Parking strategies for transit-oriented development

Wayfinding sign for CTA trains, Metra trains and CTA buses.

Parking Exemptions and Credits

Studies show the more parking that is available, the more individuals will own and use cars instead of opting to use transit or other modes in transit areas. Municipalities can create parking exemptions and parking credits as strategies to avoid overbuilding parking. These include:

Exempting the transit district from parking requirements under current zoning law.
Supply bike parking and/or car share parking instead of private vehicle parking at a set ratio.
Provide development parking credits against the zoning parking requirements, based on proximity to transit, municipal parking availability, or shared parking opportunities

Man reads a book on a CTA Blue Line train with a mural visible out the train window.

Shared Parking

The average car is parked 95% of the day. Municipalities can allow for shared parking agreements and prioritize vehicles shared by multiple households to take advantage of this and reduce overall parking demand.

How does this work?

Many land uses have specific parking utilization needs. Some need parking during the day while others need it overnight. Some on weekdays and others on weekends. Municipalities can encourage shared parking agreements between property owners who have nearby parking but opposite parking demand needs. This approach can further reduce parking requirements in mixed-use developments and in TOD areas.

Require developers to provide space for car sharing where tenants who need a car can share one or more vehicles. One carshare vehicle (such as Zipcar or Getaround) can replace up to 20 private cars.
Pace Vanpool provides vanpooling vehicles at a Metra and Pace parking lots for passengers who have a common origin or destination to use.

Shared Parking Case Study

Pace runs VanGo in both Deerfield and Lake Forest and offers Pace Vanpool options for Metra or Pace Park-n-Rides. These can serve as a shared parking space option.

Aerial view of Metra trains with dense trees on either side.

Parking management

Another way to improve parking demand is to institute strategies that manage existing parking, whether it’s on-street or off-street. These can include:

Develop Curb Management Policies

Manage each segment or zone of curb space in high-traffic transit served areas for various competing demands for curb space. Doing so can ensure dedicated space for parking.
Offer pickup and drop-off areas for transportation-network companies, establish delivery and loading zones for commerce, and dedicate space for shared and micro-mobility parking, and still preserves access to transit stops and stations.

Establish Variable Rates or Dynamic Parking Pricing

Parking is charged a fee that varies depending on demand, location, and time of day.
Approximately 30% of cars in congested downtown traffic are looking for parking. Instituting parking time limits helps to ensure consistent availability of parking and removes extra vehicles from traffic lanes, decreases emissions, and better uses existing space.
Ensure parking fees are high enough for regular turnover and consistent availability of parking throughout the day. Most programs aim for 80% occupancy.
Appropriate prices can be determined easily and affordably. San Francisco even saw its average hourly prices decrease after three years of operation.
Sales tax revenue can even go up, as customers are guaranteed a space to park.

Continual enforcement is key to successful parking management strategies.

Less enforcement could be needed due to fewer instances of double parking or parking tickets and greater availability of legal spaces.
Pricing can also create a revenue stream that can enhance access and further reduce parking demands, such as through the next example.

Institute Parking Benefit Districts (PBDs)

These districts channel parking fee revenue back into localized improvements such as:
Subsidized transit fares and car or bike share memberships for area employees and residents.

Enhancing local transit services.

Installing amenities in Business Improvement Districts.

PBDs should consider splitting funding 51/49 between the district and municipal-wide alternative transportation improvements, rather than the funds going into the general municipal budget.
Parking Benefit Districts can be implemented using the same State regulations as a Special Service Area (See DuPage County’s explanation for more information about SSAs).

Locate Parking Access to Retail and Businesses Secondary to Pedestrians

Transit-friendly parking design can be encouraged by building street-facing retail and placing parking in the rear of the lot.
Parking garages and vehicle access can be placed behind main buildings, with pedestrian access provided to the street via alleyway connections, as seen in the above proposal in Melrose Park.

Parking Strategies for TOD

Off Street Parking

RTA Partners with Evanston to Revise Parking Needs

Parking Exemptions and Credits

Shared Parking

How does this work?

Shared Parking Case Study

Parking management

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