Parking systems analysis

The availability and quality of parking plays an important role in shaping the overall service provided by the highway system. The usefulness of the automobile can be impaired if the driver is unable to find convenient and reasonably priced parking in the vicinity of his final destination. Further, the design of the parking system can significantly influence the quality of the environment, particularly the ambient air quality and noise levels in high-density areas such as the central business district (CBD). Similarly, the choice of mode of access to transit, the selection of a transit station, and the difficulty of driving and parking in the CBD are critical inputs to modal choice and transit network evaluation models. In this context, the parking system constitutes an important element of the urban transportation system.