What Happened?
Cities nationwide are investing in new data-driven parking technology aimed at making available spaces more efficiently filled to improve the quality of life for residents and businesses. The technologies track parking space availability and make that data available to drivers via websites and mobile apps to quickly fill them.
The Goal
Several companies are partnering with municipal leaders to install sensors around individual parking spaces to keep track of availability and then view the reports in real time. This can help gauge usage based on time and day of the week. Based on the results, parking lots can have different rates at different times based on demand to create a stronger source of revenue. If there is a strong spike in demand and usage, the parking rates can be altered instantly online.
On the driver’s side, mobile apps are providing parkers with rate and availability information on-the-go. Just as ride-sharing companies are making payment easier for passengers seeking cabs, parking technology is hoping to simplify the transaction process with mobile accessibility. The technology also allows drivers to pinpoint the nearest parking lot based on their GPS location, and even pay for a spot from their smartphone or tablet instantly.
What It Means For The City
Looking at the bigger picture, creating sensors and mobile apps to make parking more efficient will also lend a hand in improving urban development projects. Parking data provides insight into residential (or customer) activity throughout localities.
When businesses research new locations to open up offices and storefronts, parking information will be one of many metrics analyzed. How much parking is available may matter to a business with employees coming from near and far, while parking demand could indicate foot traffic in a commercial district.
Furthermore, when a city is redeveloping certain sections parking data can be helpful when determining zoning regulations and other processes.
Funding Options?
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority recently proposed a funding project to support new transportation projects. The state would tax parking lots and garages through a carbon impact parking assessment. All parking lots and garages with more than 20 parking spaces in the district would have a tax placed on the users to support improvements as well as addition to the transit systems such as new bicycle and pedestrian pathways.
Districts will be broken down by how dependent residents are on public transportation to determine tax rates on parking and garage lots. Those residents may face higher tax additions, but the money will be reinvested into more public transportation options and improvements in their immediate neighborhoods and districts.
Other cities such as Chicago have enacted similar taxes on parking and garage lots to fund new investments. Chicago’s Divvy bike sharing program required the city to implement bike lands throughout. Implementing a $2 daily congestion fee helped the city generate the money to create the bike lanes and support the very popular bike-sharing program.
Massachusetts has chosen to discuss this tax increase proposal as part of an environmental effort to increase efficiency and use of public transit options to reduce carbon emissions and congestion from personal vehicles.
Parking Innovations
Gov1 has kept a close eye on new parking projects that include leasing curb space or privatizing with external partners.