Valuing driverless commuting – Downtown parking impacts

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are expected to transform travel behaviour and transport planning, with self-parking capabilities being a key advantage. In downtown or central business districts (CBDs), car commuters either pay for parking themselves (self-paid, SP) or have it covered by their employers (employer-paid, EP). However, the extent to which these groups will value their travel time (VOT) and whether they will engage in empty cruising cost to avoid parking costs in an AV era remain unexplored. This study addresses these gaps through an online stated preference survey in Melbourne, Australia, employing a discrete choice experiment and mixed logit modelling. Findings reveal that SP commuters would value travel time at 14.9 $/hr in private AVs, compared to 22.2 $/hr in conventional cars (CARs), while EP commuters’ VOT would be higher, at 24.3 $/hr for private AVs and 28.2 $/hr for CARs. SP commuters will experience a 33 % VOT decrease in AV travel compared to CAR travel, whereas EP commuters will experience a 14 % VOT reduction. These results indicate a significant decline in VOT for AV travel, particularly among SP commuters. The findings provide critical insights for transport practitioners in travel demand forecasting, transport modelling, parking policies and cost-benefit analyses. Policymakers can leverage these insights to assess the potential travel benefits of AV adoption and make informed decisions regarding infrastructure investments to support a sustainable AV future.