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WMATA Real-Time Parking Information Feasibility Study Chapter 2: EXISTING PARKING CONDITIONS Summary and Conclusions All of the WMATA Metrorail station Park and Ride facilities reach an extremely high level of usage by 10:00 AM. The peak hour of parking usage occurred from 12:00 NOON to 1:00 PM when 12,276 of the 12,600 parking spaces were occupied, which is a percent accumulation of 97.4 percent. This usage level exceeds the practical capacity of 95 percent by 2.4 percent, or 305 spaces. At all of the stations surveyed, the unrestricted parking spaces reach near-capacity levels by 10:00 AM and stay almost at 100 percent occupancy throughout the day. Most of the reserved parking spaces were observed to be full after 10:00 AM with the only exception being at Franconia/Springfield. (WMATA’s Parking office reduced the number of reserved spaces in 2008, after this parking inventory was completed) Real-time parking information would greatly enhance the Park and Ride operation at WMATA’s Metrorail stations by providing information about the availability, or lack thereof, of parking spaces. There is probably nothing more frustrating to a commuter than to be on a tight schedule and enter a Metrorail station Park and Ride facility and have difficulty finding, or not being able to find, a parking space. This occurrence was observed at Vienna/Fairfax and it probably takes place regularly. While search time in the parking facilities was not surveyed, after 9:00 AM it is expected to be long because of their size and the pace at which the facilities fill up. This fact is supported by the practical capacity being exceeded at 10:00 AM. Real-time parking information would help commuters decide which station to use and would prevent them from entering a station that is already full. Parking space guidance within the parking facilities would also minimize search time and would help to maximize usage. In addition to providing parking information, WMATA should consider the following: • Adding more supply at all of the stations • Increase passenger yield per space by providing spaces reserved for carpooling • Conducting similar existing condition assessments at other WMATA stations • Reducing the number of reserved parking spaces at Franconia/Springfield (this recommendation was implemented since the completion of this parking analysis). Page 2-24 June 2009
WMATA Real-Time Parking Information Feasibility Study Chapter 3 BEST PRACTICES REVIEW The purpose of the best practices review is to summarize the state of the practice of real-time parking information systems, including carpool encouragement. The review focused on applications involving transit agencies, airport authorities and state and local Departments of Transportation. Ten locations were reviewed and two (the Baltimore- Washington International airport (BWI) and the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART) in the San Francisco/Oakland area) were selected for more detailed investigation. The detailed investigations include “Lessons Learned” sections that provide valuable insight into physical system components, agency interaction strategies, and implementation advice. A brief review of carpooling operations in general at other locations was also conducted. Overview Within the United States, many metropolitan regions have seen the demands on their transportation infrastructure meet and in some cases exceed the accompanying regional growth. Increased strain on the transportation system, be it roadway congestion, crowded transit facilities or the lack of adequate parking, requires innovative solutions to make better use of new and existing infrastructure. As the demand for parking increases, there is a need to better utilize existing facilities and ensure that new facilities are used to their fullest potential. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) have been employed at a number of locations to help achieve these goals. In addition to increasing utilization, ITS can improve the user experience and encourage continued use of a particular facility. Jurisdictions across the country have begun to respond by implementing advanced parking systems (APS) in an effort to alleviate parking issues at airport parking garages, transit parking lots, and urbanized downtown areas. The most widely deployed APS elements are Parking Guidance Systems (PGS). These systems have the ability to utilize dynamic message signs (DMSs) to guide motorists to the nearest facility with available parking. Static signs may also be used to provide general information such as directions to a lot or garage, but the DMS has the ability to be changed depending on various criteria including the status of a lot and the availability of parking at a given location. The DMS is typically linked to a central computer which receives data from one of two general types of technology. Entry/exit counters can be used to calculate occupancy in a given facility, while systems that are more sophisticated utilize detectors at each parking space. The more advanced DMS type of system allows for in-facility guidance including the ability to direct motorists to the available lanes, rows, and parking levels, as well as indicating the number of available spaces in each location. Some jurisdictions have gone a step further; including information on parking availability at a given location(s) on their web site, via a dedicated phone line, wireless devices, or the regional ITS infrastructure. Some systems even offer the ability to pre-reserve a parking space at various facilities. To various degrees, APS technologies have been deployed at a number of locations in the United States. These deployments provide excellent examples of how APS can assist with parking management. Table 3-1 provides a Page 3-1 June 2009
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