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WMATA Real-Time Parking
Information Feasibility Study
Franconia/Springfield Parking Accumulation
Chapter 2: EXISTING PARKING CONDITIONS
Figure 2-6 indicates that some empty spaces are available at this station, but many are
reserved spaces. As expected based on the lack of a waiting list, the reserved parking
spaces did not fill up and had a maximum accumulation of only 36.2 percent prior to
10:00 AM. The reserved spaces reached a maximum accumulation of only 61.7 percent
between 2:00 and 3:00 PM. By contrast, the unrestricted spaces exceeded a 90 percent
occupancy level at 9:00 AM and climbed to 98.9 percent usage between 12:00 NOON
and 1:00 PM.
The reserved parking spaces at the Franconia/Springfield facilities are almost all
clustered on the second level of the West Garage. The modest jump in usage of the
reserved spaces from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM suggests one of two things. Either the
reserved spaces are not perceived to be any more convenient than the unrestricted
spaces, or many commuters are not aware of the fact that these spaces are available to
everyone after 10:00 AM. Between 10:00 and 11:00 AM, 48 percent of the reserved
spaces were full and it increases to only 57.4 percent from 12:00 NOON until 1:00 PM.
One-hundred fourteen vehicles arrived and parked in the reserved spaces after 10:00
AM compared with 80 that arrived and parked at the unrestricted spaces.
Figure 2-6 demonstrates the accelerated pace at which the Franconia/Springfield facility
fills up. At 7:15 AM there were 2,759 parked vehicles representing an occupancy rate of
almost 54 percent. By 9:30 AM over 85 percent (4,363 vehicles) of the parking spaces
were occupied. By 11:30 AM the facilities are at 94 percent of their overall capacity and
at 12:45 PM they reach their practical capacity of 95 percent when 4,865 parked
vehicles were calculated.
Vienna/Fairfax Parking Accumulation
Parking usage at the Vienna/Fairfax Metrorail station is extremely high from 9:00 AM
until the last survey period, 2:00 to 3:00 PM, as shown in Figure 2-7. Parked vehicles
were observed in unmarked spaces on the roof of the South Garage after 10:00 AM and
Fairfax County police officers were writing tickets to the violators. Lot full signs are
manually moved to the entrances but seem to be sometimes too late to prevent cars
entering the facilities when there is not a parking space. At the 7:00 to 8:00 AM interval,
45.8 percent of all spaces were occupied and the occupancy increases to 76.4 percent
from 8:00 to 9:00 AM.
The graphic in Figure 2-7 depicts the high level of parking facility congestion
experienced at the Vienna/Fairfax Metrorail station. As noted above, the 8:00 to 9:00
AM period had a measured accumulation of 76.4 percent, but from 9:15 to 9:30 AM the
overall occupancy reached 96 percent with 4,960 parked vehicles.
Page 2-11 June 2009