A new study that looks at parking in five U.S. cities—New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, Des Moines, and Jackson, Wyoming—quantifies the amount of parking capacity and estimates the cost to communities.
Parking density per acre ranges from about 10 spots in New York to 53.8 in Jackson. The two smaller communities, Des Moines and Jackson, have a lot more parking spots per household—19 and 27 respectively—than the larger, more densely populated cities. By comparison, New York has 0.6 spots per household.
To get a handle on the cost of all that parking, the study includes the cost to replace existing capacity. This cost, when calculated by household, ranges from $6,570 per spot in New York to a whopping $192,138 in Jackson.
“America devotes far too many of its precious resources to parking,” writes Richard Florida in a post at City Lab. He points out that driving seems to be in decline. The share of Seattle households with a car is falling for the first time in at least 40 years, and the percentage of U.S. high school seniors with a driver’s license is down from 85.3% in 1996 to 71.5% in 2015. What’s more, ride-sharing is gaining popularity. Florida argues that some of the space devoted to parking would be better utilized for housing and other uses.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Feb 21, 2018
FEMA document provides simplified seismic design provisions for low-hazard regions
Forty four states have areas defined as low-hazard.
Codes and Standards | Feb 20, 2018
Federal budget includes disaster mitigation provisions
Bipartisan bill encourages states to adopt latest building codes.
Codes and Standards | Feb 19, 2018
Easy access to indoor environment controls yields improved efficiency and workplace productivity
JLL/Purdue University project is developing algorithms to improve indoor comfort.
Codes and Standards | Feb 14, 2018
After Energy Star stopped certifying medical properties, a REIT developed its own certification
Welltower uses internal system to evaluate total building performance.
Codes and Standards | Feb 13, 2018
Rezoning, innovative investor enabling development of a “metroburb” in New Jersey
Indoor mixed-use “Main Street” blossoms in giant former Bell Labs building.
Codes and Standards | Feb 12, 2018
Publication provides insight into managing risk of wind-borne debris damage
Explains how models and data are used to assess the risk of structural damage.
Codes and Standards | Feb 8, 2018
EPA’s Water of the U.S. rule delayed for two years while repeal sought
Controversial Obama-era regulation may never be implemented.
Codes and Standards | Feb 5, 2018
Astrophysicist turns his skills toward identifying and predicting location of vacant buildings
Project could help Baltimore and other cities redevelop blighted properties.
Codes and Standards | Feb 5, 2018
Denver’s new green roof mandate raises implementation policies
Voter initiative left many details undecided.
Codes and Standards | Feb 2, 2018
How workplace design can position financial services companies for success
HOK report examines forces reshaping industry.