Mobility Trust Fund:Private Dollars for the Public Realm
Course Details
Traditionally, developers have been responsible for constructing and installing improvements in the public right-of-way (ROW) needed to support their development or mitigate transportation impacts. This system does not offer a way to contribute to broader mobility improvements that could improve access to the site and the community.
The DOMI Mobility Trust Fund allows developers to pay a fee in lieu of providing parking spaces required by zoning ordinances. For instance, if a development calls for 52 spaces, and the developer wants to provide 49, they will pay into the fund for the 3 spaces not provided. This revenue is used to fund mobility projects in the neighborhood.
Funds can be used for projects including:
- Bike/scooter parking, a bike/scooter share improvements, or a bike valet.
- Pedestrian-related improvements, including lighting and street amenities.
- Transit-related improvements, including expanded service or new bus shelters.
- A shared mobility hub.
- A transportation demand management (TDM) program to encourage people to use multimodal approaches instead of driving.
- Wayfinding systems to help encourage the use of existing parking resources.
- A shared parking program, where cities lease lots from private owners and incorporate the spaces into the public parking supply.
Learning Outcomes
- Leverage private funds to contribute to broader mobility improvements that enhance equitable access to the site and for the community.
- Integrate a fees-in-lieu of the system into the municipal zoning code for increased development project flexibility regarding parking maximums and minimums.
- Understand the advantages and drawbacks of instituting a mobility trust fund, including other approaches to reach the same goals.