Guide To Charging For Parking

The Victoria Transport Policy Institute has released this report to guide municipalities to transition from 'free' parking (though author Todd Litman is quick to point out that it is never free) to charging for parking directly.

1 minute read

February 21, 2010, 11:00 AM PST

By Irvin Dawid


There are numerous economic and environmental benefits reaped when parking is charged for directly rather than keeping the price free and paying for it indirectly. This guide was written to enable governments to overcome obstacles and accrue the benefits with parking pricing.

From Summary:

"Parking pricing (also called user pay and metered parking) refers to direct charges for using a parking space. Efficient parking pricing can provide numerous benefits including increased turnover and therefore improved user convenience, reduced traffic problems, and increased revenues.

This report provides guidance on parking pricing

implementation. It describes...ways to overcome common

obstacles and objections, and examples of successful parking pricing programs."

From Introduction:

"Parking is never really free, the choice is really between paying directly or indirectly for parking facilities. Underpricing increases the amount of parking needed to meet demand, and tends to increase problems such as traffic congestion, housing inaffordability, sprawl and pollution.

Charging users directly for parking tends to be more efficient and equitable, and generates revenues that can finance new services or reduce taxes and rents..."

Thanks to Todd Alexander Litman

Thursday, February 18, 2010 in Victoria Transport Policy Institute

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

A road in north eastern Nebraska with power lines on either side, and grassy fields.

Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity

Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.

November 6, 2026 - Grist

People walking in downtown St. Louis, walking past shops.

Move over, LA: St. Louis gears up for Olympics, invests millions in downtown redevelopment

The Missouri city will host the 2028 Olympic soccer group stage and knockout matches.

November 1, 2026 - Smart Cities Dive

construction near Boston, with machinery digging at large pit.

Mass. votes against statewide minimum lot size for single-family homes

Over 2 million residents voted on Question 7; it was decided by just over 30,000 votes.

November 10 - GBH

A bridge over the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.

Maryland’s $15 billion bridge project gains key approval

The Maryland Transit Authority said the project will create over 60,000 jobs and add $23 billion to the local economy.

November 10 - WTOP News

A crowd of people cheering for an unseen performer.

‘No clear next steps’ for Chicago's permanent festival grounds

Eleventh Ward Ald. Nicole Lee has suggested Soldier Field as a possible location for the permanent event space.

November 10 - Chicago Sun Times

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.