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Parking Lot Design: Theory and Concepts

 
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.