2013 Session: 411

• Parking Planning Model: Logit-Based Mathematical Programming Method Subject to Parking Capacity and Parking Rationing
  Abstract: Traffic authorities are always challenged by parking issues such as where parking shortages are critical, how many parking spaces are needed, and what is a fair parking fee, etc. Answers to such problems require a parking model, but the literature review did not reveal a reliable model applicable to the real world. This deficiency is rooted in the computational complexities of considering parking capacity together with traffic congestion on the road network. We developed a model for parking planning that addresses a variety of deficiencies in the past studies. The parking choices are considered within a Logit model structure, which has been thoroughly described in the literature. A mathematical programming problem was introduced that explicitly considered parking capacities and parking rationing constraints. Introduction of parking rationing along with other constraints is a unique factor in this study. Consideration of parking rationing is intended to cover wider areas such as private parking, reserved parking different parking-durations etc. This makes the model more realistic. A solution algorithm using Successive Coordinate Descent was developed for the Logit-based mathematical programming problem. The algorithm was tested on an artificial but real-size and challenging CBD case. The results prove that the algorithm is able to converge rapidly. Among the algorithm's output are shadow prices of the parking capacity and parking rationing constraints. The shadow prices contain important information which is key to addressing a variety of parking issues, such as the location of parking shortages, identification of fair parking charges, and the size of reserved parking.
  Authors: Asadi Bagloee, Saeed; Asadi, Mohsen
  Authors: Asadi Bagloee, Saeed; Asadi, Mohsen
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Policy
  Session: 411
  Paper Number: 13-0714
• Turning Housing into Driving: Parking Requirements in Los Angeles and New York
  Abstract: This article examines the idea that residential minimum parking requirements are associated with lower housing and population densities, and higher vehicle densities (residential vehicles per square mile). Although cities frequently use residential minimum parking requirements to manage traffic, parking requirements inherently accommodate vehicles, which suggests they should lead to more driving, and more congestion, rather than less. Thus if parking requirements reduce congestion, they likely do so by constraining an area's housing density , and therefore its population density as well. We show this is the case by comparing the Los Angeles and New York urbanized areas. Differences in housing, vehicle and population density across and within these urbanized areas are closely correlated to differences in the share of housing units that include parking, and the share of housing units that include parking is in turn correlated with the stringency of minimum parking requirements. We further show that within New York City, a ten percent increase in minimum parking requirements is associated with a six percent increase in vehicles per square mile, a four percent increase in vehicles per person, and an eight percent reduction in both population and housing density. These relationships remain even after controlling for proximity to rail transit. Parking requirements therefore appear to increase the cost of housing and reduce the price of driving.
  Authors: Manville, Michael; Shoup, Donald C.; Beata, Alexander
  Authors: Manville, Michael; Shoup, Donald C.; Beata, Alexander
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Policy
  Session: 411
  Paper Number: 13-1034
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Methodology for Evaluating Cost and Accuracy of Parking Patrol Surveys
  Abstract: Parking duration is an important element in reflecting the parking demand, very often a patrol survey is conducted to obtain the data. However, with this method, the error between estimated and real average parking duration is unavoidable. To reduce the error, short observation intervals can be chosen, but this requires more labor and capital investments. Therefore, surveyors very often find themselves in the dilemma of balancing survey accuracy and survey cost.In this article, an analytical model is built to understand the effects of survey cost and other inputs on survey accuracy in a systematic and generalized way. Through dimensional analysis, the relation between the time length of the observation interval, the estimated average parking duration (i.e., survey result), and the survey error is illustrated. Based on that, the relation between relative survey cost and survey accuracy can then be identified, and used to suggest a balanced approach. As the assumptions from the analytical model are not necessarily representative of real life conditions, more realistic distributions based on simulation of arrival time and parking duration are also included. Lastly, real data examples are presented for comparison and validation. The results show that with the proposed approach, a comprehensive method to evaluate the survey can be provided, and the balance between accuracy and cost can be found. This can help surveyors to have a better understanding of the survey and to choose the proper length for the survey interval, so one can obtain high quality results from the patrol survey while keeping costs to a minimum.
