South Puget Sound Interstate 5 - Park and rides
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Measures of park and rides along the I-5 corridor in the south Puget Sound region
Park and rides lot utilization
Park and ride lots provide locations for commuters to meet up with a carpool or vanpool, or catch a bus to work if transit does not come close to their home. WSDOT monitors the usage of park and ride lots owned or managed by public agencies, as well as private lots. See WSDOT's How to calculate park and ride utilization (PDF 5.9MB).
Park and ride lots serve a wide variety of commuters, including carpoolers, vanpoolers, transit riders, commuter rail passengers, bicyclists and pedestrians. Park and ride locations are essential for transit riders and carpoolers, and must have high utilization rates to be considered successful. Targeted outreach efforts from transit agencies as well as employer Commute Trip Reduction initiatives help address highway capacity needs in the south Puget Sound region.
Sources: WSDOT Transportation Safety and Systems Analysis Division and WSDOT TRACFLOW (https://tracflow.wsdot.wa.gov/)
Multi-year trends
In 2022, park and ride lot usage continued to increase compared to 2021 due to the ongoing recovery of traffic volume in the wake of COVID-19, but it was still significantly lower than the pre-pandemic level.
In 2020, due to the statewide response to COVID-19, there was a significant decrease in park and ride use compared to previous years.
Park and ride lot usage increased from 2018 to 2019.
Annual highlights
In 2022, 7% to 43% of available spaces at park and ride lots along the I-5 corridor in the South Puget Sound region were used. Except for the Hawks Prairie and Martin Way lot, park and ride lot usage increased compared to 2021. These park and ride lots all had use rates under 85%, which is considered operating at capacity.
In 2021, 11% to 38% of available spaces at park and ride lots along the I-5 corridor in the South Puget Sound region were filled. These park and ride lots all had use rates under 85%, which is considered operating at capacity.
In 2020, between 11% to 41% of available spaces at park and ride along the I-5 corridor in the South Puget Sound region were filled. These park and ride lots all had use rates under 85%, which is considered operating at capacity.
In 2019, between 25% to 100% of available spaces at park and ride along the I-5 corridor in the South Puget Sound region were filled. Three of the six of these park and ride lots had utilization rates at or above 85%, which is considered as operating at capacity.
In 2018, between 25% to 90% of available spaces at park and ride along the I-5 corridor in the South Puget Sound region were filled. Two of the six of these Ppark and ride lots had utilization rates at or above 85%, which is considered as operating at capacity.