PLANNING AND DESIGN OF PARK-AND-RIDE FACILITIES FOR THE CALGARY LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM

Park-and-ride facilities are an integral part of the Calgary light rail transit (LRT) system. At the present time, there are approximately 6,800 parking stalls at 11 stations on 29 km of LRT line. On a systemwide basis, utilization is over 90% for long-term parking, and stations at two of the three terminals of LRT lines have 100% utilization of park-and-ride facilities. To determine the demand for surface park-and-ride facilities on the Calgary LRT system, a method has been developed based on the number of transit users in the station catchment areas using the automobile mode to reach the LRT system. Catchment areas are defined by a commutershed concept and vary in size and shape depending on station spacing and the road network in the immediate vicinity of a station. The primary market for LRT park-and-ride facilities within each catchment area is downtown employees. Planning guidelines for LRT park-and-ride facilities have also been developed. They include location criteria, access and egress considerations, and number and location of parking stalls (including short-term and long-term parking, kiss-and-ride, handicapped parking, and parking facilities for bicycles and motorcycles).