Quantifying the potential savings in travel time resulting from parking guidance systems - a simulation case study

Parking Guidance and Information (PGI) signs are thought to enable a more e fficient use of the available parking stock. Despite the installation of PG I systems in many cities and their operation for a number of years, there i s a lack of reliable evidence of the size of the benefits that these system s can achieve. This paper describes the development of driver parking choic e models (both during the journey and pre-trip) and the implementation of t hese models in the existing network traffic simulation model RGCONTRAM. Bes ides quantifying the effects of the PGI system on both the drivers seeking suitable parking spaces and the parking stock itself, this also enables qua ntification of the impact of parking choice on the wider network. Factors i nfluencing PGI effectiveness are described and conclusions are drawn that i llustrate the potential of PGI to induce the demand to spread more efficien tly across the parking stock.