FIXED RESOLUTION VERSION. In the American built environment, increased travel demand also comes an increased demand for parking as the average... » More

FIXED RESOLUTION VERSION.

In the American built environment, increased travel demand also comes an increased demand for parking as the average car spends 95% of its life not in motion, but parked. San Diego’s provision of subsidized parking in many places leads to two significant environmental problems: impervious pavements’ accumulation of pollutants in stormwater runoff and the heat-island effect’s impact on climate. Because there is such a dependency on free parking, people do not consider the environmental effects of parking areas. Porous pavement, a best management practice under Low Impact Development, mitigates for these effects, yet the majority of San Diego parking is still impervious. The purpose of this study outlines a research strategy to examine the relationship between science and government and what is the cost-benefit decision process of retrofitting impervious pavement lots to pervious pavement lots. Through transportation/environmental planning literature, descriptive case studies of San Diego parking lots, and interviews, I hope to present a better understanding of the factors included in the decision-making process role of parking management. This research will contribute to the literature on transportation/parking planning, environmental degradation, and land use, and will also be shared with transportation planners in the hope that the findings will improve parking design and management.

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