TDM Toolbox

Mitigation Calculator

Subsector: Parking or Road Pricing/Management
Right Sizing Parking Supply
VMT Reduction Potential: 4
Cost: 1
ROI: 5
StanCOG Relevancy: 3
Land Use Content: Urban, Suburban
Trip Type: Residential
Scale: Community
Timing: Short Term (1-3 years)
Implementors-Private: Developers (Employment), Developers (Residential)
Implementors-Public: Municipalities
References: California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (2024), StanCOG 2026 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, City of Modesto Downtown Master Plan, City of Modesto Zoning Ordinance, California Government Code Section 65863.2 / AB 2097

Description

Updating zoning codes to reduce or eliminate minimum residential parking requirements, particularly near transit, discourages vehicle reliance, allows for denser development, and allows for more land that would otherwise be dedicated to parking to be provided to active transportation. Note that AB 2097 eliminates parking minimums for certain project types within ½ mile of a major transit stop.

Implementation Details

  • Evaluate parking requirements in downtown Modesto, Turlock, Ceres, and other compact activity centers based on observed parking demand rather than conventional minimum ratios.
  • Establish reduced parking requirements for developments near major transit stops and high-frequency transit corridors.
  • Allow parking reductions through shared parking, transportation demand management plans, and demonstrated parking demand.
  • Align local development standards with statewide parking reforms, including AB 2097 where applicable.

Mitigation Potential

Limiting parking supply increases the time, cost, and effort to own a car, decreasing the convenience of driving as well as allows for land to be dedicated to other uses such as active transportation modes. This encourages alternative modes such as biking, walking, or transit, reducing VMT.

For more details, see CAPCOA, T-15. Limit Residential Parking Supply, pg. 122-125 and CALTRANS VMT Mitigation Program, Parking, pg. 45-47 for VMT reduction quantification.

Linked Strategies

Equity Considerations

Encouraging reduced parking supply helps lower housing construction costs, which can benefit affordable housing developers. Prioritize implementation in high-transit areas to reduce car dependency among low-income households. Include community outreach to ensure understanding of trade-offs, especially in areas where car ownership is a necessity. Pair with mobility benefits (e.g., subsidized transit passes, shared mobility access) for tenants in under-resourced communities.

Funding Sources

Requires primarily staff time to update development standards, review parking demand studies, and establish appropriate parking requirements. StanCOG’s planning and TDM programs can support local jurisdiction coordination and policy development. State and federal planning funds may also support parking reform when incorporated into broader sustainable communities, infill, or multimodal planning efforts.

Examples/Case Studies

City of Modesto Zoning Code – Reduced Parking

Modesto’s zoning code allows parking reductions for certain developments, including reduced parking ratios associated with density bonus projects near major transit stops. The code also allows discretionary approval of reduced and shared parking arrangements, providing an existing regulatory mechanism for right-sizing parking supply.