MacroPark - Macroscopic approach to evaluate the short-term effects of parking on urban traffic congestion

IVT Staff

M. Mendendez and J. Cao

Sponsor

ETH Research Grant ETH-40 14-1

Duration

07.2014-06.2016

Project Summary

The parking system can affect the traffic system through two processes: parking search, which can cause higher traffic density; and on-street parking maneuvers, which can directly cause additional delay. Both can lead to more congested traffic conditions, and lower travel speeds on the network. On the other side, the traffic system can also affect the parking system. Average travel speeds highly influence the arrival rate to the parking facilities, and ultimately, the level of parking usage. Here, we propose a model to evaluate these impacts at a macroscopic level. Main tools used to support the study include probability theory, macroscopic fundamental diagram, kinematic wave theory, dimensional analysis, and queuing theory. With the proposed macroscopic model, for any given time interval, the transitions of vehicles between different parking related families (i.e., non-searching, searching, and parking) can be shown. Similarly, both the parking and traffic indicators can be updated (e.g., traffic density, average travel speed, average delay, parking occupancy, parking supply, and share of parking searchers within traffic). The macroscopic model proposed in this study has low data requirements, but it should still provide reasonable aggregate results to make informed decisions about network management and control, as well as to assess the impact of different parking related strategies. With this approach, a better optimization scheme for the system can be developed in terms of both traffic performance and parking usage.

Publications

• Cao, J. and M. Menendez (2014) A Parking-State-Based Transition Matrix of Traffic on Urban Networks, SVT Working Paper, 74, IVT, ETH Zurich, Zurich. Download
• Cao, J. and M. Menendez (2014) Generalized effects of on-street parking maneuvers on the performance of nearby signalized intersections, SVT Working Paper, 73, IVT, ETH Zurich, Zurich. Download
• Cao, J. and M. Menendez (2014) Macroscopic modelling of parking dynamics in urban networks (Part I), paper presented at the 14^th Swiss Transport Research Conference, Ascona, May 2014. Download
• Cao, J., M. Menendez and V. Nikias (2014) The effect of on-street parking on traffic throughput at nearby intersections, paper presented at the 93^rd Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., January 2014. Download
• Cao, J., N. Vasileios and M. Menendez (2013) On-street parking near intersections: effects on traffic, paper presented at the 13^th Swiss Transport Research Conference, Ascona, April 2013. Download
• Cao, J. and M. Menendez (2013) Methodology to Evaluate Cost and Accuracy of Parking Patrol Surveys, Transportation Research Record, 2359, 1-9. Download
• Cao, J., N. Vasileios and M. Menendez (2013) On-street parking near the intersections: effects on traffic, paper presented at the 2^nd Symposium of the European Association for Research in Transportation (hEART 2013), Stockholm, September 2013. Download

Additional Information

ETH Research database project 33674