Transit Oriented Parking Reform in Virginia

Arlington County, Virginia has begun a process to reduce parking requirements for large residential developments near transit stations.

1 minute read

April 22, 2017, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Virginia

Rob Crandall / Shutterstock

The amount of parking required near WMATA stations in Arlington, Virginia could soon drop, reports Andrew Dupuy, in "a move that reflects a growing understanding of how excess parking promotes urban sprawl and traffic congestion and drives up housing prices."

The Residential Parking Working Group has been working at the requet of the Arlington County manager to examine parking ratios for multi-family buildings built under special exemptions along certain corridors in Arlington County.

"Key recommendations [pdf] from the working group, which county officials say carry significant weight, include greatly reduced minimum parking requirements (MPRs) based on proximity to Metro, as well as reduced parking requirements in affordable housing units and for buildings where bike parking spaces, Capital Bikeshare stations, and car-sharing parking spaces are provided," writes Dupuy.

The article includes more detail on the recommendations, with breaks its reduced parking minimums into two tiers based on the size of the development and the proximity of the development to a WMATA station. Dupuy concludes the article by endorsing the recommendations for their benefit to affordability and walkability in Arlington County.

Tuesday, April 18, 2017 in Greater Greater Washington

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

Large crowd on street in San Francisco, California during Oktoberfest festival.

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns

In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

June 2, 2025 - Robbie Silver

Street scene in Kathmandu, Nepal with yellow minibuses and other traffic.

The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs

Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.

1 hour ago - Fast Company

Bike lane in Washington D.C. protected by low concrete barriers.

DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint

Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.

3 hours ago - The Washington Post

Bird's eye view of studio apartment design.

In These Cities, Most New Housing is Under 441 Square Feet

With loosened restrictions on “micro-housing,” tiny units now make up as much as 66% of newly constructed housing.

5 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive