Variable Rate Parking Comes to Seattle

The smart parking system will follow Prof. Shoup's recommendations that no more than 85% of parking spaces should be filled at any one time and that prices should vary in order to achieve that percentage:

"Seattle officials hope variable fees will inspire a quicker turnover of precious parking spaces, boosting commerce and reducing carbon burning. In some U.S. urban neighborhoods, as much as 30 percent of all traffic is caused by people who circle the blocks looking for an opening."