Operations & Technology – Walker Consultants

Sustainability Isn’t Just Environmental, It’s Operational. It’s Human.

Walker Consultants — Thu, 28 May 2026 21:44:32 +0000

Imagine this: you’re circling a parking garage for 10 minutes looking for an open space. You’re late for an important event, irritated, and now you’ve burned more fuel than you meant to before you’ve even turned off the ignition.

You don’t have to imagine it. You’ve lived it.

Moments like this are so common that they barely register anymore. But they should. What feels like a minor inconvenience is often a sign of a system that isn’t working as well as it could.

Some of the most meaningful sustainability gains come from reducing waste before it happens.

When people think about sustainability, they often picture what gets added to a building: solar panels, green roofs, EV charging stations and recycled materials. Those elements do matter. But some of the most meaningful environmental gains come from something less visible: reducing waste before it happens.

Sometimes sustainability looks like better movement. Less idling. Fewer wrong turns. Shorter wait times. Smoother arrivals. Less friction between people and the places they need to go.

Where Thoughtful System Design Makes a Difference

That’s where thoughtful system design comes in.

Tools like parking access and revenue control systems (PARCS), license plate recognition (LPR), and real-time stall detection can help drivers enter quickly, find spaces faster, and exit more efficiently. They improve convenience, but they also reduce circling, congestion, and unnecessary emissions.

Better parking flow is not just a user-experience improvement. It is also an operational and sustainability improvement.

Additionally, Parksmart is a leading certification for sustainable parking, promoting efficient, environmentally responsible parking facilities. And at Walker Consultants, we have 16 Parksmart Advisors who can help guide parking projects through certification by assessing sustainability.

At the VHC Outpatient Pavilion Garage, systems like these support a high-traffic healthcare environment where time matters. Clear wayfinding, streamlined entry, and efficient parking flow help reduce delays for patients, visitors, and staff while improving the overall experience around the facility.

The Bigger Idea Goes Beyond Parking

The bigger idea extends far beyond parking.

Across cities, sustainability is increasingly shaped by how well everyday systems function. The Seattle Zero Emissions Loading Zones initiative rethinks urban deliveries by shifting trips to e-cargo bikes. Our Transportation Equity Study for the City of Peoria focuses on improving access and mobility so communities can reach jobs, services, and opportunities more efficiently. Transit microgrids and multi-modal resiliency hubs connect transportation, energy, and public infrastructure to support cleaner, more reliable movement.

Reduce
Unnecessary movement

Use
Resources more wisely

Design
Systems that work better for people

What Sustainability Also Means

Because sustainability is not only about what we install. It is also about what we eliminate: wasted time, wasted energy, wasted motion, and avoidable frustration.

The most effective sustainability strategies are often the ones people never notice. They simply feel easier, faster, and better.

And over time, those invisible improvements can make a visible difference.

Why Consider Transportation Demand Management?

Walker Consultants — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 18:23:12 +0000

When facing congestion or a lack of parking, a transportation demand management (TDM) program is a great alternative to building new infrastructure. TDM reduces reliance on single-occupancy automobiles and associated parking demand. A well-planned and executed TDM program can be a cost-effective way to deal with transportation headaches.

The goal of TDM is to change the culture, or at least change the behaviors of a portion of your commuters, so that they consider transportation modes other than driving alone.

We’ve found that a good TDM program strikes a fine balance between the demand for adequate parking, a concern for traffic flow, commitments to sustainability, and the ability to afford the additional parking infrastructure.

In developing a TDM plan, we consider the following alternative transportation modes and demand reduction concepts:

Biking, safe bike infrastructure, and secure bike parking
Walking and safe sidewalks/paths
Transit and shuttles
Carpooling/Vanpooling (including preferential parking for carpools)
Support services that make it easier to use TDM programs, such as:
- Ride matching services for carpools/vanpools
- Occasional parking privileges
- Guaranteed ride home
Ride-hailing apps
Remote work policies
Modification of parking policies, including fees and allocations
Education programs, marketing campaigns, and supporting materials

Our process for developing TDM plans is both quantitative and qualitative, including data collection, community engagement, surveys of behaviors and preferences, field observations, and environmental scans of TDM programs and infrastructure (and/or their potential).

