Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Parking Madness 2018

Parking Madness Final Four: Lansing vs Philadelphia

5:02 PM EDT on April 12, 2018

It's Final Four time here at Parking Madness.

There is still one outstanding space in the semifinal of our bracket -- which will be filled by either Fremont, California, or Hicksville, New York. The competition rolls on today as we get ready to send our first finalist through to the championship.

These parking craters around Michigan's state capitol and Philadelphia's pro sports complex represent enormous opportunity costs. They occupy land that could be apartments, or workplaces, or parks. Instead, they are mostly empty asphalt, either in the center of town or very close to a rapid transit station.

Let's take a look.

Lansing

lansing_crater

Reader Rick Brown nominated the area around the Michigan statehouse in Lansing. Here's a closer look if you'd like to explore.

Brown tells us most of these parking fields are for state employees and visitors to the capitol. Which means this vicinity is a ghost town on nights and weekends.

State capitols have appeared in Parking Madness before. UConn Professor Norm Garrick lives near one of them -- Hartford. He told Streetfilms a few years back that when states build large parking craters to guarantee state employees parking, they "create what is essentially an office park," and "all these people drive into the city and then drive out."

To make matters worse, none of this land produces any tax revenue for the city. In cities like Lansing and Hartford where the urban population is much poorer than the suburban population, this can cause serious fiscal problems, weakening public services and widening inequality.

Philadelphia

philly_crater

Ahhh. Here we have South Philadelphia's Sports Complex, which flattened an ungodly amount of land.

Occupying as much space as an entire city neighborhood are three pro sports stadiums -- Citizens Bank Park (home the Phillies), Financial Field (home of the Eagles), and Wells Fargo Center (home of the 76ers) -- and their parking lots.

There's a SEPTA rail station right nearby, but if it's not game day, why would you take transit to this location? And even if you did take the train to watch your team, good luck walking somewhere to get a drink after the game!

Way to put your public resources to effective use, Philadelphia.

parking_madness_2018

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Talking Headways Podcast: Sausage Making and the ADA

"It is fundamentally inappropriate to keep charging disabled people twice as much," our guest Ron Brooks says.

December 7, 2023

The Real Reason Assaults Against Transit Workers Are On The Rise

Hint: it's not just because service has been slashed.

December 7, 2023

Thursday’s Headlines’ Future Looks Bright

Amtrak Joe's administration is making big strides on rail, although it's lagging behind on EV chargers.

December 7, 2023

Feds Award $3B for CA High-Speed Rail, and $3B for Vegas-to-LA HSR

"This show of support from the Biden-Harris Administration is a vote of confidence in today’s vision and comes at a critical turning point, providing the project new momentum."

December 6, 2023

Car Noise Pollution is Worse in Redlined Neighborhoods — And Not Just for Humans

Transportation noise pollution can wreak havoc on wildlife populations, too — and that can have a devastating effect on their human neighbors.

December 6, 2023
See all posts