Smart parking Value Pricing Pilot Project (VPPP) on the COASTER commuter rail line in San Diego, California.

Shaheen, Susan A.; Martin, Elliot · 2012 · ROSA P / California. Department of Transportation

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Summary

This report evaluates the Smart Parking Value Pricing Pilot Project (VPPP) on the COASTER commuter rail line in San Diego, California. Originally proposed in 2006 to address parking capacity constraints, the project’s scope shifted due to the 2008 economic recession, which significantly reduced parking demand. Consequently, the study focused on assessing rider responses to potential changes in parking and fare pricing rather than implementing advanced reservation technologies. The research aimed to develop a regional toolkit for public transit agencies considering smart parking pricing, analyzing the trade-offs between parking fees, transit fares, and ridership revenue. The methodology centered on a stated preference survey conducted in July 2011 across all eight COASTER stations. The survey collected data from 1,631 respondents, divided into two groups: 815 drivers who parked at the stations and 816 non-drivers who accessed the train via other modes. Participants were surveyed at platforms, parking areas, and aboard trains to evaluate their travel patterns, vehicle ownership, and hypothetical responses to price changes. The study also reviewed existing literature on parking management strategies and analyzed financial impacts using computational models based on the survey data. Key findings indicate that COASTER service significantly reduces automobile dependency; 16% of drivers and 30% of non-drivers reported they would need to purchase an additional vehicle without the rail service. Furthermore, 71% of drivers and 38% of non-drivers stated they would drive to their destinations if COASTER were unavailable. The survey revealed high sensitivity to pricing changes, with respondents indicating a willingness to shift modes or reduce usage if parking or fares increased. Financial analysis projected that raising parking prices could lead to cumulative passenger losses and reduced ticket revenue, potentially outweighing gains from parking fees. The study noted that parking lots were underutilized during the survey period, contrasting with the capacity constraints that originally motivated the pilot. The significance of this research lies in its cautionary recommendations for implementing parking pricing during periods of economic uncertainty. The authors conclude that while smart parking technologies offer long-term benefits for managing demand and revenue, immediate implementation of value pricing may negatively impact ridership and revenue when consumer spending is constrained. The report provides a framework for transit agencies to evaluate the financial and behavioral impacts of parking pricing, emphasizing the need to align pricing strategies with current economic conditions and ridership levels. It underscores the role of transit in reducing vehicle ownership and highlights the complex interplay between parking availability, fare structures, and public transit usage.

Key finding

16% of drivers and 30% of non-drivers indicated that in the absence of COASTER their household would have to purchase another car.

Methodology

survey

Sample size: 1631

Provenance

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