Here are a few examples of how we’ve put these concepts into actionable plans for our clients:

Ready to learn more about how TDM can help you? Contact David Lieb, TDM-CP for a friendly chat about your options.

Be Ready for Today and Tomorrow with EVCS

Walker Consultants — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 13:36:21 +0000

Embracing the future of transportation, offering electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) at your parking facility adds to its level of service and represents a forward-thinking commitment to sustainability and customer satisfaction. As you consider the integration of EVCS into your facilities, Walker Consultants is ready to guide you towards a greener, more efficient tomorrow.

Understanding EVCS and the Components

EVCS are essential for powering up the increasing number of electric vehicles hitting our roads. From level 1 and level 2 chargers providing standard charging options to the rapid power of DC fast chargers, selecting the appropriate charging solution is critical for catering to your needs.

Customization: Decisions and Directions

Determining the ideal mix of chargers for your parking structure involves a deep dive into your specific requirements and the electric vehicle trends among your clientele. Whether the need is in long-term parking or specialized spots for taxis and rideshares, deciding on the quantity and location of chargers requires strategic insight. We’ll help you plan for the right system, supporting your facility from inception to implementation.

Partner with us for Your EVCS Implementation

With a proven track record of assisting clients with the seamless installation of EVCS, we will lead you through this transition. Our expertise spans from evaluating your garage’s charging demands to meeting ADA standards, positioning you to lead in the adoption of green technology.

Electric vehicle charging stations are not just infrastructure improvements; they are a statement to travelers about your dedication to innovation and environmental responsibility.

Embark on this electrifying journey with us! Contact Erik Nelson, PCIP or Geoffrey Posluszny, CPP today to discuss how we can facilitate your successful adoption of EVCS.

Check out some of our EVCS projects below.

Pioneering Sustainable Mobility Solutions

Brittany Edmunds — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 21:30:44 +0000

We are thrilled to announce that Walker’s Victor Hill and Ben Weber, have been featured in Parking & Mobility Magazine, a prestigious publication of the International Parking & Mobility Institute (IPMI). In their article, “Get to the Point”, Hill and Weber address the critical issue of urban mobility, specifically the challenge of reducing parking requirements and the necessity of making driving less convenient to foster sustainable, enjoyable, and affordable urban environments.

Our cities are often viewed as landscapes where personal vehicles dominate, and alternative modes of transportation are sidelined. Hill and Weber argue against this perception, highlighting the growing feasibility of walking, bicycling, public transit, and other forms of travel. They emphasize the importance of investing in these alternatives to create integrated, efficient, and user-friendly mobility networks. Their work sheds light on the innovative concept of “mobility wallets,” a pilot initiative in Los Angeles aimed at encouraging the use of diverse transportation modes through seamless trip planning and payment solutions. This approach not only supports low-income residents but also serves as a model for other cities and universities seeking to mitigate the challenges posed by single-occupancy vehicles and parking constraints.

Our company proudly supports this forward-thinking vision, recognizing that the path to more sustainable urban living requires a collective shift in how we view and utilize transportation. Hill and Weber’s contribution to Parking & Mobility Magazine underscores our commitment to leading the charge in reimagining urban mobility for a better, more sustainable future for our communities. To read more, check out Hill and Weber’s article.

Shared Parking Analysis Can Help Save

Brittany Edmunds — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 20:23:33 +0000

We are proud to announce that John Dorsett, AICP, CPP, a Senior Director of Planning, Operations and Technology at Walker Consultants, has contributed a compelling article to Development Magazine, a reputable publication by NAIOP, The Commercial Real Estate Development Association. In the Winter 2023/2024 issue, Dorsett provides insightful analysis on “Rightsizing Parking in Support of Sustainability and ROI,” exploring how shared parking analyses can significantly save land, costs, and time in urban development projects.

Dorsett’s piece is a deep dive into the transformational potential of shared parking strategies, emphasizing how they can lead to more sustainable and cost-effective urban planning. This article highlights the necessity of rethinking parking space allocation in response to the changing dynamics of transportation and mobility. Dorsett’s expertise helps readers understand the economic and environmental benefits of rightsizing parking. He offers practical solutions and methodologies that can be adopted by developers to optimize their projects. The article is not only a testament to John Dorsett’s expertise in the field but also reflects our company’s commitment to pioneering sustainable and innovative urban development practices.