Het Wikken en Wegen van keuzen voor parkeren en duurzame gebiedsontwikkeling – Parking Strategy Case Study Dordrecht
This publication, titled Het Wikken en Wegen van keuzen voor parkeren en duurzame gebiedsontwikkeling (March 2023), is issued by CROW-KpVV. It functions as a research report and methodology guide for decentralized authorities in the Netherlands. The document details the application of the Wikken en Wegen (Weighing and Balancing) method—a simplified societal cost-benefit analysis—to parking infrastructure decisions within the Maasterras redevelopment project in the municipality of Dordrecht. The study operates within the KpVV-programma, which provides collective mobility knowledge for regional and local governments.
The scope of the document covers a large-scale urban development of approximately 2,200 dwellings, primarily apartments, where a target of 50% affordable housing is set. Central to the analysis is the STOMP-principe (Steps, Pedals, Public Transport, Mobility as a Service, Private Car), which prioritizes pedestrians and cyclists over private vehicle use. The document is structured into two primary analyses: one focusing on stadsrandhubs (urban fringe hubs) for visitors and residents of the city center, and another on buurthubs (neighborhood hubs) specifically for future residents of the Maasterras district. It defines specific technical parameters such as a 50-year assessment period and a 2% discount rate for financial quantification.
The following sections detail the methodology, the specific project alternatives evaluated for the Maasterras site, and the quantified effects on liveability, travel time, and economic impact.
The STOMP-Principle and Urban Design
The Maasterras area is designed according to the STOMP-principe, which shifts the focus away from central private car ownership in spatial planning. This hierarchy dictates the priority of transport modes in the following order:
- Stappen: Priority for pedestrians.
- Trappen: Priority for cyclists.
- OV: Integration of public transport.
- MaaS: Implementation of Mobility as a Service.
- Privé-auto: Private cars are the final consideration in spatial design.
A key component of this design is the use of stadsrandhubs and buurthubs. These facilities serve as central parking points to replace individual parking spaces directly at or under residential dwellings, facilitating transit to the city center via shuttles, shared bikes, or walking.
Analysis 1: City Center Visitor and Resident Parking
This analysis compares a nulalternatief (current situation with 500 ground-level spaces) against three project alternatives for the stadsrandhub:
- Alternatief 1 (Maaspark): A built facility against the railway embankment with 750 spaces.
- Alternatief 2 (De Put): A built facility at a less central location with 400 spaces.
- Alternatief 3 (Maaspark/Put): A 50/50 combination providing 575 spaces.
Investment costs for the Maaspark location are estimated between €70,000 and €80,000 per space, while De Put is lower at €30,000 to €35,000 per space due to fewer aesthetic and design requirements. The analysis concludes that while Maaspark requires higher investment, it yields the highest societal benefits in terms of city center liveability and economic stimulus.
Analysis 2: Parking for Maasterras Residents
The second analysis investigates parking standards for the new residential district. The nulalternatief assumes a standard parking norm of 2.0, resulting in 4,433 spaces. Two alternatives explore lower norms enabled by buurthubs:
- Alternatief 1: 2,770 spaces with an average norm of 1.3.
- Alternatief 2: 661 spaces with an average norm of 0.3.
Reduced parking norms lead to significant gains in ruimtegebruik (space utilization) and leefbaarheid (liveability). However, the study notes a negative impact on bereikbaarheid (accessibility) for residents who prioritize car travel. The financial balance for these alternatives is positive, with Alternatief 2 showing the highest surplus due to massive space savings.
Quantified Societal Effects
The Wikken en Wegen method quantifies several categories of effects over a 50-year horizon:
- Investeringskosten: Direct costs for constructing hubs and garages.
- Ruimtegebruik: The value of freed-up land, calculated at an average of €660 per m².
- Leefbaarheid: Impacts on property values, where green space can increase home value by 6% to 12%.
- Gezondheid: Health benefits derived from increased walking distances to parking facilities.
- Economie: Added value to the city center economy, estimated at €30 per visitor per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Wikken en Wegen methodology?
It is a simplified societal cost-benefit analysis (MKBA) conducted in two sessions: one for problem analysis and defining alternatives, and a second for weighing the quantified effects and social benefits.
How many houses are being built in the Maasterras project?
The project envisions the development of 2,200 dwellings, mostly apartments, in the area south of Dordrecht's city center.
What is the preferred parking location for Dordrecht city center visitors?
The study prefers the Maaspark location (against the railway embankment) over the 'De Put' location because it better supports a car-low city center and offers higher economic benefits.
What is the difference between a stadsrandhub and a buurthub?
A stadsrandhub is a parking facility at the edge of the city for visitors, while a buurthub is a central parking facility for residents that replaces parking at or under their homes.
What parking norms were tested for Maasterras residents?
The study compared a traditional norm of 2.0 (null alternative) against lower norms of 1.3 and 0.3.
How does the document calculate the value of space savings?
It uses an average land yield of €660 per m², noting that this could double if the freed land is used for apartments or halve if used for parks.
What is the impact of green surroundings on property value according to this study?
Citing PBL data, it notes that a view of green space can increase home values by 6% to 12%, and proximity to trees can add 3% to 5%.
What discount rate is applied to the financial calculations?
A discount rate of 2% is used, following the 2020 guidelines from the Dutch Ministry of Finance.
