Parking: A Major Barrier to Equitably Oriented Transit

It’s estimated that there are as many as two billion parking spots in the United States, while there are 200 million cars on the road. Cars cruising for on-street parking in U.S. cities contribute significantly to congestion and pollution, and parking covers huge amounts of urban land area. “Free” parking increases housing and consumer costs because parking is subsidized by consumers. Traditional parking policies can be especially detrimental in lower-income communities. Reforms being considered to minimize parking requirements or appropriately price parking can also have serious unintended consequences especially if low-income households are not considered in their design. The report is part of SPARCC work in conjunction with Elevated Chicago, which creates community-led solutions to neighborhood displacement and inequities in Chicago.

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