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California C-32 Parking and Highway Improvement Exam

Planning & Estimating

Planning a parking or paving job means reading the site plan, laying out stalls and drive aisles, and estimating materials.

Layout

Typical stall ~9 × 18 ft · 90° layout fits the most cars and allows two-way aisles · a 24-ft two-way drive aisle is common for 90° parking · wheel stops go at the head of a stall to stop a vehicle’s forward travel.

Stalls are laid out from measurements and control points on the site plan, and the lot is graded with a slight slope so water drains to inlets and doesn’t pond. Accessible-space counts come from the ADA table (see the ADA parking topic) and must be planned in from the start.

Estimating

Estimate striping by the total linear feet of stripe, and asphalt from area × thickness × the mix’s unit weight. Job-site conditions — existing surface, drainage, and access — all change the number.

Practice: Planning & Estimating

Frequently asked

What is a typical parking stall size, and which layout fits the most cars?
A standard stall is about 9 ft wide by 18 ft long (compact and accessible stalls differ, and local codes vary). A 90° (perpendicular) layout fits the most stalls per area and allows two-way drive aisles; angled stalls ease entry but need one-way aisles.
How is striping paint estimated?
By totaling the linear feet of stripe to be painted. Asphalt is estimated from area, thickness, and the unit weight of the mix.

More C-32 Parking & Highway topics