Park-and-ride as a catalyst for efficient intermodal transportation
Unlocking the full value of tram investments
In regions with more dispersed urban structures, park-and-ride can play an important role in how people access public transportation. When implemented as part of broader intermodal and sustainable mobility policy packages, park-and-ride can help cities support changing travel behavior and make major tram investments deliver lasting value.
Cities across Europe are investing in high-capacity public transportation to manage growth, reduce congestion, and meet climate targets. At the same time, many residents live outside areas with strong public transportation access, where the car most likely remains a practical necessity.
This makes park-and-ride a critical but often underestimated link in intermodal transportation. Rather than competing with public transportation for access to city centers, the car becomes part of a longer, multimodal journey.
The role of park-and-ride varies significantly by context. In many urban settings, the majority of public transportation users access stops on foot, and long-term success often depends on coordinated land-use development around stations. In these cases, park-and-ride plays a supporting role rather than a defining one.
Why this matters now
Cities face a growing dilemma: how to reduce car traffic while maintaining accessibility for people living beyond the urban core.
At the same time, travel behavior is shifting. Expanded tram networks, higher parking costs, and increased climate awareness mean more people are willing to change how they travel – if reliable alternatives exist.
This reflects a broader shift away from car-dominated access toward integrated, intermodal transportation systems. The focus is no longer on how close drivers can get to their destination, but on how seamlessly different modes connect. If park-and-ride is treated as an afterthought, cities risk underestimating demand, misusing space, and locking in rigid solutions that are hard to adapt as conditions change.
What local data reveals about park-and-ride
AFRY explored these issues in connection with the planned tramway extension in the Tampere region in Finland. The work showed that park-and-ride is not a one-size-fits-all solution and must be based on local conditions and actual travel behavior.
Key insights included:
- Users see park-and-ride as increasingly important alongside an expanded tram network
- A notable share of users travel short distances to reach park-and-ride facilities, underlining the need to strengthen walking and cycling connections, including park-and-ride facilities for bicycles
- Many users are willing to change travel behavior as service levels and reliability of public transportation improve
- Different locations serve different functions and require tailored solutions
The findings reinforce that private vehicles still play a role in the mobility system – but increasingly as support for high-capacity public transport rather than as the primary mode.
By combining user insight, usage data, and international experience, the study moved planning away from assumptions toward more transparent, structured decision-making. One outcome was a systematic evaluation tool to help cities assess park-and-ride locations in a consistent, long-term perspective.
What this means for cities planning future transit
When integrated carefully into an intermodal transportation system, park-and-ride can support the transition from car-oriented areas toward public-transport-oriented development without hindering long-term land-use goals. Rather than being a driver in itself, park-and-ride functions best as a complementary measure that supports accessibility, provided it does not constrain urban development or future land-use potential. As cities expand tram and rail networks, how these trade-offs are managed will shape the accessibility, flexibility, and resilience of future transport systems.
Why AFRY
AFRY combines strategic transport and urban planning with strong analytical capability and insight into real-world travel behavior. By taking a systems perspective, we help cities turn public transport investments into lasting behavioral change and more sustainable mobility.
