Frequently Asked Questions

• How many parking spaces are there in the United States?
  The International Parking Institute estimates that there are more than 105,200,000 parking spaces in the U.S., a number that changes every day. The ratio of off-street spaces to on-street is roughly two-to-one.
  
  
• How much is the parking profession/industry worth to the U.S. economy?
  At least $26 billion of the American economy comes directly from the parking industry, of which more than $13 billion is directly attributable to public-sector parking operations -- cities, colleges and universities, airports, hospitals, sports arenas, etc. The remainder comes from commercial parking facilities, shopping centers, office buildings, hotels, banks, etc.
  
  
• Are many people employed in the parking industry?
  More than one million Americans are directly employed in some phase of the parking profession -- parking administrators and staff members, enforcement officers, maintenance personnel, cashiers, parking valets, office personnel, parking-related manufacturing employees, information management specialists, etc.
  
  
• How many parking meters are there?
  Since parking meters have been around for more than 60 years, a hard estimate is difficult to make. It appears, however, that at least four million--and perhaps as many as five million--parking meters are on the streets of virtually every mid-size to large city and thousands of institutions as well. A significant meter market in recent years is made up of cities throughout Asia, South America, Central America, the Mideast, and the Pacific Rim.
  
  
• What does it cost to build a parking garage?
  Perhaps the best way to estimate the cost of a new parking garage is to look at the number of spaces it contains. In 1996, the International Parking Institute estimated that new parking garages cost betweeen $4,500 and $15,000 per space (depending, of course, on the type of construction, special features, etc.). A reliable average is approximately $7,000 per space for multi-level garages. Surface facilities can be built for around $1,500 per space in most cases. (More than 60 percent of paid off-street parking is in surface lots with the remaining 40 percent in garages.)
  
  
• What does it cost to operate a parking garage each year?
  Again, the cost-per-space method seems to work best here. To light a parking garage, keep it clean, pay the people who work there, run the elevators, operate the cash registers and gate equipment, shovel the snow, etc. generally averages about $650 per year per space.
  How much do cities charge for parking tickets these days?
  As the cost of everything has gone up every year, the days of the $5 parking ticket have just about vanished. Most cities charge at least $25 for ordinary parking violations. Parking in a space reserved for persons with disabilities, however, can earn you a ticket well in excess of $300 in some jurisdictions. Cities and public institutions are also diligent in collecting parking fines. Some cities report collections close to 90 percent. Some colleges collect an even higher percentage of fines.
  
  
• Are parking revenues important?
  Yes, very. No city, college, airport, hospital, or other public institution is in business to make a profit on parking. But strict enforcement of parking regulations designed to improve traffic flow, business development, and efficient transportation can serve as a major disincentive to scofflaws and drivers who may be uncaring about blocking a fire hydrant or emergency lane. And the fines those drivers pay can help defray the need for higher taxes or reduced services. (New York City, alone, collects almost $300 million annually from parking-related fines.)