2026 Theses Master's

Access vs. Assumption: Parking Perceptions, Transit Accessibility, and Local Commerce in Downtown Flushing

Chen, Joanna

Downtown Flushing presents a paradox: robust transit infrastructure coexists with widespread perceptions of parking shortage. This is emphasized by the commercial district having a high concentration of ethnic commercial establishments and diverse shopper populations.

This thesis investigates parking dynamics through mixed-methods research comprising 65 consumer surveys, 35 merchant surveys, 8 business owner interviews, 3 community leader interviews, and parking facility observations. Findings reveal striking contradictions: 75% of consumers perceive insufficient parking, and 51% report having occurrences of being deterred from visiting due to reasons related to parking inconveniences, yet public transport, used by 56% of visitors, is the primary mode of travel.

The vast majority of drivers (88%), which represent only 25% of travelers, spend over 10 minutes searching for parking, predominantly using on-street spaces despite available off-street capacity. 86% of merchants believe transportation affects business, yet 80% provide no customer parking. Parking facility observations reveal variable occupancy, suggesting information asymmetries rather than absolute shortage drive perceived scarcity.

The research reveals parking as both a material constraint and a perceptual phenomenon. Policy recommendations include demand-responsive pricing, real-time information systems, temporal management strategies, and merchant engagement. These interventions can vastly improve parking efficiency while supporting commercial vitality and community preservation in immigrant commercial districts.