IMPACTS OF MUNICIPAL PARKING-FEE INCREASES IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO

The results of a study that investigated the impacts of substantial fee increases at Chicago's eight downtown city-owned parking facilities are reported. Changes in parking patterns were determined for each of the municipal facilities from data routinely collected by the Bureau of Parking and surveys of time-stamped parking receipts. The effects on parking fees and use at nearby privately owned facilities and on transit ridership were also explored by using data from surveys of parking tax returns submitted by commercial facilities, a historical review of their rate schedules, and discussions with private operators. The January 1978 fee increases stimulated a drop-off in overall use at each of the municipal facilities, although slightly more revenue was generated. Vehicles, usually driven by commuters, that enter on weekdays before 9:30 a.m. and park all day decreased by 72 percent (this drop-off was still evident one year after the increase). Apparently, most parkers increased their use of transit rather than divert to other parking facilities. Because of the availability of space in the midday hours and new short-term fees that remained lower than those at nearby, privately owned facilities, short-term parking increased at the municipal facilities. These effects are consistent with the city's objectives for its central area--i.e., lowering peak-period congestion and pollution, providing parking space for business patrons, and increasing transit use. It is concluded that the restructuring of parking fees has potential benefits if parking is in short supply, if local government controls a major portion of the supply, and if good transit service is available. (Authors)

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1980/786/786-005.pdf
• Summary URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=IMPACTS+OF+MUNICIPAL+PARKING-FEE+INCREASES+IN+DOWNTOWN+CHICAGO&author=B.+Kunze&author=C.+Heramb&author=T.+Martin&publication_year=1980
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309032008
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Parking and Terminals. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Kunze, Bob
  • Heramb, Cheri
  • Martin, Timothy
• Conference:
  • 59th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1980-1-21 to 1980-1-25
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 21-30
• Monograph Title: Parking
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 786
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pollution; Fees; Impact studies; Needs assessment; Peak hour traffic; Physiological aspects; Public transit; Ridership; Time duration; Traffic congestion; Traffic control; Urban areas
• Uncontrolled Terms: Short term; User needs
• Geographic Terms: Chicago (Illinois)
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation; Society; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00335210
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309032008
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 28 1982 12:00AM