Markets for Parking

Matthew Yglesias: Parking

How much will they pay? Well, it’s hard to know in advance which is why you need markets.
But that’s what you should have — as much parking as the market will bear. Not government-mandated parking, and not government-provided free or discount parking. Let people build garages and if it’s more economical to provide less parking, let there be less parking.

SFGate: SFpark would micromanage city’s scarce spaces

As SFpark is envisioned, parking rates would be adjusted based on time of day, day of week and duration of stay. People would be able to pay not just with coins, but with credit cards, prepaid debit cards and even by cell phone. If a meter is set to expire, a text message could be sent to the driver. More time could be purchased remotely.

It’s a step in the market direction for public parking spaces, but why not privatize all those spots?

chicagobusiness.com: City links CTA improvements, higher parking fees

While proceeding with these plans, the city also is privatizing operation of its thousands of parking meters. That could provide the city with a substantial cash infusion.