Technology

An Operator’s Roadmap for Capitalizing on Parking’s Digital Future Today

How do you see the future of parking in your city? If I would have asked this question fifteen or twenty years ago we would be speaking about flying cars and all sorts of other, out of this world, possibilities. What comes to mind when you think of this question now? How do you see the future of parking in your city? When I think of the future of parking in my city, a beautiful coastal town with a wild, tourist driven, peak season. I think of satellite parking lots. As cities seem to fill up more and parking seems to disappear, it begs the question of self driving cars and satellite lots. I am more of a gas and oil kind of person and not so much of an eco-electric / self driving fanatic. Though I am not inclined to this sort of thing, I certainly see the perks of driving your own personal vehicle to a destination and having the vehicle park in an economic parking space outside of the destination. With a call back feature, it would certainly bring better convenience than uber or any sort of rideshare app. How do you see the future in your city? Tate Misiaszek is a Project Manager for LAZ Parking. You can reach Tate at TMisiaszek@lazparking.com.

OAKLAND, CA - The Oakland City Council just approved the installation of 244 Flash Level 2 public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and other improvements across eight downtown city parking facilities. The eight newly approved locations will add 244 Level 2 EV chargers to the existing 24 charging stations already installed at the Oakland City Center Garage (525 14th St.) and 32 charging stations at the Rotunda Garage (524 16th St.) for a total of 300. Level 2 chargers provide 240 volts of electricity, allowing nearly all-electric vehicles to charge from empty to full in four to eight hours. “Oakland is committed to building a greener, more sustainable future, and expanding our public EV charging infrastructure is a critical step in that journey. These new chargers will make it easier for Oaklanders—especially those who don’t have access to at-home charging—to choose clean transportation. By investing in this infrastructure now, we’re ensuring that all our communities can benefit from the transition to electric vehicles, reducing emissions and improving air quality for everyone," said Interim Oakland Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “The people of Oakland lead the nation in the transition to electric vehicles, and this gives them convenient, affordable access to the infrastructure they need to sustain the shift and make it a practical choice for more of our residents, especially those who can’t realistically charge at home,” said Josh Rowan, OakDOT Director. This new partnership with Flash will help implement Oakland’s Zero Emission Vehicle Action Plan and 2030 Equitable Climate Action Plan, which together provide a roadmap to a zero-emission transportation system in Oakland. The chargers will be installed at no cost to the City and the City will receive half of net revenues from charging. The new EV charging sites will be operational by the end of 2025 – some with on-site battery systems, lighting, and other property improvements – at the following addresses: Oakland Museum of California - 1000 Oak St. Marriott Convention Center - 1001 Broadway St. Pacific Renaissance Plaza - 1002 Webster St. Harrison Garage - 1200 Harrison St. Franklin Plaza Garage - 1735 Franklin St. Telegraph Plaza Garage - 2100 Telegraph Ave. 1800 San Pablo Lot - 1800 San Pablo Ave. Parkway Lot - 360-398 E. 19th St. The new locations join the initial two that went live late last year as part of a growing EV charging ‘Innovation Lab’ Flash is building with a $5.8 million grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) to demonstrate a reliable, scalable model for public charging infrastructure. “The City of Oakland and its residents have embraced electric vehicles and clean transportation,” said Hannon Rasool, director of the CEC’s Fuels and Transportation Division. “The city’s leadership in supporting and installing effective public charging infrastructure helps improve our communities. Oakland is setting an example for how cities can lead across California and the country.” Data from Flash and CEC’s collaboration will provide technical and financial insights to improve efficiency, dependability, and return on investment to the City of Oakland. Flash will also promote the availability of the new EV charging stations through a multi-channel community outreach initiative, including direct outreach to area businesses. “This collaboration with CEC and the City of Oakland is a huge source of pride for us at Flash,” said Matt McCaffree, Vice President & General Manager of EV Charging at Flash. “We’re showing what’s possible for the future of parking plus charging and playing a part in helping Oakland and other smart cities make the EV transition a reality.” About the Oakland Equitable Climate Action Plan (ECAP) The ECAP establishes actions the City and its partners will take by 2030 to equitably reduce Oakland’s climate emissions and adapt to a changing climate. Part of the ECAP is the Zero Emission Vehicle Action Plan, which provides a roadmap for transitioning to a zero-emission transportation system. Learn more here: https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/sustainable-oakland-1 About Flash Flash is a pioneering technology company bringing seamless parking and EV charging experiences to drivers through a first-of-its-kind digital ecosystem. Flash’s platform connects reservable parking and charging in the apps drivers use every day with garage, surface lot, event, and valet parking locations—connected and controlled via a cloud-based operating system with unrivaled intelligence. Customer-obsessed brands partner with Flash to deliver digital, easy-to-use, reliable, and increasingly frictionless experiences to drivers eager to pay for a solution that eliminates wasted time, excess emissions, and stress. The solution has arrived. Visit www.flashparking.com to learn more.

