Los Angeles is taking a major transit cue from its Neighbor to the North, and it has nothing to do with trolley cars.
Earlier this year San Francisco unveiled SFpark, a program that not only gives its residents “real time” parking occupancy, but also adjusts the rates for parking meters based on the demand at a given time. While it’s far too early to see the results, some early opponents have complained that this “dynamic pricing” system is unfair to those with lower-income. Still, congestion has reduced due to more available spaces and fewer people cruising for cheap parking.
If 30% of gridlock is caused by people circling the block in search of parking, then Los Angeles would seem like a perfect place to test out the Shoup theory. City officials think this is just what Downtown LA needs to cure its parking woes. Thus, they have begun the great dynamic pricing experiment, and the LA Times reports just how and where the program will be implemented.
Currently, parking meter prices are based on an archaic system set by geographic boundaries. The new program — called ExpressPark — will begin in a 4.5-square-mile zone roughly bounded by the 10 and the 110 freeways, and Alameda Street and Adams Boulevard. It will use sensors and other technology to measure demand at about 6,000 sidewalk meters and 7,500 spaces in public parking facilities such as the Convention Center.
Officials will adjust the cost of meters based on demand at various times throughout the day and on how long motorists stay in each space. Although the price of most meters will be set once a month, in some areas officials will adjust the rates more frequently based on demand.
The jury is still out in San Francisco, and it remains to be seen what type of public response we’ll see here in Los Angeles. But we can’t help be excited that great American cities like these are realizing the need to equip their citizens with intelligent parking solutions. PIM will be watching closely to see how these two programs pan out.
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