OPERATIONAL ISSUES......................................RATING (MAXIMUM 25 POINTS)

This criterion measures features that optimize the use, operation and maintenance of the facility including:

• Revenue Collection Systems - If a revenue collection system was required for the operation of this facility, describe the system that was installed.  If a revenue control system was installed, describe the equipment and procedures used to ensure the integrity of the revenue.  If single or multi-space parking meters are used, describe the uses of these meters and how meter revenue is safeguarded.  If a permit system is used, describe the permit sales/distribution process and the measures taken to ensure that only permit holders are using the designated spaces.
  
• Maintenance - Describe the environmental conditions of the location in which the facility was built.  Given these conditions, provide a description of the features that were included in the architectural design, structural design and the construction of the facility to optimize durability and minimize the long-term maintenance requirements.  Describe the features that were included in the design and construction to facilitate day-to-day maintenance operations.  Provide a description of any procedures that have been implemented to enhance the appearance and/or prolong the life of the facility.
  
• Security - Describe the level of security required considering the location of the facility.  Given these security considerations, what active and/or passive security measures were incorporated into the operational aspects of the facility procedures to enhance the safety of its patrons (and employees)?
  
• Usage Flexibility and Optimization - List the various types of parkers (i.e., transient, monthly, special event, long-term, short-term, validation program or other technique users) that use the facility.  Describe any strategies that were implemented to optimize the use of the facility by attracting/maintaining this customer base and by accommodating any of these groups.

FUNCTIONAL DESIGN ISSUES..........................RATING (MAXIMUM 25 POINTS)

This criterion measures various aspects of the basic core design/layout of the facility including:

• Geometrics - Describe the physical layout of the facility and how it influenced the parking geometrics.  Include descriptions of column spacing, parking and driving slopes.  What square foot efficiency was achieved and if outside the “norm."  What influenced the end result?
  
• Vehicle Flow - Describe the basic parking garage configuration and type (double helical ramp, flat floor with independent ramping, etc.).  What factors influenced the decision to use this type of configuration/ramping system?  Describe why angle parking with one-way flow or 90º parking with two-way flow was the chosen parking type.  Describe any unique traffic flow patterns or design concept you consider greatly benefits the user.  Are there any special design features which you believe allow the driver to “naturally” understand the flow through the garage or the search pattern on a given level?
  
• Pedestrian Flow - Describe any special features that help the driver easily and safely find and walk to elevator/stair cores.  List steps taken to ensure the safety and security of the pedestrian as they walk through the garage.  Explain any design features that call attention to the location of the elevator and stair cores.  Describe any special or unique signing programs employed to identify floors and/or elevator cores.
  
• Entry/Exit Configuration - Describe the entry/exit configuration including number of entry/exit points and lanes as well as what factors influenced their location and number.  If appropriate, what degree of flexibility has been incorporated into the design to handle inbound and/or outbound surges?  Detail the queuing stacking distance between street and access control and between egress control and street.  How was the distance determined?  If appropriate, describe any unique entry/exit conditions faced in the design of the facility and how you resolved those conditions.
  
• Internal Lighting - Describe lighting levels (in foot candles) in the basic parking area.  Explain varying lighting levels in the facility.  What lighting source was used and why was the source selected?  If the project was faced with unusual lighting requirements or conditions explain how the issue was dealt with.
  
• Other - If appropriate, describe any functional aspects of this garage that are particularly unique or represent what could be considered as potentially new and innovative in functionality.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN ELEMENTS............RATING (MAXIMUM 15 POINTS)

This criterion evaluates the parking garage as a “building” in its natural context.  Because of the physical size of parking structures, it is important to evaluate their architectural design elements including:

• Exterior Appearance - Describe the exterior appearance including a description of the “articulation,” as well as the materials used.  Explain why these materials were used, what elements were articulated and why.  If special features that either call attention to the facility as a parking garage or attempt to “mask” it are present, explain why this approach was chosen.  If appropriate, detail how the exterior design was influenced by the site of the structure or adjacent buildings.
  
• Exterior Lighting - If the exterior of the garage is illuminated explain how and why.  Describe any special features or aspects of the garage that are highlighted with external light.
  
• Landscaping - If applicable, describe how the site was landscaped (or the garage itself).  If landscaping was part of an overall plan affecting a “campus setting,”  explain what objectives were met and how it was accomplished.  Describe seasonal variations.
  
• Entrance Identification - Describe what physical features, architectural expressions or signage elements were used to clearly identify and/or differentiate the entrance to the garage - as contrast to the exit - if such features were appropriate.  If any unusual street conditions or internal layout created to the need for an entrance/exit area to be “unorthodox” in nature, what measures did you take to ensure vehicles would enter at the proper point?
  
