Challenge

Colonial Parking^®, as part of a joint venture with EPark, manages all non-railroad transportation facilities at Washington’s Union Station, an intermodal and mixed-use facility servicing over 14 million travelers, shoppers, and diners annually. Our facilities operate 24 hours a day and include a 2,194-space parking garage; an extensive bus facility; daily transient storage for oversized vehicles; and a Taxi Dispatch. Safety is Colonial’s highest priority at this busy location, and our team has implemented extensive security programs to enhance customer service, improve operational efficiency, and keep all passengers safe. We have also worked with Union Station to develop initiatives to enhance revenue while still keeping customers front of mind.

Approach

Colonial contracts with and oversees a private security force responsible for responding to and reporting incidents, identifying and resolving safety issues, and controlling large crowds during peak travel times. We also employ off-duty Metropolitan Police Department officers to be staged on-site 24 hours a day.
Given the size and transient nature of the facility, the fully automated Union Station garage offers a wider array of online parking products than typical garages, including Self-Park, Premium Parking, and Unlimited Access. In 2018, we reviewed all products and rate bands to better align Union Station with how major airports operate. We adjusted where necessary, eliminated unsuccessful products, and created new ones.

Results

Since the inception of new rate bands and online marketing strategies, Union Station has increased its annual revenue by more than $43,000. We have also successfully reduced expenses to save the Client over $50,000 annually.