  Authors: Cao, Jin; Menendez, Monica
  Authors: Cao, Jin; Menendez, Monica
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Policy
  Session: 411
  Paper Number: 13-1689
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Investigation of the Determinants of Travelers’ Mental Knowledge of Public Parking Facilities
  Abstract: This paper describes a study of car drivers’ familiarity with the parking situation in the vicinity of a regional shopping center. The data used for this study are collected in Hasselt, a medium sized city in Belgium. The central shopping area of Hasselt is surrounded by 23 public parking facilities. 1007 residents have been asked to indicate if they are familiar with each parking facility. The concept of familiarity was related to the socio-demographic and cognitive attributes of the respondents, their trips to the city center and the type of parking facility using multinomial logistic regression and bivariate probit regression. The results show that familiarity with parking facilities is especially related to age and education, and to the frequency of car use towards the city centre, and to a lesser extent to place of residence, income and perceived mental knowledge. In addition to these results, this paper demonstrates the value of collecting virtual buffer data by means of an online survey tool. The authors recommend that simulation models that predict parking choice behavior take into account the different levels of familiarity with parking facilities, and the contributing factors. An important avenue for further research is the combination of personal and facility specific information to assess the familiarity with different types of parking facilities.
  Authors: Cools, Mario; Van der Waerden, Peter J. H. J.; Janssens, Davy
  Authors: Cools, Mario; Van der Waerden, Peter J. H. J.; Janssens, Davy
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Policy
  Session: 411
  Paper Number: 13-2590
• Amenity Versus Necessity: Rethinking Residential Street Width Standard as U.S. Parking Policy
  Abstract: This paper explores the rationales underlying the use of minimum street width requirements to mandate street parking. A survey of 97 cities reveals that this mandate is not a technical necessity based on safety concerns or an amenity reflecting market demand, two common beliefs held by decision-makers. Many residents are likely unwilling to pay for street parking if it is unbundled from housing. The hidden parking policies should be made transparent and subject to public oversight, the double standard between private and public streets should be eliminated, and parking on residential streets should be optional.
  Authors: Guo, Zhan
  Authors: Guo, Zhan
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Policy
  Session: 411
  Paper Number: 13-2776
• Evaluation of a Smart Parking System
  Abstract: This paper documents the methodological approach and findings of an evaluation process for a smart parking application that provides real time information on parking availability. The initiative is in response to the increased demand for parking spaces within the Pittsburgh Cultural District and the desire to improve patrons’ parking experiences. Primary data, obtained through semi structured interview, in-person and online surveys of patrons were utilized for the stakeholders’ analysis, baseline data, process evaluation and outcome evaluation phases. Secondary data that utilized count data obtained from website use logs was employed for the output evaluation phase. The contributions of the evaluation framework are the insights it provides on how the key challenges created by the unique environment within which the system was deployed were addressed and how the framework could be employed in tackling response shift bias through the use of a binary system approach that uniquely identifies distinct cohorts of respondents. The report is especially timely given the prohibitively expensive cost of employing a supply side approach in addressing cities’ parking problems, the ease of replicating the evaluation framework and product design and the wealth of information it provides to the body of knowledge in the evaluation of technological products.
