"Free Parking is a fertility drug for cars"

This quote, attributed to Donald Shoup, was logged in the comments to an LA Streetsblog post about a Los Angeles City Council resolution advocating free parking to "the highest tech and cleanest cars".  This follows the termination earlier this year of a program that provided HOV exemption stickers to any hybrid vehicles. 

LA is home to Shoup, a UCLA professor of Urban Planning and the author of The High Cost of Free Parking.  Shoup's strategies have been implemented most notably in Santa Monica and San Francisco. He calls for the elimination of building codes that require free parking to ensure that spots are available to those willing to pay, thus ending the pattern of drivers circling a neighborhood multiple times in search of a spot. 

The intent of the LA City Council resolution, to encourage the use of fuel efficient vehicles, seems desirable to manufacturers like Tesla and Toyota.  Beyond purchase decisions by those with the means to consider a pricey electric vehicle, behavioral change from such a resolution seems unlikely.  As Shoup has shown through decades of research and writing, the cost of parking heavily influences transportation decisions.  Far too often parking costs are artificially dampened by regulations and building codes.  Legislation to cap or eliminate fees adds another layer hiding the true cost of parking and such layers tend to be much harder to remove than to apply. 

What happens when a system gets too crowded?  The interstate highway system grew rapidly in the 50's.  Since 1960, growth in road miles has been flat, averaging around 2.6% per decade.  On the other hand, road use as measured in vehicle miles traveled (VMT), has grown at a much more rapid clip.  Our analysis of Federal Transportation data showed a 250% increased in vehicle miles traveled between 1960 and 2000.  During the same period the number of road miles increased by only 11%.  Same roads and more miles = congestion and wear & tear. 

While some of this VMT increase comes from more cars on the road the majority of the growth is in per capita mileage.  For a nice analysis and an introduction to Jevons paradox check this post from metcaffeination.

Recent discussion of a mileage tax is causing a minor political dustup.  There is a summary today in Crosscut by Matt Rosenberg from the Cascadia Center at the Discovery Institute.  A standard reaction to the idea of a tax on miles driven is, " just raise the gas tax and provide incentive to use more fuel efficient vehicles."  As the Crosscut article states, the gas tax "sends poor price signals to motorists".  The article adds that a mileage tax "would clarify the linkage between driving and the needs of a poorly maintained and underpriced system."

It's a safe bet that deliberation on a VMT tax will be protracted and contentious.  Whether or not you agree with the premise of a mileage tax the Crosscut article and metcaffeination post will get you ready to join the debate. 

Executive summary of the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission final report (released on Feb 26).

Portland Transport summary of pilot program tracking VMT.

If you pay for a transit pass to get to work or pay for onsite parking, you may already be taking advantage of a section in the tax code that allows for payment with pre-tax dollars.  Currently employers can subsidize up to $120 per month on transit and up to $230 per month on parking. 

If that imbalance seems odd to you you're not alone, at least not on this blog.  We were heartened to hear that the incoming administration has stated their intent to equalize these benefits and create additional incentives to get people out of their cars. 

Does your employer cover the cost of onsite parking?  How about transit?  If you are a non-parker do you receive any additional compensation for choosing not to take up a space?  With onsite parking potentially adding almost $3,000 in tax free comp it's not a trivial issue. 

Over the past week, average gas prices dropped below $3 in several midwest states.  Gas is now below $3.50 per gallon (on average) everywhere but Alaska and Hawaii.  The Associated Press published an article on the likely trend for gas prices in the months to come.  Below is the trailing 12 month price average from AAA. 

While prices should stay low for the next couple of months they are likely to trend back up in the Spring.  Coupled with a period of general belt-tightening due to the broader slowdown in the economy, demand is likely to stay high for cost effective alternatives to driving alone.  Here is the 12 month moving average for vehicle miles traveled going back to 1983.