• Graphic and Art Elements - Describe any special graphic or art-related elements added to the garage.  Describe their purpose and how they contributed to the operation or aesthetics of the facility.
  
• Other - If applicable, describe any special architectural or related features of the facility which enhance its physical form or appearance to the driver, the pedestrian (within the garage) or the “passer-by."

USER AMENITIES................................................RATING (MAXIMUM 20 POINTS)

This criterion measures the facility amenities as they relate to the various user groups.  Those are identified as the parker, the pedestrian and the employee.  Special features added for comfort and convenience should include:

• Security - Identify the type of analysis performed to determine the security measures for the specific facility.  Describe the environment as it relates to security - suburban or small village locations would not warrant the level of security necessary for a large downtown location.  If active measures such as security patrols and electronic surveillance are used, please detail why these measures were needed and how they are monitored.  Give the details of locations and numbers of such equipment.  If only passive measures are used document why only those measures were used.
  
• Public Areas - Describe the various public areas in the facility.  Include such areas as the attractiveness of stairways and the aesthetics of lobby areas.  Note the convenience of waiting areas (i.e., heated, air conditioned, benches).  List any other public convenience such as skywalks, elevators or escalators directly connected to other buildings or destinations.
  
• Wayfinding(Pedestrian/Vehicular) - Explain the convenience of entrances and exits for both pedestrians and vehicles.  Explain the use of internal graphics to assist in the directing of both user groups.  Describe how any special user group needs were addressed such as directions to hospital patient loading/unloading areas.  Note how potential conflict points were minimized.
  
• Staff Amenities - Describe the features incorporated for staff use.  These should include such things as convenient location of restrooms, lounge areas and kitchen facilities.  The work environment should be detailed (attendant booths heated/air-conditioned, carpeted).  Note any safety or security measures specific to employees.
  
• Other - Explain any other amenities that add to the safety, convenience or comfort of any user group.

INNOVATIONS/UNUSUAL OR DISTINCTIVE FEATURES........RATING (MAXIMUM 10 POINTS)

This criterion addresses innovation and creativity not described or covered in other criteria.  It measures the approaches used and the success realized in overcoming particular problems related to design, operations, usage and financing.  Discuss the following as appropriate to your facility.

• Special Operations or Functions - Describe special plans or programs required in order to address the needs of customers utilizing the facility.  If special equipment for operations, revenue control, wayfinding, security, etc. was employed, describe how applicable each was to the various users in terms of the problems overcome and the success realized.
  
• Creative Financing - Describe measures employed beyond the use of normal financing methods such as general obligation bonds or parking revenue bond requirements to provide for the design, construction and operation of the facility.  Special arrangements such as land swaps or exchanges, transfer of development rights, tax incentives and packaging of financial arrangements should be detailed in discussing the economics of the project.
  
• Future Provisions - Describe any special features or operational provisions incorporated in the original design that would permit expansion of the facility (horizontally or vertically) or allow use by a different set of customers than originally intended (i.e., change from long term permit parking to short term cashier control).
  
• Multi-Modal Linkage - The objective of this item is to assess the impact of combining a parking facility with other transportation modes at bus terminals, rail stations and other linkages.  Describe the interactions between the various linkages and the need for combining the facilities in order to resolve special issues such as road capacity, trip reduction and auto occupancy.
  
• Mixed Use Potential - Describe the ability or potential of the facility to incorporate mixed-use development.  What special features were utilized in the initial planning and design phases to accommodate mixed-use and provide for the interactions between the customers and patrons of the facility.
  
• Unique Construction/Design Features - This element considers unique design or construction constraints, particular requirements dictated by site configurations, user needs or owner demands.  Provide a description of features (if appropriate) included to address such items as well as steps taken to offset regional variations including  earthquake, temperature extremes, atmospheric conditions and the like.
  
• Other - This item covers any other operational, planning or design elements not previously addressed that deals specifically with state-of-the-art or leading edge measures employed to resolve special problems or requirements.

COSTS...................................................................RATING (MAXIMUM 5 POINTS)

Explain in narrative format the costs associated with the facility construction and address the differences, if any, between the established budget, the actual bid/award cost and the final project cost.  Costs should be for construction only and should not include soft costs or costs for land, design, demolition or utility relocation.  If comparative analysis were undertaken for different types of construction explain why and how the final method was selected noting specifically the degree of importance cost played in the selection.

Given that facilities of the same size may vary in cost (i.e., underground vs. above grade, stand alone vs. mixed use, urban location vs. rural, etc.), explain the particular design components, the construction problems and the amenities included in the facility that resulted in the final overall construction cost.  State the actual per space cost.

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