By Steven Bergin, CAPP

In October 2024, I wrote about how the City of Richmond was embarking on a study on a hybrid parking permit model. The key objective was to examine the feasibility and best practices surrounding a hybrid residential/employee parking permit program and examine shared parking opportunities between public and private entities within the parking districts. As urban areas continue to evolve with the removal of parking minimums, so do the challenges, which has led to city officials and residents voicing concerns about the potential negative impacts from this change in zoning parking legislation.

Understanding the Challenge
Residential parking permit regulations differ among Richmond’s five districts because all five districts have unique characteristics, such as permit issuance programs, surrounding land use, opportunities for shared parking, and their unique personalities. Other complexities include: a growing residential population, increased competition for limited spaces, and the future integration of commercial parking needs.

Insights from Peer Communities
The city contracted with DESMAN to conduct the study. To craft informed recommendations, DESMAN analyzed two peer communities: Columbus, Ohio and Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Columbus features a hybrid permit parking model in its Short North District. The fee structure for permits is variable or tiered; for instance, a first employee permit costs $100 annually for one and gradually increases per permit where the tenth is $700. This tiered fee approach to pricing could serve as a guideline for Richmond to help maintain fairness and efficiency.

Virginia Beach, on the other hand, presents a monthly permit fee structure at $10 per month, contrasting with Columbus’s annual charges.

DESMAN did not recommend implementing a full hybrid permit parking system uniform across all five Richmond districts. However, the study indicated that certain parts of a hybrid permit parking system could be beneficial for some of our residential districts and employees.

Possible next steps proposed in the study include:

  • The incorporation of shared parking arrangements, to leverage underutilized spaces, such as those at local churches or libraries during off-peak hours.
  • The establishment of a pilot program incentivizing residents to construct off-street parking pads, alleviating some pressure from on-street spaces.
  • Consider acquiring vacant lots for small permit parking lots, providing more options for parking availability.
  • Pilot a limited number of employee parking permits for businesses to help understand the impacts of a hybrid system.

Richmond stands at a crossroads regarding its parking policies, however strategic solutions and learned insights from peer cities do offer a pathway forward.

Emphasizing shared resources, innovative pilot programs, and streamlined regulations may lead to a comprehensive solution that accommodates the needs of both residents and businesses, fostering a thriving urban environment for all.

Steven Bergin, CAPP, is an Operation Manager for the City of Richmond, Virginia. You can reach Steven at Steven.Bergin@RVA.gov.