Study: NYC congestion pricing didn't impact parking demand

A study from the New York City Department of Transportation shows that the city's new congestion pricing scheme has not affected demand for parking outside the toll area, reports William Thorpe in Cities Today.

According to Thorpe, "The report found little evidence that motorists were avoiding the toll by parking outside the zone and completing their journeys by public transport. Instead, it concludes that longstanding pressure on kerbside parking, particularly free on-street spaces, remains the primary cause of parking shortages across the city."

The report found that parking occupancy outside the congestion zone increased modestly, usually under less than 5 percentage points. Additionally, "occupancy rose across all time periods, including evenings and overnight, suggesting park-and-ride behaviour was not the primary factor behind the increase."

According to Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn, "the preponderance of free parking across New York City is, by far, the prime driver of limited parking availability and drives the endless battle for curb space."