Curb space is moving beyond parking. With increased demand for ride-hailing services, private employer-provided commuter shuttles, and burgeoning delivery and freight, cities are finding that the most valuable real estate in a city is often at the curb.
Efficient use of curbside space is one of the most valuable, and underutilized, tools that cities have to manage freight, shuttle, and for-hire vehicle traffic. With new approaches to curbside management including deliveries, loading zones, drop-off points, and shifted timetables, cities are getting ahead of the increasing demand for deliveries and shared mobility services.
DC is piloting a number of approaches through MoveDC to considerable early sucess. Seattle’s new freight master plan is aiming to get ahead of an anticipated surge in demand for deliveries throughout the Puget Sound area. San Francisco developed the nation’s first regulatory program focused on private employer-provided commuter shuttles (aka “Google buses”).