Dr. Daniel Sperling, professor of civil engineering and environmental science and policy and director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis, was in town recently talking about the revolution happening in mobility with automated, shared, and electric vehicles. As a decade-long member of the California Air Resources Board, he plays a central role in shaping our policies relating to climate change, alternative fuels, vehicle travel and land use, and zero-emission vehicle programs. Many believe that the Air Resources Board is the most potent agency in Sacramento, and Sperling is at the center of its decision-making.
California is the epitome of car-centered development and culture. Interestingly, Seattle, with a similar car-centric history, just enacted a package of far-reaching parking-regulation reforms. The intent is to establish a better balance between all transportation modes, make the city more people friendly, and address climate change. One feature exempts any commercial or residential project within a quarter mile of high-frequency bus stops or a half mile from light-rail stops from providing parking spaces. The reforms also eliminate parking requirements for all nonprofit affordable housing developments anywhere in the city.
Building parking is expensive — $20,000-$40,000 for each space, according to a 2015 Seattle Metro report. Moreover, per the report, 30-40 percent of off-street parking goes unused each night. This parking construction expense gets passed on to tenants in the form of higher rents.