Development of parking estimation on rest service area in Malaysia

Roadside rest area also known as rest service area (RSA) is one of the important facilities for expressway users. However, designing an efficient RSA is a challenge to most transport planners since it needs the information on potential and existing traffic volumes to estimate the parking demand and design of rest area facilities are also critical. Planning for these facilities is crucial in order to avoid over-design or under design which will affect the cost in the future for capacity issues. Therefore, this study is to determine the parking occupancy and develop parking estimation on RSA. The study was conducted on 10 sites of RSA along E1 and E2 expressway (Southern-Northern Expressway). The data collection for this study was conducted during the mid-week. Simple count observation and indirect method were used to determine the parking occupancy and traffic characteristics on RSA. The results show the peaking characteristics of space occupied, whereas the highest demand exhibited was during the midday period. The estimation model was found that traffic and site characteristics can be explained to estimate parking occupancy on RSA. The estimation result seems to be applicable.