Spring 2016:

Project Problem/Question/Issue:

Residents and business people in the historic, "Olde" section of New Castle, Delaware, endlessly debate whether the neighborhood has a parking problem, and if so, just what that problem is. This has been going on for decades. To the dismay of the new Planning Commission Chairman, however, decades of disputation have not generated much in the way of solid data upon which analysis might be based. In order to make sound planning decisions, the Commission needs data.

For instance, nobody can tell Mr. Quaranta how many available parking spaces there are in total, how many parking spaces are needed to accommodate neighborhood residents' cars, and how many spaces are needed by current and planned businesses and attractions (museums, parks, etc.). Volunteers on a parking subcommittee of the planning commission have compiled a partial inventory, which can be made available to the team, but did not generate total counts of existing parking spaces. No work has been done yet to estimate present or future parking demand.

Requested Deliverable:

A count of existing spaces, an estimate of current residential and non-residential demand, and a forecast of future demand. Alternatively, if that proves infeasible, a pilot project and a manual that volunteers can use to complete the necessary counting, estimating, and projecting to a high standard of accuracy. And feel free to offer additional guidance about other public-policy issues and solutions you identify in the course of working on the project.

Client:

• Mike Quaranta, Chairman, New Castle City Planning Commission; Principal, The Podesta Group

Faculty Supervisor:

• Dr. Jonathan Justice

Final Deliverables:

• Report