UW Commuter Services : Commuter Programs : U-PASS Program

U-PASS Reports

Stadium Expansion Parking Plan & Transportation Management Program

1999 Data Collection Summary

University of Washington Transportation Office

Contents

Introduction

The Seattle City Council Resolution 27435 relating to the University of Washington Stadium Expansion Parking Plan and Transportation Management Program (TMP) requires the University and City of Seattle to collect data during each football season. The 1986 data collection effort is used as a baseline for comparing impacts after the stadium was expanded in 1987.

Key Findings

After fourteen years of operation, the Husky Stadium Expansion Parking Plan and Transportation Management Program continues to fulfill its primary goal of "accommodating a sellout crowd of 72,200 with less reliance on parking in the residential areas near campus." Key findings of this report are presented below:

The average attendance in 1999 was 71,790. The average attendance in 1986 was 59,432.
The average vehicle occupancy rate for vehicles parking on campus decreased slightly from the 1986 base year to 2.4 persons per auto. On average, 28,368 people or 39.5 percent of the game attendance in 1999 arrived by automobile. In 1986 the average number of people arriving by automobile and parking on campus or at Safeco was 27,424 people or 46 percent.
Average occupancy for boats has increased to 12.7 people per boat. On average, approximately 3,730 people or 5.2 percent of the total game attendance in 1999 arrived by boat for each game. In 1986 the average number of people arriving by boat was 2,817 people or 4.7 percent.
Transit ridership increased in 1999, with an average of 14,802 people arriving by transit. Overall, 20 percent of game attendance rode transit in 1999 as compared to 5,650 people or 9.5 percent in 1986.
During the 1999 season, an average of 48,254 people or 67 percent of the average game attendance parked on campus, came by boat, arrived by transit, or arrived by charter bus. The remaining 23,537 people, or 33 percent, were either dropped-off, walked, rode a bicycle, drove a motorcycle/moped, or drove and parked in the U-District or outlying neighborhoods. In 1986, an average of 66 percent the people in game attendance parked on campus, came by boat, by transit, or by charter bus.
An aerial photograph indicates that there has not been any measurable increase in neighborhood parking impacts. In addition, neighborhood parking for football games has not extended beyond the boundaries set in the City Council resolution.
The Seattle Transportation Department survey of the number of parking violations in the Special Event Restricted Parking Zone identified 209 violations in 1999 as compared to 91 violations reported in 1986. In 1998 there were 150 violations reported.

Occupancy Counts

Vehicle occupancy data is collected each game for all trips to the game via bus, boat, and charter bus. Vehicle occupancy data for trips to the game via cars and motor homes are estimated. A sample count of occupancy data is collected once per season in the Average Car Occupancy Survey, and applied to vehicle counts for the remaining games. Appendix A provides details on individual games during 1999.

Average Car Occupancy Survey
The survey was conducted on October 16, 1999, prior to the game against Arizona State. The counts were conducted from 11:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. (4:00 P.M. kick-off). Surveyors sampled the number of people in each car and motor home entering a sample of University parking facilities. The average vehicle occupancy rates determined by the survey were then applied to the actual number of vehicles parked at each game. This results in an estimate of the total number of people who arrived by auto and parked on campus for each game. Appendix C includes remarks regarding the methodology used in 1999 to determine this information by sampling.

Boat Occupancy
The Intercollegiate Athletics Department (ICA) took over operations of the boat docks from Parking Services at the beginning of the 1990 season. ICA counts the number of boats at each game and provides an estimate of the number of passengers based on boat size. Specific counts were taken for those arriving by 1) charter boat; 2) boats moored at University piers and buoys near the Waterfront Activities Center; 3) and boats anchored off-shore or parked at the crewhouse.

Charter Bus Occupancy
Charter buses were surveyed at each game by Parking Services. A parking attendant recorded the number of buses and passengers as they paid their parking fee.

Transit
The number of transit riders were counted at each game for all eight park and ride lot locations. In addition, transit riders were counted for all Husky Special trips each game. Regular transit ridership to the game was estimated by Metro and University staff based on field observations.

Average Occupancy Rates
Table 1 shows the 1986 and 1999 season average occupancy rates for on-campus vehicles, boats, transit, and charter buses.

The average vehicle occupancy rate in 1999 for cars parked on campus was 2.4 persons per vehicle. This is slightly less than the 1986 season AVO rate of 2.6 persons per vehicle for cars parked on campus or at Safeco.
The average occupancy rate for boats was 12.7 persons per boat. This is higher than the 1986 rate of 12.5 persons per boat.
The average occupancy rate for buses was 59.7 people per bus. This is less than the 1986 rate of 68.9. The lower rate is the result of Metro providing more service in 1999, providing better service to the customer.
Charter buses had an average occupancy rate of 33.1 people per bus. This is less than the 1986 season rate of 37.1 people per bus.

