During the week of December 8, 1997, three focus groups were conducted with downtown Minneapolis municipal parking garage users who exit the garages during the peak period.
The objectives of these focus groups were:
• To allow end-user input to the determination of the scope, level, type, and presentation of the traffic information to be displayed via these monitors
• To determine the advantages and disadvantages of the six options currently being considered for screen pairs.
• To obtain a list of suggested enhancements or changes to the parking garage traffic monitors that would be valued by these group participants
The purpose of this maintenance and operation plan is to assure that the 1-394 Third Avenue North Distributor (TAD) Garage A (7th Street North), Garage B (5th Street North) and Garage C (4th Street North), hereafter referred to as the TAD Garages, are maintained and operated safely, efficiently, in support of the I-394 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) incentive programs, and in support of the goals and objectives of the 1-394 Transportation System Management Plan (TSM) . The purpose of this maintenance and operation plan is also to assure that the TAD Garages are maintained and operated in accordance with 23 USC 137, Fringe and Corridor Parking Facilities (see Appendix B-l), Section 127 (a) of the 1982 Surface Transportation Assistance Act (see Appendix B-2) , and Minnesota Statute 161.1231 (see Appendix B-6).
The Third Avenue North Distributor is being designed as a high capacity connection between I-394 west of Minneapolis and the downtown Minneapolis street system. It is the eastern most mile of I-394, and it will be constructed on the northern fringe of the CBD. As part of the transportation system management plan for downtown Minneapolis, three parking garages are being proposed to be constructed adjacent to, or in the air-rights of, this roadway. The garages were proposed in 1969, and in 1974, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) asked to have a financial feasibility study conducted along with a study to determine the impact these parking garages will have on the regional transit system. This report is the results of these studies, and includes an examination of alternative locations for the garages
