Metered parking is New York City is dramatically under-priced. T.A. studies have shown between 28% and 45% of traffic on some streets consists solely of motorists circling the block for parking. By raising the price of parking during peak periods, and adjusting rates to manage demand, the City can make this traffic disappear. Raising the price of metered parking will discourage long-term parking, convince some drivers to utilize garage parking and direct others to take public transit. Together, these changes in behavior will reduce demand for metered parking, availing one free space on every block so that drivers need never circle for an elusive space again.

Much of T.A.'s work is built on the research of Dr. Donald Shoup of UCLA, author of The High Cost of Free Parking. Dr. Shoup explains his parking strategies in this film with the Open Planning Project.

Transportation Alternatives is committed to bringing the best parking practices from around the world to NYC. Councilman Tommy Wells of Washington D.C. spoke with T.A. is June 2008 on his plan to bring performance parking to the nation's capital, and what NYC can learn from lessons there. Read the interview transcript here.