Park‐and‐Ride: Alive, Well, and Expanding in the United States

Abstract

Park‐and‐ride lots originated in the 1930s as a means for increasing transit ridership. In spite of the increasing availability of automobiles, interest in park‐and‐ride has grown steadily as city and federal transportation officials recognize the need for coordinated, continuing, and comprehensive planning for all urban modes. This paper reviews the development of park‐and‐ride lots, presents selective statistics on trends in the sizes of lots, discusses more recent issues regarding unsatisfied demand in suburban areas, and makes recommendations for increasing the availability of park‐and‐ride lots, particularly in rapidly expanding metropolitan areas. Advanced acquisition of lands for park‐and‐ride lots, greater role of regional planning agencies in planning for park‐and‐ride facilities, and additional research for the development of a better understanding of the factors that affect the demand for and location of park‐and‐ride lots are among the recommendations.