Mode Split

Table 2 provides information on the average mode split for 1984 (pre-stadium expansion), 1986, 1997, 1998 and 1999 seasons. Mode split data provides a better indication of mode usage than average vehicle occupancy because the game attendance plays a major role in the total number of people parking on campus. The average attendance for the 1999 season was 71,790 people per game.

In 1984 (before the stadium expansion), no elements of the Husky Stadium TMP were in effect. During the 1986 season, before the stadium expansion, some elements of the TMP were implemented. These included free park and ride service from the Northgate and South Kirkland park and ride lots and off-campus parking at the Safeco parking facilities with a free shuttle bus to the stadium.

Key comparisons of the 1986 and 1999 seasons are as follows. The figures listed represent the averages per game for the given season.

In 1999, 28,368 or 39.5 percent of the game attendance drove a car and parked on campus, compared to 26,195 people or 44 percent in 1986.
In 1999, 14,802 people or 20.6 percent of the game attendance arrived by transit, compared to 5,650 people or 9.5 percent in 1986.
In 1999, 3,730 people or 5.2 percent of the game attendance arrived by boat , compared to 2,817 or 4.7 percent in 1986.
In 1999, 1,390 people or 1.9 percent of the game attendance arrived by charter bus, compared to 3,083 people or 5.2 percent in 1986.
In 1999, the total other modes accounted for 23,587 or 32.8 percent of the game attendance as compared to 20,458 or 34 percent in 1986. The other mode includes those who were dropped off, walked, bicycled, chose a motorcycle or moped, or parked in U-District or outlying neighborhoods.

Neighborhood Parking Impacts

Figure 1 shows the neighborhood parking impact areas. The University arranges for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to take an aerial photograph at one football game each season. During the 1999 season, the aerial photograph was taken at approximately 2:00 p.m. on September 25, 1999 during the Colorado game. Total attendance for this game was 72,068. To determine the neighborhood impacts, the 1986 aerial was compared to a 1982 pre-TMP, and the 1999 aerial. Five individual areas were analyzed.

Ravenna
During the 1999 season, aerial photographs indicated that there were no increases in parking impacts compared to the 1982 season in the Ravenna area. It appears that the same amount of cars were parking in the Ravenna neighborhood in 1999 as in 1997.

University Village
Aerial photographs taken in 1999 compared with the 1982 and 1997 seasons indicate significantly more cars parking in the University Village area. This is likely due tot he new redevelopment of University Village.

Laurelhurst
Comparisons of the aerial photographs from 1982, 1997 and 1999 indicate that slightly more cars were parked on Union Bay Place in 1999. However, parking on the adjacent NE 41st Street appears to be the same as in 1997 but more than in 1982.

Montlake
The comparison of the 1982 aerial with the 1999 aerial indicate a significant decrease in parking in the neighborhood. This decrease is a result of the implementation of a Special Events Restricted Parking Zone (SERPZ). The 1999 aerial compares to the 1997 aerial, showing very similar parking conditions.

I-5 West
Comparison of aerial photographs from 1982, 1997 and 1999 indicate that there were no measurable increases in neighborhood parking impacts.

Conclusion on Parking Impacts
All available evidence indicates that there has not been any measurable increase in neighborhood parking impacts since the stadium was expanded. Neighborhood parking for Husky football games has not extended beyond the boundaries set in the City Council resolution (the overall boundary of the neighborhood impact area is defined in City Council Resolution 27435).

In conclusion, the main goal of the Plan, which is to "accommodate a sell out crowd of 72,200 with less reliance on parking in the residential areas near campus" has been maintained for the 1999 season.

Special Events Restricted Parking Zone

Information used to determine the violations associated with the Special Events Restricted Parking Zone in the Montlake Community is provided by Seattle Transportation (SEATRAN). SEATRAN staff conducted a survey of illegally parked vehicles in the restricted zone from approximately 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on September 25, 1999 (Colorado game). Attendance for this game was 72,068 people. The numbers of violations from the 1986 season through 1999 are presented in Figure 2. During the 1993 season, SEATRAN was unable to conduct the survey.

The number of violations in 1999 increased from the 1998 season.

APPENDIX A - HUSKY FOOTBALL OCCUPANCY DATA BY GAME
APPENDIX B - MODE SPLIT INFORMATION BY SEASON
APPENDIX C - AVO SURVEY SAMPLE REMARKS