Subsector: Parking or Road Pricing/Management
Shared Parking
VMT Reduction Potential: 4
Cost: 1
ROI: 5
CVAG Relevancy: 3
Land Use Content: Urban, Suburban
Trip Type: Residential
Scale: Regional, Community
Timing: Short Term (1-3 years)
Implementors-Private: Developers (Employment), Developers (Residential), Property Managers
Implementors-Public: Municipalities, Regional Agencies
References: California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (2024)

Description

Updating zoning codes to allow for shared parking amongst adjacent developments reduces the amount of land dedicated to parking and allows for denser infill development.

Implementation Details

  • Create zoning overlays near CV Link and SunLine routes that eliminate minimum parking requirements for residential developments within high-frequency transit areas.
  • Introduce maximum parking allowances or tiered limits in mixed-use zones and Specific Plans to support active transportation and reduce vehicle dependence.
  • Allow shared-parking arrangements and unbundled pricing to improve land efficiency.
  • Align with statewide reforms such as Assembly Bill 2097 and apply reforms in locations like mixed-use nodes.

Mitigation Potential

Limiting the amount of land dedicated to parking allows for denser development and more space for bicycle and pedestrian amenities which makes non-drive modes more attractive and reduces VMT.

For more details, see Victoria Transport Policy Institute – Shared Parking for VMT reduction quantification.

Linked Strategies

Equity Considerations

Encouraging reduced parking supply helps lower construction costs, which can benefit affordable housing developers and mixed use developments. Prioritize implementation in high-transit areas to reduce car dependency among low-income households. Include community outreach to ensure understanding of trade-offs, especially in areas where car ownership is a necessity. Pair with mobility benefits (e.g., subsidized transit passes, shared mobility access) for tenants in under-resourced communities.

Funding Sources

Requires staff time to implement. Planning for alternative parking strategies can be funded through RCTC’s Measure A program, Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants, and CMAQ. Proximity to transit and active transportation networks may impact eligibility to a broader range of funding programs.

Examples/Case Studies

City of Los Angeles Parking Reform Working Group

Additionally, the Los Angeles Parking Reform Working Group, established by the Mayor, comprises representatives from various stakeholder groups to address the city’s parking concerns, including shared parking solutions. These efforts aim to optimize parking availability, reduce congestion, and support sustainable urban development.

City of Alhambra Shared Parking Analysis

This analysis aims to evaluate the shared parking potential within The Alhambra project. The main objective is to optimize the parking supply by considering the varying peak parking demands of different land uses.