Resource

Motorists circling city blocks hunting for open parking spots exacerbate local traffic, double parking, and the phenomenon of squatting in what parking spaces are available. Underpriced meter parking can attract more cars than there are parking spaces, but variably priced meters with the ability to respond to demand for parking can mitigate the issues associated with overcrowded on-street parking. The premise of a demand-based pricing model for parking is simple: when parking demand is high, meter rates would go up and when it is lower, rates would be cheaper.

Two cities that have tried this approach are Washington, D.C. and Redwood City, CA. In Washington, D.C., on street parking in the Eastern Market neighborhood was already tight, even before the opening of nearby Nationals Park. The new stadium was expected to draw significant car traffic on game days, a large contingent of which would be seeking on street parking rather than private garages and lots. Councilmember Tommy Wells, who represented these neighborhoods, introduced a pilot program for performance-based parking, in an effort to be proactive in managing the growing parking demand. A similar measure also took root in Redwood City, CA during a period of increasing downtown development, when leaders decided to use strategic meter pricing to alleviate parking issues.