What Is a Parking Assessment?

A parking assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of a parking facility’s adequacy, functionality, and regulatory compliance. Typically conducted by civil engineers or planning professionals, these assessments examine:

• Capacity and demand
• Design and layout
• Safety and accessibility
• Signage and wayfinding
• Operations and maintenance

These factors contribute to a facility’s efficiency, usability, and long-term viability.

Key Components of a Parking Assessment

Capacity and Demand Analysis

This step compares available parking spaces to current or projected usage. It determines whether a facility is overcrowded, underutilized, or adequately serving its purpose.

Design and Layout

The spatial design of a parking lot influences traffic flow, safety, and user convenience. Assessments examine parking angles, stall dimensions, drive aisle widths, drainage, and the placement of entrances and exits.

Safety and Accessibility

Safety includes adequate lighting, visibility, pedestrian pathways, and emergency access. Accessibility involves ensuring compliance with ADA requirements, such as designated accessible spaces and proper signage.

Signage and Wayfinding

Clear signage helps users navigate the facility easily. Good wayfinding improves user satisfaction, prevents congestion, and increases the facility’s efficiency.

Maintenance and Operations

The condition of pavement, striping, signage, and lighting all affect how well a facility performs. Assessments identify deferred maintenance issues and recommend operational improvements.

Why Parking Assessments Are Important

Ensure Regulatory Compliance

One of the primary goals of a parking assessment is ensuring the facility meets all local, state, and federal regulations, especially ADA compliance. This reduces liability and promotes inclusivity.

Improve the User Experience

A well-planned facility enhances convenience and safety for drivers and pedestrians. When parking is accessible and stress-free, it encourages return visits, boosts foot traffic, and benefits surrounding businesses.

Optimize Land Use

In urban environments, land is limited. A good assessment helps ensure that space is used efficiently without overbuilding, freeing up room for landscaping, walkways, or other development.

Support Environmental Goals

Assessments may include an evaluation of stormwater management, lighting efficiency, and opportunities for green infrastructure. Sustainable practices can reduce runoff and lower maintenance costs.

How Parking Assessments Are Conducted

Step 1: Define the Objectives

Every assessment begins by identifying project goals. This might involve increasing or decreasing capacity, addressing compliance gaps, reducing maintenance, or improving layout for traffic efficiency.

Step 2: Collect Data

Data is gathered through on-site evaluations, usage counts, aerial imagery, and design documents. Information includes the number of spaces, occupancy rates, circulation patterns, and existing conditions.

Step 3: Analyze the Findings

Engineers evaluate how well the facility functions and where issues exist. This includes identifying ADA compliance gaps, safety hazards, or inefficient layouts.

Step 4: Recommend Solutions

Based on findings, the team provides practical, code-compliant solutions—such as restriping, reconfiguring traffic flow, adding signage, or increasing/decreasing capacity.

Step 5: Implement Improvements

The final phase is executing the changes, whether it’s through construction, restriping, signage upgrades, or accessibility enhancements.

ADA Compliance in Parking Assessments

Ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act is a cornerstone of parking assessments. ADA standards outline specific requirements for accessible parking spaces, signage, and proximity to building entrances.

Key ADA Requirements:

• Accessible Spaces: Facilities must include a minimum number of accessible spaces, with at least one van-accessible spot.
• Signage: Accessible spaces must be marked with proper signs that include the International Symbol of Accessibility.
• Access Aisles: Spaces must have adjacent access aisles (at least 60 inches wide) for safe wheelchair entry and exit.
• Proximity to Entrances: Accessible parking should be located as close as possible to accessible building entrances or pedestrian pathways.

Maintaining Ongoing Compliance

Parking facilities should be reassessed regularly. Over time, striping can fade, signage can be damaged, and regulations may change. Ongoing assessments help keep the facility in alignment with current standards.

What Is a Parking Assessment?

A parking assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of a parking facility’s adequacy, functionality, and regulatory compliance. Typically conducted by civil engineers or planning professionals, these assessments examine:

• Capacity and demand
• Design and layout
• Safety and accessibility
• Signage and wayfinding
• Operations and maintenance

These factors contribute to a facility’s efficiency, usability, and long-term viability.