Within the evolution of the parking meter and metered parking space, I find it settling that the soul of the metered space remains intact – ease congestion, allow parking egress and support customers to find a space to park. The concept supports both locals making visits to their favorite restaurants or businesses as well as folks coming in from out of town to seek the spoils of a new and wonderous treasure. Regardless of the technology that the meter has or will have, the initial goal still holds sway. As time goes on, many of the factors will continue to change; more shared spaces, bike lanes, parklets and ongoing review of what makes the most sense as usage for curbside commerce. Though we can still find some common ground in the history of the parking meter. It’s recorded that on the opening day of the first parking meter in Oklahoma City in 1935, a man paid his nickel and tied up his horse at the meter pole. Another group paid the fee and set up a table and chairs to hold a card game for their paid hour. Innovation, it seems, has always had a dynamic life at the curbside and will continue to keep mobility on the path forward. Adam Feller, PTMP, is an Operations Manager for LAZ Parking. Adam can be reached at Afeller@lazparking.com.

Woodbridge, VA — Portier USA today announced that it has completed installation of a state-of-the-art smart parking technology suite at the new Neabsco Mills Potomac Commuter Garage in Woodbridge Virginia, marking a significant milestone in regional transit infrastructure. Portier’s smart parking technology provides real-time information to OmniRide commuters about how many parking spaces are available in the garage, and where they can be found. Supported by a $5.2 million investment from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA), this groundbreaking facility offers over 1,400 parking spaces for commuters. “The Neabsco Mills Potomic Commuter Garage is a perfect example of how innovative technology and smart infrastructure can come together to improve the daily commute,” said Steve Gorski, Vice President of Portier USA. “This technology will make parking simple and convenient for commuters, dramatically improving the commuting experience and reducing congestion on nearby roads.” The Neabsco Mills Potomac Commuter Garage smart parking technology suite includes: 1,200 Portier Sonic Parking Guidance Sensors, which monitor space availability in real time. 40 Digital Displays, which inform drivers of how many spaces are available and their exact location. Rooftop Ultrasonic Counters and Outdoor Camera System, providing precise rooftop and outdoor parking availability information. Unified Cloud-Based Software to control the entire system, ensuring seamless integration and user experience. “The Neabsco Mills Potomic Commuter Garage represents an important step in improving transportation infrastructure and reducing congestion in Prince William County,” said Gorski. “The strategic location of the garage and the smart parking amenities it offers will ease traffic flow along I-95 and provide a convenient and reliable parking option for park-and-ride commuters.” About Portier USA Portier USA is the US branch of Portier, one of the world’s leading and most innovative providers of parking guidance technology. Portier has provided parking guidance solutions for more than 20 years, and currently covers nearly 400,000 parking spaces globally. In addition to the company’s industry-leading camera-based, sonic, and counter guidance systems, Portier also offers Portier Wayfinding, a groundbreaking web-based platform showing parkers real-time occupancy information to help direct them to parking facilities with available parking. Portier can be found online at http://portier.host.

