01625975

Component

Demand-based pricing of parking has been proven to optimize parking availability, which in turn reduces cruising for parking, traffic congestion, and vehicle emissions. It can also generate a substantial new source of revenue. These benefits are undermined by people who park illegally, or legally at no cost, including disabled placard users. Drivers who are not sensitive to price remain parked in on-street paces longer than paying drivers, and disrupt the ability of demand-based pricing systems to adjust rates appropriately. This behavior results in the parking conditions mentioned above, but at a higher price to drivers in demand-based pricing systems, and with negative outcomes for people with severe disabilities. To understand the prevalence of disabled placard and illegal parking and its financial effects, the authors conducted a study of parking behavior on Gayley Avenue in Westwood Village, Los Angeles. They found that on average, 45% of occupied parking time is not paid for. Disabled placard use is most prevalent on weekday mornings and takes up 72% of the occupied time. The authors estimate that unpaid and illegal parking in Westwood Village result in a loss of nearly $300,000 per year. They recommend that the City of Los Angeles, in partnership with the Westwood Improvement Association, convert Westwood Village into a Parking Benefit District, and invest parking revenues in sidewalk repair, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance measures, paratransit, and other services. The authors also recommend that the City of Los Angeles advocate for parking policy reform similar to Illinois’ two-tiered disabled placard parking system

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ABE30 Standing Committee on Transportation Issues in Major Cities. Alternate title: Costs of Disabled Parking Placard Usage in Westwood Village, Los Angeles, California

01618707

17-04014

English

11p

2017

Transportation Research Board 96th Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Figures; References; Tables

Costs; Parking demand; Parking violations; Permit parking; Persons with disabilities; Pricing; Regulatory reform; Revenues

Disabled persons parking placards

Illinois; Los Angeles (California)

Finance; Highways; Law; Operations and Traffic Management; Policy

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2017 Paper #17-04014

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Dec 8 2016 11:32AM