Transit-Oriented Development Parking Replacement

Parking Replacement Analysis is key to more + better Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) at our transit stations.

Parking can generate ridership, but more is not always better, and unused spaces benefit no one. TOD generates ridership and makes station areas better places to live, work, and connect. And with lower utilization levels today, why should we replace empty parking with more empty parking?

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Our model allows agencies to compare TOD Proposals consistently based on 3 elements:

Building Program: What are the characteristics of the transit-oriented development (units, land use, size)?

Parking Supply & Management Program: How much parking is proposed? How much of it is shared?

Transportation Demand Management (TDM): What TDM strategies are included in the proposal?

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In 2025, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) released the first two Transit-Oriented Development RFPs to require compliance with its new Transportation Demand Management Program (TDM). The RFPs linked to a web version of the model, allowing applicants to test options for meeting the new TDM requirements, and to compare the ridership benefits of each option – incentivizing submission of options offering better ridership potential. The VTA required model results to be included with proposals, allowing them to evaluate each proposal’s ridership potential.

“Whenever I hear someone say, ‘I got a consultant to create this’ I start to worry, but this thing is great!”
- Developer and model beta-tester

“We completed our RFP process and had a great experience with the model! It worked great.”

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