Exit Considerations
The last maneuver that a vehicle will make in a parking facility involves leaving the
facility and entering the adjacent street network. Inefficiencies in this part of the
parking process can lead to reduced capacity in both the parking facility and the adjacent
street network.
As was discussed in the section entitled Entrance Considerations, access
and egress points should be located as far as possible from any conflicting points on the
adjacent street network. This normally means that entrances and exits are placed
mid-block. Multiple exit lanes may be required, so that right-turning vehicles
can avoid waiting for left-turning vehicles at the exit. If the flow rate of departing
vehicles is low, or if the adjacent street is one-way, a single lane may be sufficient.
The type of parking facility also impacts the exit design. Facilities that have
tollbooths near the exits will require multiple exit lanes. They may also require that a
large portion of the parking lot be devoted to lanes for vehicles waiting to pay at the
tollbooths.
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