sun penetration in winter.
"The planting of urban trees is one more important element in our government's overall plan to fight climate change," said Environment Minister Laurel Broten. "Urban trees capture carbon, improve air quality and help prevent cities from becoming heat islands. It's a simple, natural strategy, yet it benefits us in so many ways over the long term." This is just one more example of how, working together, Ontarians are achieving results in ensuring a healthier natural environment and mitigating the effects of climate change. Other initiatives include:
- Planting 50 million trees in southern Ontario by 2020
- Making $220 million in loans and grants available to help municipalities reduce greenhouse gas emissions by improving and retrofitting buildings
- Setting ambitious but realistic targets to reduce greenhouse gases below 1990 levels - six per cent by 2014, 15 per cent by 2020 and an 80 per cent reduction by 2050.
Backgrounder
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE: URBAN TREE PLANTING PROGRAM
The Ontario government is committed to fighting climate change and greening the province. While 80 per cent of Ontarians live in urban areas, our urban forests are under increasing stress from expanding development, climate change and air pollution. Planting more native trees in Ontario cities will improve air and water quality, increase energy conservation, provide habitat for birds and wildlife, and moderate the urban climate and the stress of urban life. The program will encourage people to plant trees in cities across the province. It will foster a healthier environment while building awareness of the important benefits that trees and the urban forest bring to our daily lives among individuals, families, school groups and community organizations.
The Urban Tree Planting Program
Tree Planting
-------------
- Over a two-year period - 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 - the Ministry of Natural Resources will invest $1 million and partner with the organization Evergreen to enable 100,000 trees to be planted in Ontario's urban green spaces.
- Evergreen is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization whose mission is to bring people and nature together for the benefit of both. Evergreen has distributed nearly $2.5 million in direct grants, in addition to expert assistance, to help transform over 2,800 school grounds and public spaces across Canada.
- Tree planting activities will be done on parklands, school grounds, conservation areas, corporate lands and industrial parks with public access, university campuses, hospital grounds, rooftops and road allowances, boulevards and medians.
- Groups will be invited to submit proposals to Evergreen for funding to buy native trees. The trees will be about one metre tall to help ensure their survival in urban conditions.
Proposals will be assessed using four main criteria:
- commitment to good site-selection, post-planting care and site monitoring
- number of native trees planted
- level of community engagement, and
- improving energy conservation, where feasible, through tree planting activities around buildings that provide shade in the summer and sun in the winter.
- All planting plans must be reviewed by a qualified forester, landscape architect or equivalent professional.
- The program will engage the province's existing partners, such as the Trees Ontario Foundation, and tie into existing provincial initiatives including stewardship councils and the Community Fisheries and Wildlife Involvement Program grants. Evergreen will work with partners to identify suitable native species and to find appropriate sites for urban planting.
- The program is designed to involve people of all ages and backgrounds in planting a tree native to their part of the province.
Education and Outreach
----------------------
- Evergreen will host up to 50 workshops over the two-year period, to build the capacity of environmental stewardship groups, social service agencies, schools and others to plan, implement and steward successful community naturalization projects.
- Evergreen will support a province-wide media campaign to raise
awareness and encourage broad participation.
Contact:
Stuart Mallany
Regional Strategic Development
705-755-3205
LONDON, ON, Aug. 22 /CNW/ - The planting of native trees in urban areas means cleaner, healthier cities that are fighting the effects of climate change, Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay announced today. "Trees clean the air and water, provide shade and wind protection, supply habitat for birds and wildlife and make our cities beautiful," said Ramsay.
"Supporting tree planting on publicly accessible land will expand our urban forests and reduce the effects of climate change on Ontario's cities." The province is investing $1 million over two years in a partnership with Evergreen, a national non-profit environmental organization that works with people to create and sustain healthy, natural outdoor spaces in cities. The province-wide program will support the planting of 100,000 trees in urban areas such as parklands, conservation areas, publicly accessible corporate lands and industrial parks, university campuses, hospital grounds, road allowances, boulevards and medians.
