Parking pricing (meters) for on-street parking is typically implemented in transitional neighborhoods – near commercial corridors, universities, or entertainment districts—where demand is high and land use is mixed. It reduces vehicle circulation for parking, encourages turn over, and encourages people to consider other modes.
Implementing parking pricing increases the cost of driving to a location. Pricing parking disincentivizes the use of Single Occupancy Vehicle and encourages alternative forms of transportation, reducing VMT.
For more details, see CAPCOA, T-24. Implement Market Price Public Parking, pg. 179-182 and CALTRANS VMT Mitigation Program, Parking, pg. 45-47 for VMT reduction quantification.
To avoid placing cost burdens on low-income drivers, pricing strategies should include exemptions or discounts for residents in disadvantaged communities. Revenues from priced parking should be reinvested in local multimodal improvements, such as sidewalks, bike infrastructure, and first-last mile transit access. Transparent community engagement is critical to ensure buy-in and equitable outcomes.
Initial funding is needed to establish payment systems, signage, enforcement, and parking-management technology, with ongoing funding for enforcement and administration. Local agencies can use parking revenues to support parking operations and potentially reinvest revenues into downtown transportation improvements. Measure L and StanCOG-administered transportation funding may support complementary multimodal improvements associated with priced parking, such as bicycle and pedestrian facilities, while CMAQ/STBG may support eligible transportation improvements.
The City of Modesto operates paid parking facilities in and around downtown. Current pay-by-space facilities charge $1.25 per hour, while City parking garages and lots use paid parking with daily maximums. This provides a direct Stanislaus County example of priced parking in an established downtown environment.