  Authors: Fabusuyi, Tayo; Hampshire, Robert Cornelius; Hill, Victoria
  Authors: Fabusuyi, Tayo; Hampshire, Robert Cornelius; Hill, Victoria
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Policy
  Session: 411
  Paper Number: 13-3427
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Parking Oversupply in East Harlem: Analysis of Parking Occupancy and Mode Usage at East River Plaza in New York City
  Abstract: East River Plaza is a recently constructed mall in the East Harlem section of Manhattan. The development contains big box stores including Target, Costco, and Best Buy along with a 1,248 space parking garage. This paper evaluates the assumptions and methodology of the analysis determining the large parking supply, measures current parking usage, and determines modal splits through an intercept survey. The project’s Environmental Impact Statement assumed 67% to 68% of all trips arriving to East River Plaza would be by automobile. Parking accumulation was calculated using parking studies conducted at Home Depots in the Bronx, Queens, and Port Chester, NY and a Costco in Staten Island, all of which are less dense and have higher vehicle trip rates and vehicle ownership rates. These calculations resulted in a peak parking accumulation of 1,190 vehicles for a Saturday afternoon. Actual parking occupancy observations revealed only 371 vehicles (34% occupancy) on a Tuesday afternoon in late November, and 426 vehicles (39% occupancy) on a Saturday afternoon in December. The intercept survey revealed 48% and 37% of respondents arrived by foot and 27% and 33% drove on Tuesday and Saturday, respectively. Thus, the parking supplied has resulted in an underutilized land use and lost opportunity for additional development. Future big box developments in dense urban areas should not use suburban models for auto trip generation and parking accumulation and instead consider the provision of trips being made by walking and public transportation, reducing the need for unnecessary parking.
  Authors: Gebhart, Kyle
  Authors: Gebhart, Kyle
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Policy
  Session: 411
  Paper Number: 13-5303
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Simulation of a Parking Reservation System to Mitigate Cruising for Parking
  Abstract: Cruising for parking is a phenomenon of circulation under low speed, looking for a parking space on the street, derived from the uncertainty about the existence and location of it. Most approaches trying to mitigate cruising are about adjusting the prices of curb space to manage demand.In this paper we simulate a system of in-advance online parking space reservations on the street as a means of reducing congestion derived from cruising. A reservation will eliminate the uncertainties that cause the need for cruising and can improve the efficiency of the private car. Targeting efficiency is a new-paradigm type of parking management, opposed to increasing supply and the consequent fueling of the cycle of automobile dependency.We present a model of parking and cruising behavior derived from observed data, and describes a stochastic discrete-event queuing micro-simulator developed to compare scenarios of variable allocations of parking spaces for reservations.The results obtained illustrate a consistent improvement in congestion levels in scenarios with reservations of up to 3% of the value without reservations. Scenarios of allocation of parking spaces also display an expected loss in turnover from a certain point, as well as a slight increase in cruising times for the users without reservations. These can however be mitigated by the designed generated revenues from the reservation service, and also by the overall congestion reduction.
  Authors: Carvalho e Ferreira, Diana Paula Figueiredo; de Abreu e Silva, João
  Authors: Carvalho e Ferreira, Diana Paula Figueiredo; de Abreu e Silva, João
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Policy
  Session: 411
  Paper Number: 13-3718
• Methodology for Evaluating Cost and Accuracy of Parking Patrol Surveys
  Authors: Cao, Jin
  Authors: Cao, Jin
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Policy
  Session: 411
  Paper Number: 13-1689
• Investigation of the Determinants of Travelers' Mental Knowledge of Public Parking Facilities
  Authors: Cools, Mario
  Authors: Cools, Mario
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Policy
  Session: 411
  Paper Number: 13-2590
• Evaluation of a Smart Parking System
  Authors: Fabusuyi, Tayo
  Authors: Fabusuyi, Tayo
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Policy
  Session: 411
  Paper Number: 13-3427
• Simulation of a Parking Reservation System to Mitigate Cruising for Parking
  Authors: Carvalho e Ferreira, Diana
  Authors: Carvalho e Ferreira, Diana
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Policy
  Session: 411
  Paper Number: 13-3718
• Parking Oversupply in East Harlem: Analysis of Parking Occupancy and Mode Usage at East River Plaza in New York City
  Authors: Gebhart, Kyle
  Authors: Gebhart, Kyle
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Policy
  Session: 411
  Paper Number: 13-5303
• Parking Planning Model: Logit-Based Mathematical Programming Method Subject to Parking Capacity and Parking Rationing
  Authors: Asadi Bagloee, Saeed
  Authors: Asadi Bagloee, Saeed
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation; Poster
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Policy
  Session: 411
  Paper Number: 13-0714