The Mt. Nittany Medical Center (MNMC) requested that Trans Associates evaluate the existing and future parking demand conditions and traffic operations on the MNMC Campus related to planned development and additions to services offered on the campus. A parking study was necessary since a surface lot was being redeveloped and MNMC wanted to determine whether or not there was adequate parking.
The parking study included:
Evaluation of the existing and future parking demand conditions on the MNMC Campus related to the planned changes and additions to services offered on the campus;
A parking supply/demand analysis to determine the number of parking spaces required for patients, visitors, and staff due to future planned development;
ADA parking need calculation;
Supply/demand analysis to determine the anticipated parking deficiency or surplus on the campus; and
Development of a parking strategy for the anticipated future changes.
Bridgepark is a rapidly growing area on the east bank of the Scioto River in Dublin, Ohio. The proposed Fieldhouse development includes an arena and office space. The arena will seat approximately 5,000 people, which creates a high volume of trips into a high-density urban area. Finding a way to accommodate site traffic while also maintaining access to existing businesses and residential units is critical to successful approval and operation of the facility.
SERVICES PERFORMED
Parking Study – An event parking plan was developed in cooperation with Engineering and Law Enforcement from both the City of Columbus and the City of Dublin. The plan included temporary one-way streets, use of law enforcement, parking staff, variable message signing and traditional event signing.
Traffic Impact Study – Data collection and analysis of anticipated future traffic volumes, intersection capacity and final report.
As is the case with most institutions, there is only so much real estate available to accommodate improvements and anticipated growth. Often there are competing interests and differing agendas competing for space. Trans Associates (TA) assisted Capital University Law School (CULS) by providing a framework from which future development decisions could be viewed in terms of the impact made to parking.
SERVICES PERFORMED
Data Collection and Analysis – (TA) performed parking accumulation counts for all parking spaces on the CULS campus for both day and evening classes. At the time of the parking accumulation counts, the license plate numbers of the parkers in each parking space, during each hour, for the 14-hour data collection period were recorded. This data was analyzed to determine the parking durations and turnover.
ADA Parking Study – ADA parking was also evaluated for compliance to the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design.
Parking Demand Model – The university distributed a transportation survey of faculty, staff and students and the responses were analyzed by TA. The survey responses revealed some interest in transportation benefit programs such as bus passes and bike share. TA used the survey results to determine the parking demand factors that were incorporated into the parking demand model. This model can be used to predict future parking needs.
Penn State Abington (PSA) was experiencing enrollment growth and wanted to study the transportation system and identify improvements that would support a growing population of students accessing the campus. Trans Associates performed a high level and comprehensive examination of parking and transportation management strategies at the PSA campus.
Transportation Demand Management Plan recommendations included walkability enhancements, SEPTA service implementation, alternative modes of transportation, management of parking, telecommuting, and integrating a new app to manage transportation and facilitate user access to transportation.
Services Provided Include
PARKING STUDY – Analyzed existing parking facilities, parking occupancy rates, parking by parker category and projected future demand.
DATA COLLECTION – Field observations and data collection related to existing routes for shuttles and public transit on campus, signage, parking occupancy rates.
ANALYSIS – Summarized field data collection and local transit routes, created an online transportation survey that completed by faculty and students regarding tranportation and parking preferences, studied all modes of tranportation.
EXECUTIVE LEVEL PRESENTATIONS – The project included interim and final presentations which included an implementation plan for improvements.
RECOMMENDATIONS REPORT – This report summarized all findings and presented information in graphical and tabular fashion. Recommended actions were categorized and prioritized into short, medium, and long term action items.
In 2015, Trans Associates Engineering Consultants, Inc. (TA) was tasked by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) under an open end contract to complete a Systemwide Truck Parking Improvement Study. The purpose of the study was to identify measurable and implementable short term strategies to improve truck parking capacity along the PTC. Key amenities for potential parking sites were lighting, availability of restroom facilities, trash disposal services and ITS systems.
TA began with initial document research related to existing studies and facilities in other states, a review of applicable legislation, available funding and ITS options for notification of parking availability. A total of 38 locations were initially identified although more than half were quickly dismissed through identification of obvious constraints.
Data collection was performed for each remaining site and included field views and photographs, an evaluation of Right-of-Way plans, environmental documentation required by each site, mapping research, property ownership and zoning, historical construction costs and PASDA aerial mapping for topography. This process eliminated 4 additional sites from consideration. The remaining 14 sites were then rated and ranked independently via both point system (ranking need, cost and constructability), and by subjective poll of participating PTC staff. Six sites were selected for final consideration and the development of conceptual design plans and detailed concept level estimates.
The PTC ultimately selected the Lawn Service Plaza for development and Trans Associates was subsequently selected as prime consultant for the Auxiliary Truck Parking Lot Design.
