Commercial area car park issues and sustainable solution. case study: Komtar Center Business district, Georgetown, Penang

Parking issue in cities Malaysia, especially in commercial areas, is intensified by growing motorisation, uneven infrastructural development, and inadequate enforcement procedures. One such location is Georgetown, Penang's Komtar Centre Business District (CBD), which is severely impacted by a lack of parking spaces, unlawful parking practices, and growing reliance on cars, all of which interfere with urban mobility and business operations. In response, the purpose of this study is to investigate the root causes of parking issues, assess the efficacy of traditional and smart parking solutions, and examine user satisfaction and parking utilisation trends. Three research objectives were established: (1) to determine the main reasons for parking issues and how they affect the environment and mobility; (2) for examining the effectiveness of current and suggested remedies; and (3) to examine parking usage trends in order to guide future management plans. Using a quantitative approach and a cross-sectional research design, 158 randomly chosen respondents including Komtar residents, tourists, and business owners were included. Structured questionnaires and observations were used to gather the data, which were then analysed using descriptive statistics like mean scores and frequencies as well as Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) for validation. The results suggest that while every aspect that has been found affects user satisfaction, the elements that have the most effects are pricing control, smart systems, and enforcement. These findings have important implications for MBPP and local policymakers, indicating the necessity of revised laws and integrated urban planning to promote more effective, accessible, and sustainable parking management in the central business district.