Driving Half the Time: A Case Study of Reducing Driving to Campus

Abstract

This paper presents a cost benefit analysis of a hypothetical half semester parking pass. The half semester pass only grants parking rights for the portion of each semester with inclement weather.  Commuters who purchase this pass are incentivized to use low-emission forms of transportation, like carpooling, biking, walking, or the bus. The analysis includes nominal costs of creating and enforcing a new pass, and the economic cost of foregone revenue for the college. The benefits include emissions reductions, savings on gas, and reduced congestion on campus. The analysis includes an estimation of the portion of commuters switching to the half semester pass in order to determine the magnitude of each of the aforementioned costs and benefits.