Trip Generation Characteristics of Free-Standing Discount Superstores

Institute of Transportation Engineers. ITE Journal, Aug 2006 by Vivian, Georgiena M

SITE SELECTION

As defined in ITE's Trip Generation, 7th Edition, free-standing discount superstore locations chosen for study had dedicated parking, provided general merchandise and a grocery store and operated seven days a week. In addition, it was decided to include only stores with a size of 200,000 square feet or greater. Each location is described below, including the type of services (in addition to general merchandise) provided at that superstore location.

Garden Center/Grocery/Pharmacy/Photo Center/Portrait Studio/Tire and Lube

The GFA totals 210,945 with the garden center and tire and lube shop and currently is on the site with no other developments. Six driveways were counted for the analysis.

Garden Center/Gas Station/Grocery/ Pharmacy/Photo Center/Portrait Studio/ Tire and Lube

The superstore site totals 209,115 square feet with the garden center and tire and lube shop. The building has a driveway entrance from a gas station located at the southwest corner of the property. For analysis purposes, the traffic entering in and out of the driveway connecting the gas station and superstore parking lot was counted and, therefore, the gas station was excluded from the analysis. A total of four driveways were counted for analysis.

Garden Center/Gas Station/Grocery/ McDonald's/Pharmacy/Photo Center/ Portrait Studio/Tire and Lube

The building locals 204,000 square feet with the garden center and tire and lube shop and has an additional fourpump gas station at 225 square feet. For purposes of this study, the gas station's square footage was not included in the analysis. Six driveway entrances to the parking lot were counted for the analysis.

Garden Center/Grocery/McDonald's/ Pharmacy/Photo Center/Portrait Studio/Tire and Lube/Vision Center

The superstore site totals 209,000 square feet with the garden center and tire and lube shop. Four driveways were counted for analysis.

Garden Center/Gas Station/Grocery/ Pharmacy/Photo Center/Portrait Studio/Tire and Lube/Vision Center

The superstore totals 233,000 square feet with the garden center and tire and lube shop. Five driveways were counted, including a driveway entrance between the parking area for the superstore and another retail store with a separate driveway entrance.

TRIP GENERATION ANALYSIS

Trip generation was conducted by utilizing the average peak-hour (4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.) counts and the square footage of each free-standing discount superstore to determine the trips per 1,000 square feet during the p.m. peak hour. Furthermore, the average traffic turning in and out of the superstore driveways each was divided by total trafficto determine the p.m. peak hour in and out percentages.

The two days of traffic counts (July and October 2003) were summarized for each of the five locations. The average rate of the two weekday counts for p.m. peak hour traffic and the in and out percentages are calculated in Table 2. In addition, Table 3 utilizes the ITE fitted curve equation for the free-standing discount superstore.