Evergreen will grant funds to groups for the purchase of trees native to Ontario, facilitate tree plantings, and provide education and outreach to involve community volunteers and citizens in tree planting. As well, the program will work with existing provincial partners involved in tree planting and environmental initiatives such as stewardship councils for advice and
support.
"Evergreen works with hundreds of communities and schools across Ontario to bring nature back to our cities," says Geoff Cape, executive director, Evergreen. "Evergreen focuses on educating people through direct participation: by planting a tree, individuals can see they are making a difference, which leads them to other ways they can improve their local environment. It's a sustainable model with long-term impact, which is why Evergreen is delighted to partner with the Province of Ontario to address climate change through individual and community action."
Proposals to Evergreen for grants will be required to demonstrate:
- Good matching of tree species to the site, good care of trees after planting, and regular monitoring of planting sites
- Significant numbers of native trees planted
- Engagement of the community in tree planting, and
- For tree planting around buildings, a focus on improving energy conservation, where feasible, through the placement of trees and choice of species to provide shade in summer and sun penetration in winter.
"The planting of urban trees is one more important element in our government's overall plan to fight climate change," said Environment Minister Laurel Broten. "Urban trees capture carbon, improve air quality and help prevent cities from becoming heat islands. It's a simple, natural strategy, yet it benefits us in so many ways over the long term." This is just one more example of how, working together, Ontarians are achieving results in ensuring a healthier natural environment and mitigating the effects of climate change. Other initiatives include:
- Planting 50 million trees in southern Ontario by 2020
- Making $220 million in loans and grants available to help municipalities reduce greenhouse gas emissions by improving and retrofitting buildings
- Setting ambitious but realistic targets to reduce greenhouse gases below 1990 levels - six per cent by 2014, 15 per cent by 2020 and an 80 per cent reduction by 2050.
Backgrounder
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE: URBAN TREE PLANTING PROGRAM
The Ontario government is committed to fighting climate change and greening the province. While 80 per cent of Ontarians live in urban areas, our urban forests are under increasing stress from expanding development, climate change and air pollution. Planting more native trees in Ontario cities will improve air and water quality, increase energy conservation, provide habitat for birds and wildlife, and moderate the urban climate and the stress of urban life. The program will encourage people to plant trees in cities across the province. It will foster a healthier environment while building awareness of the important benefits that trees and the urban forest bring to our daily lives among individuals, families, school groups and community organizations.
The Urban Tree Planting Program
Tree Planting
-------------
- Over a two-year period - 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 - the Ministry of Natural Resources will invest $1 million and partner with the organization Evergreen to enable 100,000 trees to be planted in Ontario's urban green spaces.
- Evergreen is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization whose mission is to bring people and nature together for the benefit of both. Evergreen has distributed nearly $2.5 million in direct grants, in addition to expert assistance, to help transform over 2,800 school grounds and public spaces across Canada.
- Tree planting activities will be done on parklands, school grounds, conservation areas, corporate lands and industrial parks with public access, university campuses, hospital grounds, rooftops and road allowances, boulevards and medians.
- Groups will be invited to submit proposals to Evergreen for funding to buy native trees. The trees will be about one metre tall to help ensure their survival in urban conditions.
Proposals will be assessed using four main criteria:
- commitment to good site-selection, post-planting care and site monitoring
- number of native trees planted
- level of community engagement, and
- improving energy conservation, where feasible, through tree planting activities around buildings that provide shade in the summer and sun in the winter.
- All planting plans must be reviewed by a qualified forester, landscape architect or equivalent professional.
- The program will engage the province's existing partners, such as the Trees Ontario Foundation, and tie into existing provincial initiatives including stewardship councils and the Community Fisheries and Wildlife Involvement Program grants. Evergreen will work with partners to identify suitable native species and to find appropriate sites for urban planting.
- The program is designed to involve people of all ages and backgrounds in planting a tree native to their part of the province.
Education and Outreach
----------------------
- Evergreen will host up to 50 workshops over the two-year period, to build the capacity of environmental stewardship groups, social service agencies, schools and others to plan, implement and steward successful community naturalization projects.
- Evergreen will support a province-wide media campaign to raise
awareness and encourage broad participation.
Contact:
Stuart Mallany
Regional Strategic Development
705-755-3205
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