Factors Impacting Customers’ Satisfaction with Parking: A Case Study

Parking is a growing problem globally due to the growth of urbanization, and it is particularly problematic in densely populated areas, such as college campuses, where the demand for parking is high. This research investigates the complexities of parking management at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) and looks carefully at its implications for urban planning and sustainability. Qualitative interviews with 19 participants who were either students, faculty, or UTA provided insight into their experiences and satisfaction levels with the campus parking system and found that socioeconomic characteristics, travel behaviors, and specific parking challenges have a significant impact on an individual’s parking experience. The interviewees revealed a profound reliance on private vehicles; a marked preference for close, convenient, on-campus parking; and a keen interest in technological advancements such as smart parking solutions and real-time availability systems, suggesting a campus-wide readiness to embrace innovative parking management strategies. As a result of the findings, the study proposes policy recommendations such as tiered parking permit pricing, strategic parking lot placement, flexible pricing strategies, and the promotion of alternative transportation methods to alleviate parking pressure and support sustainability goals. This paper contributes to the discourse on transportation challenges within the microcosm of a university campus, offering insights that are pertinent to the development of responsive, efficient, and sustainable parking management policies.