A pilot study implemented demand-based pricing to on-street and off-street parking in San Francisco, California with the goal of improving parking utilization, availability, and double parking.
San Francisco, California, United States
SFpark Pilot Project Evaluation Summary
Summary Information
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) uses curbside management techniques such as demand-based priced parking because of the potential benefits such as improving vehicle turnover, improving parking utilization, availability, and reducing double parking and greenhouse gas emissions. SFMTA led the SFpark Pricing Pilot to manage on-street and off-street parking to increase parking availability and utilization and decrease the time it takes to find an available parking space. To achieve this, parking prices varied based on the occupancy rate of the parking area. This led parking users to park in areas where there was more availability, spending less time in high-demand areas and more time in low-demand areas which increased parking availability and created a balanced parking environment.
METHODOLOGY
This pilot involved demand-based parking pricing to on-street and off-street spaces in the pilot area. Hourly rates were adjusted based on the occupancy rate of the parking area. The target occupancy rate was 60-80 percent; if the occupancy rate was above 80 percent the price would be increased to improve turnover and if the occupancy rate was below 60 percent the price would be decreased to incentivize greater use. Based on ongoing monitoring of parking demand, prices were changed ten times during the span of the pilot.
FINDINGS
- Double parking decreased by 22 percent due to the increased availability in parking.
- Greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 30 percent in the pilot areas.
- Traffic volume decreased by 8 percent.
- The total time to find an available parking spot decreased by 43 percent.
