D.C. Parking Prices to Fluctuate Based on Demand

A pilot program will begin in D.C. in hopes of making parking easier… while also fluctuating prices.

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced that the Chinatown Multimodal Value Pricing Pilot will adjust the price of parking spaces depending on their typical usage and demand in 2015.

This means that the current price of $2 it costs per hour to park in a premium demand zone could increase or decrease depending on the demand. Real-time cameras and sensors will help determine the parking rates.

In the beginning of the program, the Chinatown/Penn Quarter area will provide a testing space to help customers, including delivery vehicles and inter-city buses, find parking spaces using real-time information.

“This is outlined in our moveDC plan, DDOT’s multimodal long-range transportation plan that is expected to create a city that’s more livable, sustainable, prosperous and attractive,” DDOT Director Matthew Brown said in a news release.

The pilot program will go into effect in the following areas:

• H Street NW
• E Street NW
• 12th Street NW
• 3rd Street NW

All 1,300 metered parking spaces located on streets will be included in the pilot. New parking meters and signs will begin popping up around the District in early 2015, however, customers should not expect price changes until the summer.

For more information visit the District Department of Transportation.

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