This issue of ITE Journal is devoted to parking to coincide with the release of the
ITE Parking Generation Manual, 5th Edition and the companion Shared Parking publication from the National Parking Association (NPA). This collaborative effort between the two associations is aimed at providing transportation practitioners with up-to-date knowledge and tools that can be used to most effectively determine and plan for parking needs. While the two products have been produced by experts from within each respective association, we recognized the value of being able to seamlessly integrate them and so they are designed around a common terminology and analysis approach. While many hands contributed to these efforts, I want thank Kevin Hooper and Mary Smith who took the lead for ITE and NPA, respectively. Their leadership, technical knowledge, and collaborative spirit have been instrumental in the timely delivery of these new products.
In creating the
ITE Parking Generation Manual, 5th Edition we followed a similar approach as was used in successfully delivering the
ITE Trip Generation Manual, 10th Edition. As with the Trip Generation Manual, we started with a significant update to our database with more than 60 percent new data. We have integrated more urban information, recognizing the significant difference between parking demand in urban and suburban settings. Finally, purchasers will have the option of buying an all-electronic version that includes the Manual in PDF-format and access to the ITEParkGen web-based app, or adding a print copy of the Manual, as well. The ITEParkGen web-based app is built off of the successful ITETripGen web-based app that was developed through a partnership with Transoft. I highly recommend that you check out the article by Kevin Hooper starting on page 31 for much more information on all of these elements.
While the
ITE Parking Generation Manual attempts to capture the peak amount of parking typically demanded by users of various land uses, we recognize that this is a rapidly changing field in some settings, particularly as a result of the emergence of transportation network companies (TNCs). Since data for the Parking Generation Manual are retrospective, these types of changes may not be fully reflected in the database. It will be important for users to think carefully about the impacts of new technologies and new services on future parking demand. Going forward, we intend to provide more frequent and targeted updates to the ITE Parking Generation Manual.
We recognize that there is a difference between the amount of parking being demanded by users and the willingness of jurisdictions to provide that parking, particularly in urban areas. This is why we believe the production of the ITE Parking Generation Manual coincident with Shared Parking was so important.
Parking is not an easy issue. The financial and societal implications of providing parking are significant with many different interests to be considered. We do not suggest that the ITE
Parking Generation Manual provides all the answers. But we do believe it can be a useful resource and when applied correctly can provide users with insights that
can inform the difficult decisions to be made.
Please email me at jpaniati@ite.org and engage with me in discussion through ITE Community and on Twitter at
@JeffPaniatiITE.
This is from the Director's Message in the
February 2019 issue of ITE Journal.