A CGE-Model of Parking in Zurich: Implementation and Policy Tests

Abstract

This thesis develops a computable general equilibrium model for parking and applies it to the city center of Zurich to analyze dierent parking policies. The presented model distinguishes between people driving through the network, looking for on-street parking and looking for garage parking. By considering the probability of not finding a parking spot, the model accounts for spillover from those agents that cannot find parking right away and therefore are cruising for parking. The model framework also considers heterogeneity of agents by accounting for dierent valuations of time according to their income. <br/><br/> The policy analysis is mainly influenced by the SFpark project in San Francisco where demand responsive pricing for parking has been introduced. This means that parking fees are adjusted to the demand; parking spots with higher demand have higher parking rates and vice versa. The impacts of demand responsive pricing for on-street parking, garage parking and coordinated for on-street and garage parking are examined. It is found that the coordinated approach used in SFpark has the best results and reduces overall trac flow as well as travel times.