Improved modeling of park-and-ride transfer time: Capturing the within-day dynamics

An important factor that affects park-and-ride demand is transfer time. However, conventional park-and-ride demand models treat transfer time as a single value, without considering the time-of-day effect. Since early comers usually occupy spots closer to the entrance, their transfer times are shorter. Hence, there is a relationship between arrival time and transfer time. To analyze this relationship, a micro-simulation model is developed. The model simulates the queuing system at the entrance and the pattern that parking spots are occupied in the parking lot over time. As expected, the model output illustrates an increasing relationship between arrival time and transfer time. This relationship has significant implication in mode choice models because it means that the attractiveness of park-and-ride depends on the time of arrival at the park-and-ride lot. This model of park-and-ride transfer time can potentially improve travel demand forecasting, as well as facilitate the operation and design of park-and-ride facilities.