NS745: Refining the Understanding of Parking Space Requirements and Its Impact on Vehicle Miles Travelled
Problem and objectives
In 2023, the Minnesota legislature passed H.F. No. 2887 which implemented several policies to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) in transportation. This included conducting a GHG Impact Assessment, creating a GHG Impact Mitigation Working Group, and amending MN statutes to include GHG reduction goals. One of the key areas identified to reduce GHGs was through the reduction of vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Reducing VMT directly reduces GHG emissions by reducing the total distance travelled by cars in the state.
In response, MnDOT has identified the overall goal of reducing VMT by 20% per capita by 2050. Reducing VMT is a proven way of reducing GHG; and many VMT reduction strategies hold additional co-benefits such as increasing accessibility, safety, and reducing congestion. Parking space requirements have been highlighted as a specific element associated with driver modal choice, but little documented information is available on the established requirements or long-term benefits and challenges associated with modifying or removing these requirements.
The goal of this project will be to explore, document, and broaden the collective understanding of mandated parking minimums within MN and the region. The project will also work to establish recommended values based on differing types of land use and community context, e.g., urban, suburban, and rural within MN. Specifically, this project will examine the long-term benefits and challenges presented by reducing and/or removing currently established parking space requirements with new or redevelopment projects, and opportunities for parking space reallocation with existing uses.
To achieve this goal, the research team will answer the following questions:
- What impact do parking space requirements have on land use and development and vice versa?
- How does the amount of parking impact traveler behavior such as choosing whether to drive (VMT) or choosing another mode like walking, biking, taking transit when said alternatives are readily available and easily accessible? How does the type, location, or amount of parking (e.g., timed restrictions, parking garage, off-street versus on street) affect the impact parking has on economic development?
- Are there existing data vendors that provide adequate data related to parking already?
- What are the modelling techniques and best practices that capture the full breadth of impacts (co-benefits, economic impacts, land value, business utilization, development cost, etc.) of parking that will best serve local agencies?
- How can businesses/cities best share parking spaces to better utilize available parking, (i.e., one business closes at 5pm, while the neighboring business is open after 5pm)?
- What factors influence parking space demand and utilization (e.g., transit, businesses, land use)?
- What incentives best assist cities in developing new parking space requirements?
- What is the “sunk cost” of parking requirements specific to MN cities and localized land value? For lack of a better word, “sunk cost refers to:
- Roadways: wider paved surfaces, additional ROW, etc.
- Vertical construction: surface and underground parking structures.
- Other: associated cost to design and install and requirements for increased impervious area, requiring additional water quality measures, need for materials to constructed, snow removal, future maintenance, etc.
- What livability factors are most influenced by parking space modification/availability?
- What are the economic impacts to business owners, property tax base, and residential housing values by modifying the current parking space requirements?
- Are there significant differences in parking space utilization between urban, suburban, and rural areas?
- Are there unintended roadway safety consequences associated with implementing more on-street parking requirements?
To answer these questions, the research team will conduct the following:
- Literature review of historical and current practices, policy and requirements regarding parking space requirements in Minnesota and the upper mid-west.
- Literature review of current best practices of parking space requirements and the impact parking has on land use and travel behavior.
- Interview local agency and League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) staff to understand needs regarding parking space requirements and housing developers both for profit and not for profit (such as Beacon or Aeon) regarding cost to provide parking.
- Analyze the sensitivity and data requirements for a parking space requirement that will be effective for local use. Develop a toolkit that provides techniques for assessing parking needs and economic impacts in local communities.
- Conduct a pilot study to highlight the usefulness of using existing vs proposed parking space requirements based on land use and community context.
Suggested deliverables
- Develop a toolkit for local municipalities to assess parking needs and the economic impacts of parking policies.
- Identify jurisdiction responsibilities and corresponding policies.
- Compare VMT reduction, metro vs greater MN, to understand challenges present.
- Provide overview of VMT reduction and how this study supports statewide goals.
- Consider earliest start date and project duration up to 18 months.
Previous research
- ITE Parking Generation Manual. Institute of Transportation Engineers, 2023. This manual provides guidelines for estimating parking demand but does not provide guidance for estimating parking impacts (economic, etc.).
Possible members for technical advisory panel
- Jodi Teich, Stearns County
- Jim Foldesi, St. Louis County
- Karin Grandia, Itasca County
- Kevin Peterson, Washington County
- Ryan Thilges, Blue Earth County
- Kristina Heggedal, MnDOT
- Mary Liz Holberg, Dakota County
- Sean Hayford Oleary, Richfield
- Kirk Roberts, Bloomington
- Dillon Dombrovski, Rochester
- Matthew Tse, Rochester
- Brad Estochen, Ramsey County
- Greater Minnesota representatives
- Additional reps from Local Agency VMT Reduction Workgroup
Expected benefits
The numbers 1 and 2 indicate whether the source of the benefit measurement is from:
- A specific research task in your project that supports measuring this particular benefit, or
- Implementation of the research findings (anticipating positive results)
- Decrease Lifecycle Costs (2): Optimizing the number of parking spaces with multiple considerations (e.g., cost, VMT, space sharing).
- Environmental Aspect (2): Related to VMT goals and GHG emissions.
- Operation and Maintenance Saving (2): Optimizing the number of parking spaces with multiple considerations (e.g., cost, VMT, space sharing).
- Safety (2): On-street parking if being utilized makes the roadway feel narrower, hence reducing vehicle speed, if on street parking is removed vehicle speed may increase.
- User Benefits (2): Optimizing the number of parking spaces, potentially accommodating multi-modal choices, and reducing GHG emissions.