Miami, FL - Survision, a global leader in Vehicle Identification technology, has successfully integrated its advanced Cloud Parking Enforcement Software, PlatEnforce, with ParkMobile, a leading mobile parking payment platform. This strategic software integration enables parking operators to seamlessly enforce paid parking policies at sites using ParkMobile, improving efficiency and compliance. With this integration, parking operators leveraging ParkMobile’s system can now automatically validate payments and enforce parking violations in real time using Survision’s PlatEnforce. This reduces the reliance on manual enforcement and enhances accuracy, ensuring a streamlined parking experience for both operators and customers. Key Benefits of the Integration: New Flexibility for Operators: Survision Solution can be easily moved from one vehicle to another Automated Parking Enforcement: PlatEnforce seamlessly cross-references Parkmobile transactions, identifying violations instantly. Enhanced Accuracy and Efficiency: Eliminates human errors associated with manual enforcement methods. Cloud-Based Solution: Offers remote access and real-time enforcement data, improving operational flexibility. Seamless User Experience: Ensures a frictionless process for customers, with fewer disputes and increased compliance. “I have always admired ParkMobile’s mission to make cities more livable, and I am thrilled that Survision’s vehicle identification technology can play a key role in enhancing this vision. By integrating our advanced solutions, we can provide a seamless parking experience for users while helping operators improve efficiency and compliance. This partnership is another step toward creating smarter, more enjoyable urban environments for everyone.” Laura Caillot, Managing Director at Survision LLC The integration is now live and available to parking operators utilizing ParkMobile’s payment system, allowing them to enhance enforcement strategies and maximize revenue while ensuring fair parking compliance. For more information on how this integration can benefit your parking operation, visit survisiongroup.com/platenforce and https://parkmobile.io/.

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, renowned for its pristine beaches and vibrant cultural scene, has partnered with Park Loyalty to introduce a progressive parking enforcement system, including Enforce Pro and Process Pro, designed to improve the visitor experience and promote equitable access to the island’s attractions. Addressing Parking Challenges As a popular island destination with limited parking space, Hilton Head faces unique challenges in accommodating residents and the influx of visitors to its beaches, landmarks, and other attractions. To address these challenges and enhance customer service, the Town has implemented a progressive rate engine developed by Park Loyalty. This system is designed to encourage positive parking behaviors and ensure a fair and transparent parking environment for all. Progressive Rate Structure for Parking Violations The newly implemented system introduces a tiered fine structure for parking violations within a one-year period: First Offense: A $50 fine Second Offense: A $100 fine Third Offense: A $250 fine Fourth Offense: A $500 fine This escalating fine structure aims to promote greater compliance with parking regulations and foster a fair parking environment for all. Collaboration with Oobeo The successful implementation of this system included a collaborative effort with technology integration partner, Oobeo. Their expertise played a pivotal role in tailoring the system to meet the unique needs of Hilton Head Island, ensuring a seamless and effective solution to the island’s parking challenges. Hilton Head’s Commitment to Visitor Experience and Fair Parking This initiative underscores Hilton Head Island’s commitment to enhancing the visitor experience while maintaining equitable access to its renowned attractions. By implementing a progressive parking enforcement system, the Town aims to promote positive parking behaviors, improve customer service, and uphold the island’s reputation as a premier destination for residents and visitors alike.

Vancouver, Canada – Parking in the City of Baltimore, MD, USA, just got easier and more modernized for residents and visitors, thanks to The Parking Authority of Baltimore City appointing PayByPhone, a global leader in mobile parking payments, to its parking operations. PayByPhone is now available at parking meters at City-owned parking lots and at on-street metered parking spaces Downtown in the Central Business District, and will be rolled out in Fells Point, Federal Hill, as well as in and around Camden Yards and the Inner Harbor area. Carmen Donnell, Managing Director North America for PayByPhone, says, “We are thrilled to launch PayByPhone in Baltimore and happy that PayByPhone is helping to make the parking experience hassle-free for residents and visitors to Maryland’s largest city and its economic hub. We encourage drivers to download the PayByPhone app now, so they can use the new service immediately. Registration takes less than 30 seconds.” Peter Little, Executive Director of the Parking Authority of Baltimore City, says, “As well as greater flexibility and a better user experience, parkers can opt-in to have text message reminders of when their parking session is about to expire to avoid costly citations.” Cashless parking offers parkers great flexibility. A parking session can be started and completed in three quick steps – entering the location number, entering the duration, and paying. PayByPhone offers parkers the ability to extend their parking session remotely via the app or a wearable device, such as the Apple Watch, without having to return to their vehicle or visit a payment kiosk. Parkers using PayByPhone also have access to the app’s Maps and the Nearby Parking features. The Maps feature allows drivers to locate parking before they leave for their destination and to pin their vehicle location onto the map once they have parked. The Nearby Parking feature instantly provides them with the closest PayByPhone parking location number. And the app is available in 11 languages globally, including Spanish and Italian, making it incredibly inclusive for those who live, work, and visit Baltimore. For a full list of areas where PayByPhone is available, and to start using it today, download the app from the App Store or Google Play Store or visit the PayByPhone website www.paybyphone.com. ABOUT PAYBYPHONE PayByPhone is more than just parking. We simplify the journeys for millions of people through our smart, intuitive mobile payment technology and exciting features. We work with over 1,400 clients across North America, the UK, France, Germany, Switzerland and Ireland. More than 95 million drivers worldwide have trusted us with their payments to date. To discover how our products and services can elevate your driving experience, please visit www.paybyphone.com. Contact: Sarah Claridge Communications Consultant Indaba sarah.claridge@weareindaba.com (+44) 207 692 4964

