When developers begin a new project, a parking lot is oftentimes an essential component. This is where the FOCUS Engineering & Surveying Transportation team steps in, providing expert parking studies to guide the design process. This process must align with city regulations and the needs of the client, future occupants, and all stakeholders involved. We spoke with Jason Watson, head of the Transportation Department Manager, to gain insight into how parking studies are conducted and their impact on development projects.

Jason explains that parking studies are an essential part of project planning. Developers often reach out for guidance on how to meet parking requirements. City codes determine these based on the number of units or the square footage of a building. Whether a project includes townhomes, apartments, condos, commercial spaces, retail shops, or office buildings, parking must be properly planned to ensure compliance and efficiency.

Parking Study Solutions

FOCUS prioritizes efficiency and client satisfaction by implementing strategic solutions that maximize available space. One common approach is shared parking, which allows different land uses within a development to optimize parking availability based on varying peak demand times.

Jason explains that time-of-day plays a significant role in determining parking needs. For example, in a mixed-use development with both office space and apartments, parking demand fluctuates throughout the day. During business hours, office buildings require more parking, while most apartment residents are away at work. In the evening, the situation reverses as apartments need more parking, while the offices require little to none. By analyzing these patterns, our team can reduce the overall number of required parking spaces, leading to significant cost savings.

“If you calculate the parking needs for apartments and offices separately, you might conclude that 150 parking spaces are necessary,” Jason says. “However, when you factor in shared usage at different times of the day, you might only need 110. That reduction of 40 parking spaces frees up valuable space for other uses and improves the overall development layout.” A well-executed parking study not only meets the project’s parking demands but also fits within the footprint of available space within each project.

The In-House Advantage

While FOCUS collaborates seamlessly with other firms, utilizing its various in-house services provides a distinct advantage for clients. One of the biggest challenges in parking studies is integrating them too late in the design process. Jason highlights that if a parking study is conducted after a project design is already complete, changes may be required. This will lead to additional costs and time delays. Through working with FOCUS, the survey, land planning, parking study, engineering design, and a variety of other services can be completed under one roof. This saves our clients time and money, further simplifying projects processes for greater efficiency overall.

“As a developer, if you’ve already completed a project design and had your engineer finalize it, but a parking study later suggests a different approach, you’ll have to redo the design and that can be costly,” he explains. “However, if we collaborate early on, while the design is still in progress, we can determine the right number of parking stalls upfront. This helps avoid costly design revisions.” Jason emphasizes the importance of understanding available resources. City codes, the Institute of Transportation Engineers manual, and shared parking strategies can significantly impact parking planning. “Getting involved early in the design process is crucial—it helps determine parking needs upfront and prevents the need for multiple redesigns,” he advises.

By ensuring thoughtful consultation, attention to detail, and strategic planning, the FOCUS transportation team delivers effective parking studies that drive efficiency and improve project outcomes.

To partner with FOCUS Engineering & Surveying, contact our team at info@focus-es.com or (801) 352-0075.