GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS FOR THE PLANNING, DESIGN, AND OPERATION OF BUS PARK-AND-RIDE FACILITIES

A set of guidelines and standards for the planning, design, and operation of express bus park-and-ride facilities are presented. Their purpose is to ensure that facility development activities will fulfill local needs while supporting efficient bus transit operations. The guidelines and standards have been developed for and are being applied to a statewide park-and-ride facility development program being undertaken by the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ TRANSIT). The goal of NJ TRANSIT's park-and-ride program is to develop within each bus service corridor a network of properly sized parking facilities located to support efficient bus operations and convenient user access. Parking needs at comparatively low-demand boarding points are addressed through joint-use development, while higher-demand boarding points are served with exclusive use investments. Facility design standards ensure that park-and-ride facilities are safe, convenient, and easy to maintain. Exclusive-use facilities are designed to provide 15-20 years of low-maintenance service. NJ TRANSIT's park-and-ride program is a capital program and does not provide funds for facility operation. Operating costs are typically recouped through user fees. In cases where NJ TRANSIT does not operate a park-and-ride facility, operating oversight is maintained through a 15-to 20-year contract with the facility operator. This contract provides the user with a well-maintained facility at a reasonable cost.