Some people in downtown Charleston, South Carolina report have trouble finding parking, the city's first comprehensive parking study shows that even at peak times the area is well under capacity.
The city of Charleston has an oversupply of parking, according to a recently completed study. Some lots fill up and some neighborhoods have more on-street parking permits than on-street parking spaces. "But the entire peninsular parking system — garages, surface parking, private parking and on-street spaces — doesn’t typically fill up beyond about 75 to 80 percent of capacity," according to an article in the Post and Courier.
The city’s downtown peninsula is the hardest place in the region to find parking, but the study shows that even that part of the city has excess capacity. The paper speculates that the city would be better off investing future resources in public transit or other transportation assets. "That excess capacity carries both direct and indirect costs for residents by eating up valuable real estate and reinforcing car dependency — and the associated congestion, accidents and expensive traffic fixes," the Post and Courier argues.
Read the full story: Study shows downtown has plenty of parking, but finding it can be tricky
Bike use in London grew by 43% since 2019, but car use remains roughly the same
The city's efforts to reduce car use have stalled despite ambitious programs like congestion pricing and low-traffic neighborhoods.
Yes, another thing that car dependency makes worse: DUIs
In the land of the free (and the cars), design incites drinking and driving.
Cost of living too high? Planners to the rescue!
Excessive costs of living force many people to work more than optimal hours, leaving less time for family and fun. Local policies that favor affordable housing and transportation increase freedom, opportunity and happiness.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
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.
Chicago voters approve permanent festival grounds, penalty for vacant property owners
Currently, major summer and fall festivals take over public parks for weeks at a time, drawing criticism from nearby residents
NYC votes to cut outdoor dining red tape, speed up permitting
New York City also voted to allow the Department of Transportation to begin work on urgent projects before notifying elected officials.
California appears to reject Prop. 45
The proposition would have expanded the projects that qualify for a streamlined environmental review, effectively paring down the California Environmental Quality Act.
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority