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As parking professionals, we are very comfortable with providing parking as a service. People visit our parking location because it is close to where they want to go. The actual experience of parking is not the event that they are looking forward to, it is part of a process to get to that event. So, what happens when parking IS the main event? It means that professionals that are used to providing efficient and effective service now need to consider another aspect – hospitality.

Parking is attracting more legislative attention today than at any point in recent memory. Bills related to parking fees, enforcement practices, towing, parking requirements, and local authority are appearing with greater frequency across state legislatures. This trend is not coincidental. It is rooted in a fundamental shift in how local governments fund themselves.

The Accredited Parking Organization program recognizes parking, transportation, and mobility organizations that have achieved a comprehensive standard of excellence. It focuses on best practices in responsible parking management and operations, access management, customer service, professional development, security, sustainability, and more. The APO with Distinction designation is reserved for organizations that exceed the standard of excellence.

The last thing you want on travel day is unnecessary stress. Yet, for many, the journey begins with a frustrating, time-consuming search for an available parking space at the airport. By reserving your parking in advance, you eliminate this stress entirely and gain a significant advantage before you even check your bag. The primary benefit is guaranteed space. Whether it’s the holiday rush or peak summer travel, knowing you have a spot waiting for you—often in a preferred location like a covered garage—provides instant peace of mind. No more frantic driving up and down aisles, wasting precious minutes you could be spending relaxing or getting through security. Furthermore, booking ahead is almost always the cheapest option. Airport parking services frequently offer dynamic pricing and special online discounts that are unavailable to drive-up customers. This can lead to substantial cost savings, freeing up more money for your trip itself. A reservation streamlines your departure, saves you money, and ensures you start your journey feeling calm and organized. Don’t leave your parking to chance; book online and enjoy a smoother travel experience from the moment you leave your home. Vincent Thomas, MSM, PTMP, is the Vice President, Aviation North, for Reimagined Parking, Inc. Vincent can be reached at vincent.thomas@reimaginedparking.com.

As communities across the country work to deliver improved and integrated transportation systems, pedestrian infrastructure remains a challenge to develop at a level which allows the overall transportation network to operate optimally. For public transportation, areas with higher densities and interconnected pedestrian facilities provide a network to allow people to move around more easily without relying on a vehicle. These robust pedestrian facilities not only allow promote more use of non-vehicle modes of mobility, but make the entire transportation system safer and more efficient thereby reducing conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians. For those of us who drive, walk, bicycle or use scooters, we know first-hand the different perspective you have when peering out the car windshield compared to walking or biking near and around vehicular traffic. Well-designed pedestrian facilities reinforce that walking and biking are viable options that can get you where you want to go with the hassle of dealing with driving, congestion and parking. Unfortunately, pedestrian facilities still lag behind in many communities where lack of priority and funding hampers their development. Since there can be various governmental jurisdictions involved with streets and right-of-way, it’s imperative for localities to have a structure in place to ensure pedestrian facilities can be planned and executed in a coordinated manner.  By championing best practices involving a multi-modal complete streets design approach, progress can be made to greatly enhance a community’s overall transportation system. Mark Hairr, PTMP, is an Executive Director for Wave Transit. Mark can be reached at mhairr@wavetransit.com.