Undergraduate Abstract

Richard A. Nielsen
December 1994

The Economics of Free Parking: Transportation Policy at the University of Nevada Las Vegas

A Thesis submitted in partial satisfaction
of the requirement for the degree of

BACHELOR OF ARTS

In

Environmental Studies Program
University of Nevada Las Vegas

by

Richard A. Nielsen

August 29, 1994

Thesis Adviser:
Environmental Studies Program
University of Nevada Las Vegas

ABSTRACT

This paper culminates a natural progression of studies done over the past two years examining parking and transportation policy at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The purpose of these studies has been to evaluate the adequacy of these policies and to estimate the potential impact a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program could produce on parking and traffic conditions and air quality improvement. Included in the report are results from a commuter survey conducted in April 1993, a simple rollback model developed to produce an estimation of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) at the University and any subsequent reduction of VMT and air quality improvement which may result from implementation of a TDM program. This also includes a projection for conditions on the campus in the year 2000. An economic analysis is made and a "case study" of two existing programs with similarities to UNLV are profiled for their success.