OSU’s master plan presents a vision of growth, renovation and relocations on the medical campus that will occur over the next ten to twenty years. In order for the Medical Center to reach its envisioned goals and to successfully “compete” in the healthcare market, an efficient transportation system had to be planned to effectively accommodate patients and visitors; medical, research, and administrative staff; faculty and students; and, most importantly, emergency services. In addition, the Medical Center requirements were folded into the overall transportation system requirements of the OSU campus.
Trans Associates assisted with identifying a traffic and transportation system master plan to meet both near- and long-term requirements of the Medical Center and OSU in general. Services include transportation planning, feasibility studies for a new parking structure, traffic signal warrant studies and the design of three traffic signal installations with signal interconnect.
Capital Crossroads SID is is voluntarily funded by more than 500 property owners with the primary purpose of making Downtown Columbus the cleanest, safest, and most attractive commercial area in central Ohio.
Capital Crossroads promotes the downtown with initiatives such as Pearl Market which is set in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Downtown Columbus. The primary objective of Pearl Market is to develop a merchant mix that reflects the rich cultural diversity of central Ohio while encouraging customers to purchase fresh, locally-grown produce and other goods from vendors in the community.
When the market planned an expansion into Lynn Alley, Trans Associates was brought on to undertake the engineering aspects of the alley’s rehabilitation. Services included transportation design, utility coordination, maintenance and protection of traffic and parking design.
The Emergency Department (ED) at UPMC Shadyside was growing with daily patient volumes nearly doubling. Expansion plans directly impacted ED parking access, queuing and traffic congestion.
Trans Associates was retained by UPMC to assess the parking, circulation and access and to make the recommended improvements. The ED driveway was a shared access, accommodating both private and emergency vehicle access. This resulted in vehicular conflict between emergency vehicles and private vehicles. A major improvement was the driveway redesign. The redesign featured separate entrances that incorporated new pavement markings, landscaping and signage which served to alert drivers and separate the ambulances from the private vehicle arrivals. The driveway redesign also alleviated the queuing that occurred when a private vehicle left the driveway to access the parking garage from the public street out front.
A valet station was established at the private vehicle access point to allow for a direct valet-only connection from the ED driveway directly into the parking garage. UPMC is reporting 60% improvement on valet efficiencies as a result of this change. On-street queuing was further minimized by repositioning the parking garage entry gates further into the garage. The parking garage layout was also reconfigured to provide operational efficiencies and improved safety for both drivers and pedestrians.
Trans Associates was retained to conduct a parking and multi-modal transportation study for the Pittsburgh Penguins Arena District Redevelopment Project. The redevelopment area includes the CONSOL Energy Center and 28 additional acres adjacent to the City of Pittsburgh Central Business District,
The Traffic Impact Analysis evaluated current parking options, projected future demand of parking needs, and provided a parking management plan. as well as a traffic analysis including recommendations on traffic mitigation measures to meet the City of Pittsburgh requirements. A transportation management plan was developed to optimize traffic and pedestrian conditions during peak hours and event management plan for before and after events at the CONSOL Energy Center. Pedestrian and bicyclist movements and safety were also addressed.
Data Collection: Conducted vehicular, truck, bus, bicycle, and pedestrian counts and performed a field reconnaissance of all study intersections.
Parking Analysis: Evaluated current parking options, determined future parking demand, and provided a parking management plan for the entire redevelopment district.
Traffic Analysis: Calculated anticipated site generated traffic volumes, site traffic distributions, and future traffic volumes with and without the proposed development. Performed capacity and queuing analysis to determine appropriate mitigation measures to optimize typical weekday and weekend operations, as well as operations during events. Report findings included roadway and signal improvement recommendations along with preliminary construction cost estimates.
Block E Transportation Study
As the overall development progresses in stages, Trans Associates is involved with the transportation impacts of the specific developments taking place. Block E components include a 900+ space parking garage (that will provide parking to nearby parcels included in the Lower Hill Master Plan), a retail space, and an entertainment venue. Trans Associates worked with the City of Pittsburgh to determine loading operations for WB-67 trucks within the site. Traffic analysis determined the impact of the fully occupied parking garage would have on the study area during daily activity and during events at the entertainment venue.
Trans Associates provided transportation engineering services related to the development of the Pittsburgh Penguin’s arena in Pittsburgh, now PPG Paints Arena.
Our firm provided data collection and traffic analysis which included pedestrian counts for peak hours as well as specific times before and after events. A transportation management plan was developed which included specific plans for events and parking management.
Trans Associates was further retained to prepare design and construction plans for the reconstruction of two City of Pittsburgh streets in order to provide access to the Lot E loading dock for the arena. The project also included traffic signal design, and extensive utility coordination with Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
