According to the results of a just-released survey, the country is undergoing a parking revolution as the industry embraces a variety of new technologies that make it easier for people to find and pay for parking, and for parking authorities to better manage it.
The 2013 Emerging Trends in Parking survey was conducted among members of the International Parking Institute (IPI) and released at the 2013 IPI Conference & Expo, May 19-22. Cities leading in parking innovation include San Francisco; Seattle; New York; Los Angeles; Washington, D.C.; Portland, Ore; Miami; Houston; Boston; Denver; Pittsburgh; and Tampa. Dozens of other cities were identified.
Survey highlights include:
1. Smartphones: Solution to the "space race?"
Topping the list of trends in the $30 billion parking industry is the "move toward innovative technologies to improve parking access control and payment automation," cited by 59 percent of respondents. Another top trend is "real-time communication of pricing and availability to mobile/smart phones" (52 percent).
Both trends are evident in San Francisco's federally-funded SFpark pilot project, which supplies real-time information on the availability and cost of on- and off-street parking, drastically reducing driver circling while hunting for open spaces, congestion, and double-parking.
According to San Francisco County Transportation Authority Park Manager Jay Primus, the city also may be the first in the U.S. to quantify the number of available parking spaces in all public lots, garages, and city blocks. Seattle's new electronic parking guidance system uses dynamic real-time message signs and web information to direct people to available off-street parking at six downtown garages.
2. Payment options continue to expand
The second leading trend is the demand for electronic (cashless) payment, with cities such as Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Houston, and Miami, among others, incorporating pay-by-phone programs. Acclaimed as the world's most successful of its type, the D.C. program has earned 550,000 customers and accounts for 40 percent of the city's parking revenues.
About 80 percent of the seven million transactions to date employ smart phones, with payment options that include credit cards, online and mobile money management solutions, and PayPal. Miami and Pittsburgh are among the pioneering cities in incorporating license-plate recognition technology as another means of quick and efficient payment.
3. Taking a smarter business approach
The trends toward "demand for greater parking revenue" (38 percent) and "more public-private partnerships" (24 percent) are demonstrated by Miami's innovative public-private partnerships. Similar programs have been launched in cities such as Houston, where consultants posed the question: "What would a parking program look like if it was managed by Nordstrom?" prompting a focus on parking as an engine for municipal economic development.
4. Green solutions sprouting up
Other notable trends include "collaboration between parking, transportation, and decision makers" (43 percent), "need for improved customer service," (31 percent), and "demand for green/sustainable solutions" (30 percent). Among the technology considered to have the greatest potential in improving sustainability are "guidance systems to enable drivers to find parking faster (and reduce carbon emissions)" (57 percent); "energy-efficient lighting" (55 percent); "encouraging alternative travel" by providing bike storage, car/bike share, access to transit, etc. (42 percent); "accommodating electric-vehicle charging stations: (21 percent), :renewable-energy installations such as solar panels and wind power"; and "innovative water and storm water management systems" (11 percent).
For example, the City of Tampa cut its energy costs in half by upgrading lighting in its parking facilities, joining Miami, Denver, and other cities in offering citywide electric-vehicle charging stations. Miami was among the first U.S. city to partner with a car-share program, which has since taken root in a number of other cities across the country.
Related Stories
Airports | Apr 4, 2022
Dominican Republic airport expansion will add mixed-use features
The recently revealed design concept for the expansion of Santiago International Airport in the Dominican Republic includes a transformation of the current building into a mixed-use space that features an office park, business center, and hotel.
Codes and Standards | Mar 4, 2022
FAA offers $1 billion in grants for airport terminal and tower projects
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is now accepting applications for about $1 billion in grants for airport projects during fiscal year 2022.
Resiliency | Feb 15, 2022
Design strategies for resilient buildings
LEO A DALY's National Director of Engineering Kim Cowman takes a building-level look at resilient design.
Sponsored | Resiliency | Jan 24, 2022
Blast Hazard Mitigation: Building Openings for Greater Safety and Security
Coronavirus | Jan 20, 2022
Advances and challenges in improving indoor air quality in commercial buildings
Michael Dreidger, CEO of IAQ tech startup Airsset speaks with BD+C's John Caulfield about how building owners and property managers can improve their buildings' air quality.
Giants 400 | Oct 22, 2021
2021 Airport Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. airport facilities sector
AECOM, Hensel Phelps, PGAL, and Gensler top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest airport sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2021 Giants 400 Report.
| Oct 14, 2021
The future of mass timber construction, with Swinerton's Timberlab
In this exclusive for HorizonTV, BD+C's John Caulfield sat down with three Timberlab leaders to discuss the launch of the firm and what factors will lead to greater mass timber demand.
Giants 400 | Aug 30, 2021
2021 Giants 400 Report: Ranking the largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S.
The 2021 Giants 400 Report includes more than 130 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
Resiliency | Aug 19, 2021
White paper outlines cost-effective flood protection approaches for building owners
A new white paper from Walter P Moore offers an in-depth review of the flood protection process and proven approaches.
Airports | Aug 13, 2021
Kansas City International Airport’s new terminal breaks ground
SOM designed the project.
