A Six-Step Guide for Parking Lot Design

Not all parking lots are the same. Vehicles, traffic, and turnover all play key roles in impacting parking lot designs. While an excavating company in Traverse City can help to prepare the location and land, it's important to have a great design in place beforehand. With a helpful six-step guide for larking lot design, you should be able to get started constructing plans that make sense and work for your specific needs and plans.

1. Purpose

What's the purpose of your parking lot? Every parking lot's design is influenced by the purpose it fulfills. Retail parking, employee parking, hotel parking, and parking for shipments all have different needs and requirements. The number of spaces will be affected as well. University parking lots tend to demand more spaces than a restaurant. Additionally, short-term parking with a quick turnover has to be easier to park in and maneuver. A 45 to 60-degree angle is ideal for areas that have frequent traffic and a high turnover rate. However, 90-degree spaces are more difficult to park in, so they tend to be reserved for overnight locations.

Even the asphalt is a factor here. If you're expecting work trucks, delivers, and shipments, your parking lot will need to have thicker asphalt. Light cars and other vehicles without heavy loads don't require the same thickness. The frequency of traffic and the sort of vehicles are two of the most important factors to consider.

2. Sizing and Spacing

Parking lot dimensions and standards tend to vary from one city to the next, as well as the sort of industry or type of building. It's essential that you identify any applicable codes or requirements before beginning. You'll also need to know how many parking spaces are required. This will allow you to determine if you have space leftover for non-essential amenities, such as two-way gates. Never compromise on the number of slots or dimensions. Accessibility requirements should be factored into your plans as well.

3. Layout and Flow

Layout and flow go hand-in-hand. For efficient usage of space, 90-degree angle parking slots allow for the greatest number of vehicles in a given area. However, this isn't ideal for parking lots with a lot of traffic and high turnover rates. People may become frustrated, and accidents may occur if people have too much trouble parking and maneuvering around the parking lot. This is where determining one-way or two-way lanes come into play, as well as signs and markings. Drivers should never have any difficulty knowing where they can drive and park.

4. Security and Safety

Signs and safety obviously go together, but lighting and ramps are also essential. Changes in elevation have to be taken into consideration. Drainage is also a major concern. High water presents an obvious hazard to drivers. Water needs to drain quickly to keep the parking lot clear of puddles. Lighting also aids with security. Security guards, employees, and anyone else walking to a vehicle late at night or early in the morning should have as much visibility as possible.

5. Design Elements

Other design elements can be helpful. Landscaping is great for beautification. Barrier gates provide a high-security feature, which may or may not be appropriate for your parking lot. Emergency call stations are required at certain locations, such as university campuses.

6. Maintenance

Long-term maintenance is essential. Filling in cracks and seal coating help to prolong the life of your asphalt. Of course, asphalt maintenance and building for longevity both begin with land preparation in Traverse City. Contact Martin Land Improvement at 231-645-3400 if you have any questions.