Parkonomics
Articles & Analysis
Long-form analysis examining the economic forces behind how cities build, move, and grow — from standalone investigations into specific issues to multi-part series tracing complex infrastructure decisions from conception through consequence.
Featured Series
Rethinking Future Proofing: Planning for Operational and Technological Evolution
What if a brand-new building constructed today could be functionally obsolete in less than a decade? This series presents a lifecycle-based framework for real estate owners, developers, and operators — from first-floor design decisions and EV charging infrastructure to construction commissioning and retrofitting existing assets for a rapidly evolving mobility landscape.
The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics: Infrastructure, Transit, and the $26 Billion Bet
Los Angeles has committed $26 billion to a transportation infrastructure gamble tied to the 2028 Olympic Games. A forensic investigation — examining decades of academic research, interviewing LA Metro officials, and building a decision-by-decision implementation roadmap. The result is a diagnostic framework that applies far beyond mega-events to any major infrastructure investment.
Standalone Articles
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Procurement Is Still Buying the Past While Parking Has Moved to 2026
Municipal parking RFPs built on decade-old assumptions produce decade-old results. Frank Ching on why procurement must catch up with parking practice.
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Title: New York Priced the Road. Now What Does Los Angeles Do?
Analysis • Urban Mobility • 2026 New York Priced the Road. Now What Does Los Angeles Do? A one-year audit of America’s first congestion pricing program — and the uncomfortable questions it raises for every city still pretending the problem will solve itself. By Frank Ching • Urban Planning | Director of Transportation and Parking…
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The $30 Billion Insult: LAX Is Spending Billions to Fix the Wrong Problem
Los Angeles is in the midst of the largest public works project in its history — and its flagship solution for LAX gridlock is destined to fail. The problem isn’t a lack of roads. It’s a lack of pricing. LAWA is giving away its most valuable asset — terminal curb space — for free, then…
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Uber Acquires SpotHero: Why the Biggest Ride-Hailing Company in the World Just Bet on Parking
Analysis • February 2026 Uber Acquires SpotHero: Why the Biggest Ride-Hailing Company in the World Just Bet on Parking The deal isn’t about parking convenience. It’s about who controls the physical infrastructure layer of autonomous mobility — and what that means for every parking operator, developer, and investor in North America. By Andrew Sachs, CAPP…
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Rethinking Future Proofing, Part 4: Retrofitting for the Future
The vast majority of parking inventory is existing facilities — not new construction. In the final installment of the Rethinking Future Proofing series, the Parkonomics team tackles how to phase retrofits strategically, unlock revenue through shared parking, build adaptive operations, and position the parking facility as an integrated node in the smart city.
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Rethinking Future Proofing, Part 3: Construction and Commissioning
4-Part Series • Parking Asset Lifecycle • Part 3 of 4 Rethinking Future Proofing: Planning for Operational and Technological Evolution • Part 3 of 4: Construction and Commissioning Rethinking Future Proofing: Construction and Commissioning Construction is where design intent either gets built correctly or gets value-engineered away. The technology decisions made during this phase —…
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Rethinking Future Proofing, Part 2: EV Charging and Driverless Design
The transition to electric vehicles is inevitable — but unpredictable. In Part 2 of the Rethinking Future Proofing series, the Parkonomics team examines how to build EV charging flexibility into parking facilities without overcommitting to today’s mandates, and how the rise of autonomous vehicles will fundamentally reshape circulation, drop-off zones, and wayfinding inside the garage.
Field Notes
Quick takes on trends, deals, and data points shaping the economics of parking and urban mobility.
No Field Notes published yet.