TDM Toolbox

Mitigation Calculator

Subsector: Parking or Road Pricing/Management
Park Once Implementation
VMT Reduction Potential: 3
Cost: 3
ROI: 3
StanCOG Relevancy: 3
Land Use Content: Urban, Suburban
Trip Type: School, Residential, Commute, Recreation
Timing: Mid-term (3-10 years)
Implementors-Private: Campuses, Property Managers
Implementors-Public: Municipalities, Regional Agencies
References: City of Modesto Downtown Master Plan, StanCOG Measure L, California Active Transportation Program

Description

Develop pedestrian scaled zones or campuses with parking facilities on the periphery where drivers can park once and rely on active or shared modes to complete trips within the area. This creates a walkable environment that is attractive to businesses and pedestrians.

Implementation Details

  • Establish shared-use parking arrangements near downtown districts and major activity centers.
  • Develop coordinated wayfinding directing drivers from parking facilities to multiple destinations.
  • Improve pedestrian connections between parking facilities and surrounding businesses, civic destinations, and transit stops.
  • Integrate Park Once areas with StanRTA stops, bicycle facilities, and regional active transportation networks.
  • Pilot Park Once strategies in downtown Modesto and other established commercial districts where multiple destinations are located within walking distance.
  • Pair shared parking with sidewalk, crossing, shade, lighting, and bicycle improvements to make walking between destinations comfortable and accessible.

Mitigation Potential

This reduces VMT by encouraging people to walk rather than drive to each destination within denser infill environments. While not easy to quantify as its own strategy, demonstration projects with before and after counts are often used to temporarily test strategies such as these prior to full scale implementation.

Linked Strategies

Equity Considerations

Ensure areas are accessible via ADA-compliant paths and transit. Locate shared lots near civic destinations and services used by households with limited vehicle access. Prioritize sidewalk repair, lighting, and crossing improvements in surrounding areas. Provide real-time information and wayfinding in multiple languages.

Funding Sources

Implementation requires primarily planning, parking management, wayfinding, and pedestrian improvements. Potential funding sources include Measure L, particularly its bicycle/pedestrian and traffic-management components, StanCOG-administered CMAQ/STBG funding where eligible, and the California Active Transportation Program for qualifying walking and bicycling improvements. Measure L provides local transportation funding for bicycle/pedestrian improvements and can be used to leverage state and federal transportation grants.

Examples/Case Studies

California Air Resources Board (CARB) Impacts of Parking Pricing and Parking Management on Passenger Vehicle Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

CARB has studied the impacts of parking pricing and management on passenger vehicle use and greenhouse gas emissions. According to a policy brief, increasing existing parking prices or introducing fees for previously free parking can reduce VMT  and encourage mode switching, which may subsequently lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Downtown Modesto – “Park Once and Walk”

The City of Modesto’s Downtown Master Plan directly identifies a “Park Once and Walk” strategy. The plan illustrates shared parking facilities on the periphery of downtown connected to multiple destinations by pedestrian desire lines. The plan also recommends integrated parking wayfinding and real-time information to help drivers find available parking without unnecessary circulation.