Description
Developing park-and-ride lots offers designated areas for commuters to park and transfer to transit or carpool services, reducing private vehicle usage.
Implementation Details
- Identify underutilized parcels adjacent to major arterials as candidate park-and-ride locations, especially near express route stops and Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) pathway/Great Redwood Trail access points.
- Design facilities to include shaded waiting areas, lighting, bike racks, Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers, and secure lockers to support mode shift from Single Occupancy Vehicles to transit or shared modes.
- Integrate wayfinding and branding consistent with Marin Transit and regional corridors, and promote lots through community outreach campaigns and travel training.
- Partner with school districts to jointly develop shared-use facilities in community areas.
Mitigation Potential
Park-and-ride lots increase the availability of non-Single Occupancy Vehicle options for commuters. Either through transit or carpooling, VMT can be reduced from the mode shift. While not the same strategy, park and ride lots are now more commonly planned for as part of mobility hubs, which is a more efficient use of land and more effective at reducing VMT.
For more details, see Victoria Transport Policy Institute – Mobility Hubs for VMT reduction quantification.
Linked Strategies
Equity Considerations
Equity considerations for park-and-ride facilities include ensuring access in rural and disadvantaged communities that lack frequent transit service. Lots should be placed to benefit lower-income commuters, and partnerships with tribal governments and schools can increase access for residents without nearby transit. Design elements such as bike parking and lighting also enhance safety and access for non-drivers.
Funding Sources
Requires staff time to implement. Funding sources include the Surface Transportation Block Grant (Metropolitan Transportation Commission) and the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program: Sustainable Communities: Competitive and Technical (Caltrans).
Implemented in TAM Area
Current TDM Implementation
Several SMART stations offer commuter parking, including Novato San Marin, Novato Hamilton, and Larkspur. Manzanita Park and Ride in Mill Valley is located near US 101 and provides parking for Marin Transit riders. Golden Gate Transit has Park and Ride lots throughout the county.
TDM Benefit Locations
This TDM measure will be particularly beneficial at central, high activity transit hubs and locations where parking lots are typically beyond capacity. The Larkspur ferry terminal lots often fill up in the early morning and SMART stations in San Rafael and Novato experience high demand for park and ride services.