Smart Growth

Smart Parking Study/Toolbox

MTC hosted a training seminar on parking policies to support smart growth, focusing on providing strategies for interested local jurisdictions. The seminar was held on June 14, 2007 at the MetroCenter, opened by MTC Commissioner Bates, and attended by over 125 registered participants, including elected officials, city planning directors, managers, city public works directors, real estate developers, community advocates, and others.

The focus of the Seminar was a new "Toolbox/Handbook" that assists local jurisdictions in defining their community and identifying parking strategies that are likely to be effective in their type of area. It describes the various strategies and provides examples of best practices from around the region and beyond.

The CD that comes with the "Toolbox/Handbook" also includes a technical parking model built as an Access database to estimate parking demand for different types of land uses, with adjustments based on sharing of parking, transit availability, pricing, and other key factors of the local area that impact the demand for parking. Detailed instructions and examples are included with the model. The Toolbox/handbook and CD are available from the MTC/ABAG Library.

The Seminar also reviewed the eight case studies that formed a core of this effort, based on local jurisdictions that had applied for assistance in this area. Summary sheets reviewed current conditions, potential policies, stakeholder feedback and recommendations for future policies for each case study.

• Video: Smart Parking Seminar, June 14, 2007

Highlights and materials of the seminar included:

• Agenda/Schedule (Word)
• Opening remarks by MTC Commissioner and Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates
• Experience from Redwood City, Susan Moeller, Redevelopment Manager, and Dan Zack, Downtown Development Coordinator (PowerPoint 28 MB)
• Executive Leadership Overview, Using the Handbook, and Elements of a Parking Management Program by Bill Hurrell, Wilbur Smith Associates (PowerPoint 27 MB)
• Elements of a Parking Management Program (PowerPoint 15 MB)
• Parking Model Tutorial (PowerPoint 5 MB)
• Case Study summaries (PDF):
  • Berkeley
  • Hercules
  • Menlo Park
  • Mission Bay
  • Morgan Hill
  • San Rafael
  • Union City
  • Vallejo

Additional materials from the study are included on the CD and attached below.
Some materials have been updated since the seminar.

• Summary of Existing Parking Policies (PDF)
• Technical Paper on Existing Parking Policies (PDF)
• Best Practices (PDF 1 MB)
• Toolbox/Handbook (PDF 7.8 MB)
• Parking Model Files (ZIP archive)
• Cruising Memo (PDF)
• Case Studies:
  • Berkeley (ZIP archive)
  • Hercules (ZIP archive)
  • Menlo Park (ZIP archive)
  • Mission Bay (PDF)
  • Morgan Hill (ZIP archive)
  • San Rafael (PDF)
  • Union City (ZIP archive)
  • Vallejo (ZIP archive)

The Parking Study Technical Advisory Committee will be addressing potential regional and state policies to support "smart" parking policies at their next meeting.