Technical Report Documentation Page

1. Report No. FHWA-JPO-08-052	2. Government Accession No.	3. Recipient's Catalog No.
4. Title and Subtitle Evaluation of Transit Applications of Advanced Parking Management Systems – Final Evaluation Report	5. Report Date May 9, 2008
6. Performing Organization Code
7. Author(s) J. Rephlo (SAIC), R. Haas (SAIC), L. Feast (SAIC), D. Newton (SAIC)	8. Performing Organization Report No.
9. Performing Organization Name and Address Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) 1710 SAIC Drive M/S T1-12-3 McLean, VA 22102	10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) Contract or Grant No. DTFH61-02-C-00061; Task 61023
11. Contract or Grant No. DTFH61-06-D-00005
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address United States Department of Transportation ITS Joint Program Office Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590	13. Type of Report and Period Covered
14. Sponsoring Agency Code HOIT-1
15. Supplementary Notes Ms. Charlene Wilder, COTM (FTA), Mr. John Augustine, COTR (ITS JPO), Ms. Jane Lappin, co-COTR (RITA), Mr. Pierre Youssef (Noblis Task Analyst)
16. Abstract Throughout the United States, transportation agencies have begun implementing advanced parking information systems to increase customer satisfaction and to improve traffic operations. Through the use of variable message signs, these systems provide motorists with real-time information about parking availability at appropriate decision points on their route so that they can make an informed decision about where to park. These systems are being deployed in a variety of environments including central business districts, airports, and transit park-and-ride lots. The goals in deploying such a system can vary depending on the operating environment. When deployed in a transit environment, goals can include improved user satisfaction, increased parking utilization at a lot that is currently under-utilized, and increased transit ridership. This report presents the results of an independent national evaluation of two transit applications of parking management systems: one that was deployed in conjunction with two Metra Stations in suburbs southwest of Chicago, Illinois and the other which was deployed in conjunction with two Metro Stations in Montgomery County, Maryland. The study documents quantified system impacts in terms of parking utilization, transit ridership and mode choice, traffic circulation within and between transit park and ride lots, and customer satisfaction. It also includes an institutional issues review that includes organizational and institutional challenges encountered by the project stakeholders throughout the course of deployment and operation of these systems. The evaluation involved conducting passenger intercept surveys of transit riders, gathering data on transit ridership, gathering archived system data that documents in and out counts at the lots, as well as conducting a series of interviews with the staff. The results of the study indicate that it is unclear whether the parking management systems increased parking utilization or transit ridership, or whether they reduced circulation within and between park-and-ride lots. The results do indicate that commuters are in general satisfied with the sign locations and accuracy (and that they would like to see similar signs at other locations). In terms of mode share, although not many, a few respondents did indicate that the signs have affected how often they take transit and that he parking availability information has caused them to take transit rather than driving. Finally, the results show that, depending on the circumstances, parking management systems can increase driver awareness of parking alternatives or reduce circulation within and between lots.
17. Key Words Evaluation, Transit, Intelligent Transportation Systems, ITS, Parking Management Systems, Real-Time Traveler Information, Evaluation, Customer Satisfaction	18. Distribution Statement No restrictions. This document is available to the public from: The National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161.
19. Security Classification (of this report) Unclassified	20. Security Classification (of this page) Unclassified	21. No of Pages 81	22. Price N/A

1. Report No.

FHWA-JPO-08-052

2. Government Accession No.

3. Recipient's Catalog No.

4. Title and Subtitle

Evaluation of Transit Applications of Advanced Parking Management Systems – Final Evaluation Report

5. Report Date

May 9, 2008

6. Performing Organization Code

7. Author(s)

J. Rephlo (SAIC), R. Haas (SAIC), L. Feast (SAIC), D. Newton (SAIC)

8. Performing Organization Report No.

9. Performing Organization Name and Address

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)
1710 SAIC Drive
M/S T1-12-3
McLean, VA 22102

10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)

Contract or Grant No. DTFH61-02-C-00061; Task 61023

11. Contract or Grant No.

DTFH61-06-D-00005

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

United States Department of Transportation
ITS Joint Program Office
Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA)
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590

13. Type of Report and Period Covered

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

HOIT-1

15. Supplementary Notes

Ms. Charlene Wilder, COTM (FTA), Mr. John Augustine, COTR (ITS JPO), Ms. Jane Lappin, co-COTR (RITA), Mr. Pierre Youssef (Noblis Task Analyst)

16. Abstract

Throughout the United States, transportation agencies have begun implementing advanced parking information systems to increase customer satisfaction and to improve traffic operations. Through the use of variable message signs, these systems provide motorists with real-time information about parking availability at appropriate decision points on their route so that they can make an informed decision about where to park. These systems are being deployed in a variety of environments including central business districts, airports, and transit park-and-ride lots. The goals in deploying such a system can vary depending on the operating environment. When deployed in a transit environment, goals can include improved user satisfaction, increased parking utilization at a lot that is currently under-utilized, and increased transit ridership.

This report presents the results of an independent national evaluation of two transit applications of parking management systems: one that was deployed in conjunction with two Metra Stations in suburbs southwest of Chicago, Illinois and the other which was deployed in conjunction with two Metro Stations in Montgomery County, Maryland.

The study documents quantified system impacts in terms of parking utilization, transit ridership and mode choice, traffic circulation within and between transit park and ride lots, and customer satisfaction. It also includes an institutional issues review that includes organizational and institutional challenges encountered by the project stakeholders throughout the course of deployment and operation of these systems.

The evaluation involved conducting passenger intercept surveys of transit riders, gathering data on transit ridership, gathering archived system data that documents in and out counts at the lots, as well as conducting a series of interviews with the staff.

The results of the study indicate that it is unclear whether the parking management systems increased parking utilization or transit ridership, or whether they reduced circulation within and between park-and-ride lots. The results do indicate that commuters are in general satisfied with the sign locations and accuracy (and that they would like to see similar signs at other locations). In terms of mode share, although not many, a few respondents did indicate that the signs have affected how often they take transit and that he parking availability information has caused them to take transit rather than driving. Finally, the results show that, depending on the circumstances, parking management systems can increase driver awareness of parking alternatives or reduce circulation within and between lots.

17. Key Words

Evaluation, Transit, Intelligent Transportation Systems, ITS, Parking Management Systems, Real-Time Traveler Information, Evaluation, Customer Satisfaction

18. Distribution Statement

No restrictions. This document is available to the public from: The National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161.

19. Security Classification (of this report)

Unclassified

20. Security Classification (of this page)

Unclassified

21. No of Pages

22. Price

N/A

Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72)

Reproduction of completed page authorized.

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