Planning and Environmental Policy Research Series Working Papers 2004 the Influence of Parking Pricing on Purpose of Visit

The potential of parking-pricing as a policy tool within the field of transport demand management is gaining greater acknowledgement as empirical research highlights the potential impact it can have on trip generation and modal choice. However, although the aggregate effect of a TDM pricing measure is often noted or estimated, the potential distributional impact of pricing measures initially, and as tariffs increase progressively, is an important consideration for those seeking to implement a strategic TDM policy. Using stated preference survey data from a case study in Dublin, Ireland, this paper examines the influence of parking price on purpose of visit. The results show a progressively widening gap in price sensitivity between business and non-business users as the pricing scenarios scale upwards. Ordered probit regression analysis results reveal, that at a price increase of IR£1.50 to IR£4 (€1.90 to €5.08) per hour, non-business users are over 20% more likely than business users to cease all parking in the area, whereas at a price increase of IR£1.50 to IR£2 (€1.90 to €2.54) per hour, the corresponding percentage shows business users just under 5% more likely to cease all parking in the area as a result. This paper presents evidence for concern amongst policy makers seeking to introduce TDM pricing measures. It highlights the complication that the varied price sensitivity of particular market subsets can bring to development of a pricing policy and warns of threshold points where distributional impacts become considerably more pronounced. Correspondence to: Andrew Kelly, Department of Planning and Environmental Policy, University College Dublin, Richview, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14, Ireland. Tel: +353-1-716 2678; Fax: +353-1-716 2776; E-mail: [email protected] Citation: Clinch, J.P. and J. A. Kelly (2004). “The Influence of Parking Pricing on Purpose of Visit”, Planning and Environmental Policy Research Series (PEP) Working Paper 04/01, Department of Planning and Environmental Policy, University College Dublin. PEP 04/01 University College Dublin 2 The influence of parking pricing on purpose of visit J.P. Clinch and J.A Kelly