Parking Facilities
Current Conditions
Although the City is trying to create a more pedestrian-oriented environment and encourage alternative modes of transit, parking remains an essential element to an economically viable area. A balance must be achieved between alternative modes of travel and vehicular travel, which encourages and facilitates new development. The City currently provides for off-street parking permits, temporary parking permits, and the review of the adequacy of parking with respect to new developments.
In December of 1988, the Downtown Transportation Management Study (DTMS) was undertaken as part of the Central Area Study (CAS II) initiative. The DTMS was a joint effort of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), the City of Atlanta, the Georgia Department of Transportation, MARTA and Central Atlanta Progress. The study addressed a number of parking issues and analyses.
Anticipated Future Conditions
According to the Atlanta Regional Commission’s 1994-1995 Parking Supply and Cost Inventory report, there are 50,121 off-street parking spaces in the Central Business District; 4,017 in Northwest Atlanta; 23,661 in Northeast Atlanta; 17,500 in Southeast Atlanta; 566 in Southwest Atlanta; and 20,644 in Buckhead.
As the core areas of the city develop, namely Midtown and Downtown, parking will become more expensive as the number of surface lots declines and the demand for parking increases. The status and future of parking is being studied by Central Atlanta Progress, which has recently finished a wide-ranging study of Downtown, and the Midtown Alliance, which is sponsoring a study of Midtown.
Current Policies
The following City policies attempt to encourage pedestrian-oriented mixed-use development aimed at reducing the demand for off-street parking:
- Encourage additional on-street parking throughout Downtown, Midtown and other centers as appropriate.
- Encourage the redevelopment of surface parking lots into higher-density, mixed-use developments.
- Encourage mixed-use developments with shared parking amongst the different uses.
- Encourage the construction of parking decks with retail/commercial, office, or residential uses at the ground level.
- Encourage participation in Transportation Management Associations to encourage alternative modes of travel, promote shared parking, and reduce traffic congestion and the demand for parking.
- Limit off-street parking ratios for certain uses within transit station areas.
Current Programs and Projects
Transportation Management Associations
As the City continues to grow and develop, traffic congestion and poor air quality will increase, having an adverse impact on the quality of life for residents, employees and visitors. In conjunction with City land use policies that encourage pedestrian-oriented mixed-use developments, the formation of and participation in transportation management associations (TMAs) is strongly encouraged. TMAs attempt to encourage alternatives modes of travel through various incentive programs in order to minimize congestion and improve air quality throughout the region. These incentive programs may include carpools and vanpools, Ride-matching assistance, MARTA discounts and subsidies, guaranteed ride home programs, telecommuting programs, and shuttle services. TMAs may also provide promotional/marketing campaigns in order to encourage alternatives modes of travel such as: cycling, walking, or use of public transit. Currently, the Buckhead Area Transportation Management Association (BATMA) operates in Buckhead. Downtown and Midtown are currently developing transportation management associations.