Downtown Traffic and Parking Needs Related to Downtown Economic Trends

Since the 1950s the economic trends for America's small downtowns (populations less than 50,000) have been characterized by reduced retail sales, vacant stores and buildings, reduced residential occupancy, reduced employment, and reduced assessed valuation. Most downtowns experiencing these conditions have reduced traffic as well. Downtown economic trends are inextricably reflected in traffic and parking needs. The research method used is a comparison of case study floor space, employment, assessed valuation, and traffic data for 1960 to 1970 with data collected from 1990 to 1995. The basic premise to be verified is that decreases in occupied floor space, employment, and residential units in the downtown area will be reflected in reduced traffic on Main Street and that reduced traffic and a comparable reduction in parking demand will allow the design of a more pedestrian-friendly downtown area, which in turn will encourage downtown revitalization. The research discusses trends in population growth and commuting downtown. Also covered are related comparisons of traffic volume trends on Main Street as well as changes in parking demand characteristics. Conclusions drawn from the research indicate that strategies for parking should be changed; that in most small downtowns (populations less than 50,000) congestion is not a significant problem; and that traffic-calming techniques should be practiced.