managing travel for planned special events - FHWA Operations ...

(Capacity of parking area) – (Vehicle count)– (Pipeline capacity) = 0 (Lot full)The visual inspection method involves thetraffic management team or parking operatorsmaking a “lot full” decision based oncomparing a visual estimate of availableparking spaces to the pipeline capacity. Theparking area access point(s) must denote thedownstream pipeline terminus. Team personnelcan obtain an estimate of availableparking spaces on the ground, from an overheadvantage point, or from aerial observation.This method is not as precise as thevehicle count method, but the visual inspectionmethod: (1) requires less personnel resourcesand (2) can be implemented in thelatter stages of load-in, as necessary to assessconditions.Table 6-11 summarizes the parking occupancymonitoring plan used during the 2002Winter Olympics.Table 6-112002 Winter Olympics Parking OccupancyMonitoring Plan (1)STEP• The observers at each lot reported hourly tothe TMC command post on the percent of lotcapacity in use.• The status of all lots was tracked by the TMCcommand post.• As any lot approached capacity, a backup lotwas identified by the TMC command post.• For each lot and backup lot, the upstreamCMS locations were identified.• Diversion messages were posted by the TMCat those CMS locations.• Approaching motorists saw the CMS instructionsand diverted to the new lot.Parking RegulationsPlanned special events require law enforcementand other stakeholders to considervarious on-street and off-street parking regulations.On-street parking regulations involveday-of-event parking restrictions, asillustrated in Figure 6-15, to: (1) preserveparking for nearby residents and businessesand (2) increase capacity on critical accessroutes serving the planned special event.Table 6-12 lists some considerations for developingoff-street parking regulations.Figure 6-15Parking Restriction SignsTable 6-12Off-street Parking RegulationConsiderationsCONSIDERATION• Parking area opening and closing time• Parking on grass adjacent to paved areas• Parking on islands, medians, and berms• Parking on the access road shoulder• Private parking area regulations regarding theobstruction of traffic flow• Obstruction of pedestrian access routes (e.g.,sidewalks)• Tailgating:o Occupy one parking space onlyo Saving of parking spaceso Blocking of aislesPractitioners should assess the use of privateland (residential or business) for event patronparking. Owners entice arriving eventpatrons to use private parking areas by offeringa reduced fee relative to event parkingareas, or drivers recognize the convenienceof the lot location with respect to accessing afreeway or arterial corridor needed to exitthe area during egress. Problems may occurparticularly during event egress when a continuousstream of traffic exiting a private6-24