Key Components of a Parking Assessment

Capacity and Demand Analysis

This step compares available parking spaces to current or projected usage. It determines whether a facility is overcrowded, underutilized, or adequately serving its purpose.

Design and Layout

The spatial design of a parking lot influences traffic flow, safety, and user convenience. Assessments examine parking angles, stall dimensions, drive aisle widths, drainage, and the placement of entrances and exits.

Safety and Accessibility

Safety includes adequate lighting, visibility, pedestrian pathways, and emergency access. Accessibility involves ensuring compliance with ADA requirements, such as designated accessible spaces and proper signage.

Signage and Wayfinding

Clear signage helps users navigate the facility easily. Good wayfinding improves user satisfaction, prevents congestion, and increases the facility’s efficiency.

Maintenance and Operations

The condition of pavement, striping, signage, and lighting all affect how well a facility performs. Assessments identify deferred maintenance issues and recommend operational improvements.

Why Parking Assessments Are Important

Ensure Regulatory Compliance

One of the primary goals of a parking assessment is ensuring the facility meets all local, state, and federal regulations, especially ADA compliance. This reduces liability and promotes inclusivity.

Improve the User Experience

A well-planned facility enhances convenience and safety for drivers and pedestrians. When parking is accessible and stress-free, it encourages return visits, boosts foot traffic, and benefits surrounding businesses.

Optimize Land Use

In urban environments, land is limited. A good assessment helps ensure that space is used efficiently without overbuilding, freeing up room for landscaping, walkways, or other development.

Support Environmental Goals

Assessments may include an evaluation of stormwater management, lighting efficiency, and opportunities for green infrastructure. Sustainable practices can reduce runoff and lower maintenance costs.

How Parking Assessments Are Conducted

Step 1: Define the Objectives

Every assessment begins by identifying project goals. This might involve increasing or decreasing capacity, addressing compliance gaps, reducing maintenance, or improving layout for traffic efficiency.

Step 2: Collect Data

Data is gathered through on-site evaluations, usage counts, aerial imagery, and design documents. Information includes the number of spaces, occupancy rates, circulation patterns, and existing conditions.

Step 3: Analyze the Findings

Engineers evaluate how well the facility functions and where issues exist. This includes identifying ADA compliance gaps, safety hazards, or inefficient layouts.

Step 4: Recommend Solutions

Based on findings, the team provides practical, code-compliant solutions—such as restriping, reconfiguring traffic flow, adding signage, or increasing/decreasing capacity.

Step 5: Implement Improvements

The final phase is executing the changes, whether it’s through construction, restriping, signage upgrades, or accessibility enhancements.

ADA Compliance in Parking Assessments

Ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act is a cornerstone of parking assessments. ADA standards outline specific requirements for accessible parking spaces, signage, and proximity to building entrances.

Key ADA Requirements:

• Accessible Spaces: Facilities must include a minimum number of accessible spaces, with at least one van-accessible spot.
• Signage: Accessible spaces must be marked with proper signs that include the International Symbol of Accessibility.
• Access Aisles: Spaces must have adjacent access aisles (at least 60 inches wide) for safe wheelchair entry and exit.
• Proximity to Entrances: Accessible parking should be located as close as possible to accessible building entrances or pedestrian pathways.

Maintaining Ongoing Compliance

Parking facilities should be reassessed regularly. Over time, striping can fade, signage can be damaged, and regulations may change. Ongoing assessments help keep the facility in alignment with current standards.

Where We Make An Impact

Parking assessments help ensure that facilities are efficient, compliant, and user-friendly. From improving accessibility to optimizing space and ensuring safety, these evaluations serve as a foundation for effective planning and design. Whether you’re a city planner, developer, or facility manager, a well-executed parking assessment can help you deliver better outcomes for users and the community. McClure’s civil engineering experts are here to support your project from assessment through implementation. Contact us today to get started.