This March issue of Parking & Mobility explores innovative strategies for implementing smart parking concepts.

How Smart Cities Are Transforming the Parking Industry

stock.adobe.com / Quality One There is no doubt about it, the parking management industry is rapidly evolving,and I’m really excited to be part of the business at the moment. We see more and more new technological developments that are designed to improve efficiency, improve the user’s experience, enhance revenue, minimize expenses, and, importantly, provide actionable insights into parking policy and decision-making. If you know me, you’ll likely already know this, but there’s one aspect at the heart of this transformation that I feel very passionate about. It’s a hugely valuable asset that’s often overlooked: data ownership. Look, I cannot say this enough—the principle of ensuring that you retain full ownership of your data is foundational to future-proofing business strategies and maintaining control over operations. I read a white paper a while ago by the World Economic Forum that clearly articulated the immense value of data and how it has singularly become the most valuable resource in the world due to its immense economic and strategic value. I will say it again; I am a huge advocate for businesses never having to compromise on data ownership. Why Data Ownership Matters Data is the lifeblood of most modern operations. For the parking industry, this may mean understanding who is using your facilities, when they are coming, how long they are staying, who is or isn’t paying for their parking, and so on. Ownership of this data allows businesses to make informed choices, create customized experiences, and plan for the future with a real-time understanding of patterns and behaviors. Losing control over such valuable information is basically losing control over a fundamental part of your business. Imagine a situation where, after investing time and resources into building a data-rich parking system, your technology provider decides to hold your data hostage, making you renew contracts just to keep access. This approach not only locks you into a provider’s ecosystem but also limits your ability to leverage insights freely. The Dangers of Data Dependence Many companies in this industry leverage a “lock-in” type model that’s based on data dependence. This model can lead to issues with both flexibility and independence. With data locked away, any strategy shift or transition to a new system can be challenging. If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a million times in a variety of ways—in essence, changing providers can feel impossible when data ownership becomes involved. Make sure that you are checking the fine print and not locking your data into one of these types of models. Inspiring Confidence Through Data Freedom When you own your data, you also own the ability to change, grow, and build upon it in ways that best serve your objectives. This kind of autonomy is critical to long-term success. Data freedom means just that. Your business is future-ready and unencumbered by data restrictions. This allows you unrestricted access to data, you can confidently strategize and adapt, unburdened by concerns of losing critical information to outdated contracts or parking systems. The Future of Parking Management Begins Here The future of parking management is bright, especially for those who place value on data ownership. It’s an era where technology and insights power business success without compromise, and where owners and operators can expect true autonomy over the information they rely on daily. Because in the end, it’s not just about parking cars; it’s about empowering businesses to steer their own course, build on their data, and shape their future with confidence. So, the next time you go to “sign on that dotted line” maybe you should double check the data ownership provisions. Because ultimately, owning your data or owning your future success. ◆

As our urban areas transition to the smart cities of the future, traditional inefficient and limited parking systems are evolving into smart parking operations. How are smart city parking innovations reshaping urban centers, increasing sustainability, and improving the quality of life in our communities?