Title: Smarter Parking at Transit Stations
Publication Information: Access Magazine, Volume 31, Fall 2007, pp. 27-33
Report Number: Magazine
Author(s): Susan Shaheen and Charlene Kemmerer
Document Date: 09/01/2007
Number of Pages: 7
Online Status: PDF
University Order Price: Free
Abstract:
Rising demand for
parking at suburban transit stations, such as the Bay Area Rapid
Transit (BART) District in California, necessitates strategies to
manage traveler demand. To better manage parking supply, researchers
implemented a smart parking field test at the Rockridge BART station
from 2004 to 2006 to evaluate the effects of smart parking
technologies (changeable message signs (CMSs)), Internet reservations
and billing, mobile phone and personal digital assistant
communications, and a wireless parking lot counting system) on transit
ridership and response to service pricing. Researchers employed expert
interviews, Internet surveys, focus groups, and parking reservation
data to conduct this analysis. Survey data indicated that the field
test increased BART trips and resulted in 9.7 fewer miles per
participant per month on average. Key lessons learned include that it
would have been beneficial to anticipate additional time for project
scoping and permitting, and fixed wayfinding signs were beneficial in
both directing vehicles from the highway to the smart parking lot and
addressing resident concerns about increased traffic. Additionally,
the majority of participants continued to use the service when fees
were implemented. However, the CMSs were not widely employed in users'
decision-making processes in this application. Finally, the wireless
counting system worked well, with the exception of the in-ground
sensors, which were prone to miscounts. This paper provides an
overview of the project and key literature, behavioral effects of the
field test, and lessons learned.
Keywords:
smart parking, transit, Intelligent Transportation Systems, behavioral impacts, operational understanding, lessons learned