DC To Expand Performance Parking

• May 4, 2012
• 2 Comments

by Shilpi Paul

Early morning parking spots on R Street NW.

Ever drive around for hours (seemingly) looking for a parking space downtown? That could soon change…but at a price.

The DC Council’s Committee on the Environment, Public Works and Transportation approved a plan on Thursday to expand “performance parking”, a strategy that could lead to much higher parking rates during peak times, reported The Examiner this morning.

Performance parking, already in place in Wards 1 and 6, attempts to do a better job of matching rates to demand, free market-style. On busy nights when everyone wants a space downtown or near the action, rates are hiked up. For example, on H Street, where the program is already in place, rates triple to $2 per hour at night as compared to their daytime rate, according to The Examiner. The increased fare will presumably lower demand, making it easier for those who really want/need them to find spaces.

Of course, DC acknowledges that in addition to balancing out demand, the program will bring in a rewarding side benefit: Mayor Gray predicts that the expansion could raise about $3 million for the city, while Councilman Tommy Wells thinks that number could be as high as $10 million.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/dc_to_expand_performance_parking/5498

2 Comments

1. df said at 11:08 pm on Friday May 4, 2012:
   This is nothing more than a monumental rip off and inconvenience to the average citizen. As usual, it will be chump change for the 1% among us who won't blink an eye but no doubt will appreciate the additional parking spaces set aside for them as the 99% ride past in search of the increasingly disappearing affordable spot. I, for one, will certainly no longer frequent those establishments located in these new "high crime" areas. This nonsense, along with the new credit card payment meters being installed everywhere, is among the biggest scams the city has perpetrated on the public since the advent of Home Fool. On it's face, credit card payment seems a convenience, but in many cases it is not, and can result in double (or more) payment for the same minutes by successive users, or even for the original user if he/she needs to extend the time but can't wait until the time already paid for expires on the meter. What a rip off.

1. cmc said at 5:36 pm on Tuesday May 8, 2012:
   df, I'm not sure you understand what performance parking is. High demand areas should be more expensive to balance out the restricted supply of spaces. Low demand area should be less expensive to balance out the ample supply of spaces. Performance parking is not a matter of just raising prices. It must go both ways. Performance parking also leaves it up to the customer to decide whether he values time or money. If he values his time, he'll pay the appropiate price to park where and when he wants. If he values his money, he will take as much as time as it needs to find a spot or not drive at all. If supply and demand is not agreeable to you and you think you deserve to park where you please, your best bet is to encourage more public transportation in high-density areas to accomodate those who do not need or want to be driving. This not only frees up more parking, but reduces automobile traffic. Win-win.