Parking Preferences Among Tourists in Newport, Rhode Island

Authors

Christopher M. Anderson
Chhandita Das
Timothy J. Tyrrell

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2006

Subject Area

operations - capacity, policy - parking

Keywords

Tourists, Tourist trade, Tourism, Parking capacity, Parking, Newport (Rhode Island)

Abstract

Like many tourist destinations, Newport, Rhode Island relies upon high season tourist volumes for its economic health. Most visitors arrive by car, concentrated during certain hours on summer weekends, severely congesting the town’s major arteries and forcing many visitors to spend considerable time in their car. A transportation planning strategy which reduced congestion would enhance the quality of the visiting experience, increase the time visitors are able to spend in shops and at attractions, and draw additional visitors. However, identifying effective solutions requires understanding factors that affect tourists’ transit choices. We develop a conceptual model of Newport visitors’ parking and transit choices, expanding traditional transit choice models to include features such as scenery we expect to influence tourists. Using a stated preference survey of visitors, we find scenery, transit mode options and congestion are the major drivers of tourists’ parking choices. We also develop welfare estimates to enable analysis of proposed transportation plans.

Comments

Transportation Research Part A Home Page: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09658564

Recommended Citation

Anderson, Christopher, Das, Chhandita, Tyrrell, Timothy, (2006). Parking Preferences Among Tourists in Newport, Rhode Island. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Volume 40, Issue 4, pp 334-353.