Alexandria’s Pay-by-Phone Parking on residential blocks better manages a scarce resource

In 2014 I authored a letter to the editor making the case for some type of paid parking restriction on residential blocks in Old Town. Now, the City of Alexandria is considering making this program permanent.

Parking is a scarce resource, and cities must manage supply to balance demand.

There are a number of potential policies to manage on street parking. One extreme is no restrictions, but this would inconvenience residents. The other extreme is resident-only parking, but this would harm businesses and visitors by making on-street parking unavailable. In the middle are options like the existing policy of 2-3 hour free parking for visitors on residential blocks. Unfortunately, this incentivizes visitor parking on residential streets because paid on-street parking in the business district is adjacent to free parking just a block away.

The Old Town Alexandria Parking Study group, on which I served in 2012 and 2015, sought to strike a balance.

The city’s existing pay-by-phone parking parking program is an excellent compromise policy that encourages use of garages and on-street parking in commercial areas. It still allows visitors to park on residential blocks, but nudges just enough to park elsewhere to free up spaces for residents.

The survey data show the residents with this arrangement favor the program, and the public in general is supportive as well.

The suggestions to provide alternative payment arrangements such as a scratcher parking voucher are helpful, and should be considered along with extension of the program.

I encourage City Council to make the pilot parking program permanent at its March public hearing.