Managing parking in a rapidly growing city like Austin demands strategic coordination. To address this, the City of Austin partnered with DIXON to develop a Centralized Parking Management Plan (Plan) aimed at streamlining the oversight of the city’s parking programs and services under a unified entity.

The City currently manages over 30 parking assets distributed among eight City departments, supported by three parking operators and six equipment providers. This decentralized structure has led to inconsistencies in policies, pricing, and user experience. The Plan’s core focus is to identify actionable strategies for consolidating parking resources, optimizing utilization, standardizing policies, and enhancing the overall parking experience for residents and visitors alike.

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Key Deliverables and Achievements:

• Comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement: Conducted on-site assessments, including meetings with 10 City departments, to gain insights and identify key pain points.
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• Peer City Analysis: Examined the structure, policies, and operations of other cities to inform best practices for Austin’s parking framework.
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• Asset Inventory & Mapping: Developed a detailed Parking Asset and Inventory matrix and visual maps, laying the groundwork for improved resource management.
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• Policy & Program Evaluation: Assessed the City’s existing parking programs, policies, procedures, and fees to identify opportunities for enhancements and cost recovery strategies.
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• Strategic Recommendations: Proposed flexible, phased recommendations tailored to both near-term and long-term priorities, including:
  
  • Policy and code updates
  • Parking rate adjustments and funding mechanisms
  • Shared parking systems and agreements
  • Alternative mobility solutions
  • Technology roadmaps for modernized parking systems
  • Transportation demand management strategies
  • Wayfinding, signage, and education initiatives

The resulting Centralized Parking Management Plan is designed to provide a cohesive framework for Austin’s parking programs, enabling the city to respond dynamically to evolving demands, improve operational efficiency, and create a better parking experience for its growing community.