Vancouver region Interstate 5 - Park and rides
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Measures of park and rides usage along the I-5 corridor in the Vancouver area
Park and ride lot utilization
Park and ride lots provide locations for commuters to meet carpools and vanpools, and catch buses if transit services are not available near their residences. WSDOT monitors the usage of park and rides lots owned or managed by public agencies, as well as private lots. See WSDOT's Handbook for Corridor Capacity Evaluation (PDF 5.9MB).
Park and ride lots serve a wide variety of commuters, including carpoolers, vanpoolers, transit riders, 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 Vancouver region.
Source: WSDOT Public Transportation Division.
Note: The Fisher's Landing lot expanded from 563 to 761 spaces in 2017.
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. In 2020 park and ride lots decreased to 5%-41% in usage.
Between 2018 and 2019, the Evergreen Transit Center (the least used lot) saw its usage go from 16% to 15%, and the Andresen lot increased slightly from 97% usage to 98% over the same period. Park and ride lot usage in the Vancouver region varies substantially between lots, but each lot held relatively steady over time prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. A lot with 85% usage is considered to be operating at capacity.
Annual highlights
In 2022, park and ride lot usage increased compared to 2021, but it was still lower than the pre-pandemic level. Park and ride usage was between 9% and 44% in the Vancouver area. Along the I-5 corridor, the 99th Street Transit Center average usage rate was up 2% from 8% in 2021 to 10% in 2022.
In 2021, park and ride lot usage increased compared to 2020, but it was still lower than the pre-pandemic level. Park and ride usage was between 6% and 43% at locations in Vancouver. Along the I-5 corridor, the 99th Street Transit Center had an average usage rate of 5% in 2020 and increased to 8% in 2021.
In 2020, due to the statewide response to COVID-19, there was a significant decrease in park and ride use compared to previous years. In 2020, park and ride usage was between 5% and 41% at locations in Vancouver. Along the I-5 corridor, the 99th Street Transit Center had an average use rate of 55% in 2019 and dropped to 5% in 2020.
The City of Vancouver and C-TRAN Board of Directors have allowed C-TRAN's Evergreen Transit Center to be used as a temporary Safe Parking Zone from June 2020. This program allows individuals who are living in their vehicles to have a safe and organized place to stay.
In 2019, between 15% and 98% of available spaces at park and ride locations in the Vancouver region were occupied. The Andresen Park and Ride had the highest average utilization rate (98%).
Park and ride locations are essential parts of the transit service network and need to consistently have enough available spaces for transit riders and carpoolers. To be considered effective, park and ride lots must also have high utilization rates. Any park and ride lot that has 85% or more utilization is identified as operating at capacity.
Targeted outreach efforts from transit agencies as well as employer Commute Trip Reduction initiatives help address regional highway capacity issues.
In 2018, between 16% and 97% of available spaces at park and ride locations in the Vancouver region were occupied. Along the I-5 corridor, the 99th Street Transit Center average utilization rate was 56%.
Park and ride locations are essential parts of the transit service network and need to consistently have enough available spaces for transit riders and carpoolers. To be considered effective, park and ride lots must also have high utilization rates. Any park and ride lot that has 85% or more utilization is identified as operating at capacity.
Targeted outreach efforts from transit agencies as well as employer Commute Trip Reduction initiatives help address regional highway capacity issues.