GRT at Retail Centers
Retail centers in general and ‘megamalls’ (combining retail, entertainment, recreation and lodging) in particular, feature massive parking facilities to accommodate the huge passenger flows. Still, at times, they seem to run out of spaces. During peak hours most spaces are occupied and vehicles continously roam the lot to find an open space, preferably close to the facilities to ensure short walking distances. The ParkShuttle GRT system can be implemented to connect more remotely located spaces or additional parking facilities to the retail center entrances.
A ParkShuttle loop on the parking lot, comparable to the Schiphol application and the experiences there, will make remote spaces more attractive to use – thus reducing the number of vehicles roaming the lot. The loops should be relatively short to ensure minimum travelling times. The vehicles will stop at all stations where a transport request has been generated or that has been indicated as a destination.
Alternatively, or rather additionaly, the ParkShuttle can also connect to nearby parking lots of other facilities. Typically peak times of retail centers will not coincide with peak demand at e.g. business- or industrial parks. Multiple usage of parking ensures less land is required, optimizing space and (land-)value. An efficient link, such as the ParkShuttle can provide, is required to effectively facilitate multiple usage.
In the Dutch research program ‘People Movers on the Road’ a connection between a remote parking facility, the train station and the shopping district in the city center of Almere is studied (as an example case for similar cities in the Netherlands and Europe). The remote parking lot will be used for people travelling to the retail center, but also for people travelling to work or the various entertainment facilities. The multiple purpose usage of the facility will ensure it is used throughout the day and week.