PEAK PARKING DEMAND AT SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY BEFORE TROLLEY INSTALLATION
Data Findings
Parking occupancy surveys were conducted from April 12 to April 29, 2004 (Monday through Thursday) from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at six parking structures campus wide. Supplementary surveys were conducted Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. at eleven parking lots with a capacity of 50 or more vehicles.
Analysis of data for the parking structures indicates that the peak demand for all structures occurred at approximately the same time period. In most cases, peak weekday parking demand occurs between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The average occupancy rate for Tuesdays and Thursdays was almost 10% higher than the average occupancy rate for Mondays and Wednesdays. This was probably due to the fact that during the Spring 2004 semester, 598 classes were in session Mondays and Wednesdays while 1,167 classes were in session on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Furthermore, parking demand was not impacted by permit pricing since one permit for faculty and staff members and one permit for students allows parking in the structures. Even structures that allow metered parking for visitors (Structures 2, 5 and 6) do not demonstrate considerably different peak demand characteristics.
Parking demand for structures appears to be affected by location relative to the campus population and activities. Parking structures 1 and 4 exhibited 100% occupancy for student parking spaces during the peak hour due to proximity to recreational and academic facilities. Parking structures 3 and 6 had the greatest number of student spaces occupied during the same period due to eight adjacent residence halls. Parking demand for lots appears to be affected by the aforementioned criteria in addition to ease of campus access. Lots that require considerable uphill travel in order to reach facilities (Lots W and X) demonstrate a lower occupancy rate for student parking spaces than those located further away from campus (Lots C, D, E, U and V).
Analysis of data for the parking structures combined with data for the parking lots indicate an occupancy rate of 84.5% during the aforementioned peak hour. Applying this occupancy rate to the remaining lots results in a campus-wide estimated demand of 0.35 vehicles per faculty/staff/student during the peak hour. The presented data demonstrates the need for campus planners to reallocate Faculty/Staff and Student parking spaces to avoid an occupancy rate of 100%.
Peak parking demand after trolley installation will be studied during the Spring 2006 semester, hopefully as part of the ITE 2006 Data Collection Project. Scheduled to open mid 2005, the underground trolley station is located in the heart of campus. It is projected the trolley station will reduce parking occupancy rates. The presented data will be comparable to future data only if surveys are taken during the same period in the spring semester.
Project Team:
Mentors: Professor James H. Banks, Ph.D.
Majed Al-Ghafry, P.E., T.E., P.T.O.E
Leia Cabrera, Student Coordinator
Alaine James
Andy Torres
Bill Grigsby
Cruz Ruelas-Avila
David Mendez
Gabriel Torres
Jim Roberts
Kyle Gallup
Lakshmi Kurada
Leo Espelet
Praveen Shankar
Prepared by: Leia Cabrera, Student Coordinator for 2004 ITE Data Collection