Tag Archives: transportation

IPMI & Member News, Planning, Design & Construction, Resources, Transportation & Mobility

Member News: Salt Lake City International Airport chooses Park Assist

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ParkAssist NR SLC Parking systemsNEW YORK, NEW YORK – April 28th, 2020 – Park Assist® has been awarded the Parking Guidance System (PGS) contract for Salt Lake City International Airport’s latest parking garage. Salt Lake City is building a new International Airport (SLC) to replace the existing structure. Serving more than 26 million passengers a year, SLC also chose to include a 3,600-space parking garage in the new development. This parking facility, equipped with Park Assist’s camera based M4 PGS, is designed to meet Salt Lake City’s current and future needs with the flexibility to adapt with the ever-changing aviation industry.

As part of SLC’s effort to improve its passengers’ travel experience, Park Assist’s proprietary M4 PGS will serve to decrease parking search times and traffic in the garage and increase customer satisfaction. Along with the M4 technology, SLC’s parking guidance solution will also include two of Park Assist’s advanced software add-ons: Park FinderTM and Park AlertsTM.

The camera based M4 smart sensor system uses color-coded LED lights to guide drivers to vacant spaces; triggered to turn from red to green when spaces become available, these lights remove all confusion from the parking journey. Upon returning to the garage, these travelers will have an equally effortless experience finding their car by utilizing Park Assist’s Find Your Car software add-on. This advanced vehicle locator feature uses license plate recognition (LPR) technology to pinpoint each customer’s car. By simply entering all or part of their license plate number into the Park Assist system or mobile app, guests are directed to their vehicle’s exact location within the facility.

Additionally, Park Assist’s Park Alerts software extension allows the airport to gain valuable control and increase security in the garage. Using this add-on, parking management will be able to set and enforce automated rules and alerts. These alerts will immediately notify them of any policy violations so they can take the appropriate action, creating an efficient, safe, and secure facility.

“Park Assist is extremely excited to work with Salt Lake City International on this groundbreaking development. As the airport transforms for the future, Park Assist hopes to deliver an equally innovative parking experience. We are honored to be a part of SLC’s initiative and provide travelers with a state-of-the-art parking garage through our advanced technology,” said Jeff Sparrow, Regional Account Manager.

Site work is scheduled to begin this month and the installation is slated for completion for SLC’s grand opening in September 2020.

 
About Park Assist
Park Assist® is the parking industry’s leading camera-focused innovator with the most camera-based parking guidance installations in the world. Our patented technology helps customers effortlessly find parking spaces in real-time as well as find their cars when they return. Simultaneously, we provide parking operators with tools to improve customer satisfaction, create new revenue opportunities, realize greater operational control, capture parker analytics and expand CCTV capabilities. Park Assist is part of the TKH Group (Euronext: TWEKA), a $1.8 billion publicly traded company headquartered in the Netherlands. For more information, visit www.parkassist.com.

Contact
Katie Rodenhiser
Global Marketing Manager
katie.rodenhiser@parkassist.com 

IPMI Blog, Resources

New Curb Management Challenges

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COVID-19, curb management, parkingBy Casey Jones, CAPP

I read in the Idaho Statesman that our governor has extended the stay-at-home order in Idaho until April 30. This is not a surprise to me given the abundance of caution across the country. What is surprising is the governor’s adjustment to non-essential business. “Any facility or service (including formerly ‘nonessential’ businesses) can begin to operate via curbside services, drive-in, drive-through pickup, mailed services, or delivery services.”

I’m certain many of the businesses that were previously considered non-essential see this order as a bit of light at the end of the tunnel and I applaud the move if it can be done safely. Beyond safety, I wonder what the effect will be on curb management, most especially in highly urbanized and densely populated areas that have a limited amount of curb in the first place. So many questions arise:

  • What do cities need to do to make for an efficient and orderly use of the curb when public health is added to the list of objectives that heretofore included pedestrian safety, reduced congestion, and equity?
  • What technologies can we quickly deploy that help promote emerging curb management goals?
  • How do we effectively communicate to the masses how they are to participate in this new paradigm?
  • Will this temporary shift result in permanent changes to access and mobility behavior?
  • How will this play out for other market segments such as hospitals, universities and large venues that had their own unique curb management challenges pre-COVID-19?

One thing going for some of us now is that have time to think about these questions and how we can respond. Whatever your role, discipline or viewpoint, I encourage you to pick up the phone, schedule a conference call, and participate in any number of industry webinars and forums so together we can consider what’s likely to happen and how we can play our part.

Casey Jones, CAPP, is senior parking & mobility planner with DESMAN.

IPMI Blog, Resources

Is Sustainability Only About Going Green?

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Earth day sustainabilityBy David Karwaski

Sustainability is often thought of as “going green,” or being largely focused on natural environmental effects. Photos of polar bears on tiny flotsam of ice come to mind. But the natural environment is only part of the story—one-third of it, in fact. The other two-thirds are social sustainability and fiscal sustainability. Thus, the story isn’t to go green at any cost, but rather to be as green as one can afford to be while keeping an eye towards fairness and equity for people. This openness to all can also provide benefits to the bottom line; a more wide-ranging client base is often better for business than serving a narrow niche. The thought that should come to mind regarding sustainability is balance. Sustainability is indeed a balancing act—a dance between being green and earning green, with open arms to all.

Further, sustainability isn’t the icing on the cake—an add-on outside the primary business model of a parking operation or mobility services company, trotted out to display commitment to a better world. Sustainability should be part of the cake—the eggs, perhaps—integral to the entire operation and considered at each decision point; does this investment create more impact; is it an efficient investment, perhaps reducing energy usage; and does it serve customers well? LED lighting projects for parking structures is a good example of a triple win: LEDs save energy and thus eliminate some GHG emissions and after a payback period, will also help the bottom line while providing a better environment for people to move through. So the next time you hear about sustainability, remember that it’s a balancing act, for you and for your company, not just the polar bears.

David Karwaski is senior associate director, events and transportation, at UCLA. This post is part of a five-day series commemorating Earth Day 2020.

 

IPMI Blog, Resources

Making the Switch

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Earth day sustainabilityBy Conor Burke

“This is not normal.” This quote has been used in many aspects of our lives the last few years, and COVID-19 has made sure this phrase will be with us in the foreseeable future.

As an industry, parking and mobility has been trending to be more green-friendly.

There are a multitude of ways these statements—being more sustainable and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic—are coming together. One manner should be fairly obvious: cleaning our facilities. The recent focus on washing our hands for 20 seconds and disinfecting high-traffic areas should have all professionals looking at their stocks of supplies and thinking about the surfaces customers touch all the time. Switching to certified green-friendly cleaning products can be easy to implement into your facilities. The green certification on these products was earned by having the product tested and quantified from toxicity limits to the energy used to produce them.

Certified cleaning products can help combat the spread of germs and help keep our employees safe in a more eco-friendly way. Parking and mobility professionals should make the conscious switch to green-friendly cleaning products and turn these higher standards into the industry norm.

Conor Burke is operations manager with VPNE Parking Solutions. This post is part of a five-day series commemorating Earth Day 2020.

IPMI Blog, Resources

The Race to Profitability: TNCs and Micro-Mobility

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Earth day sustainabilityBy Brian Shaw, CAPP

Getting folks to reduce their driving would seem to be an ideal way to help the environment and improve a region’s traffic conditions. However, any environmental and traffic benefits depend on the mode folks switch to from driving themselves. In the case of micro-mobility and TNCs, these benefits have been a mixed bag.

In San Francisco, studies have determined that the growth in the city’s traffic (that is until the COVID-19 pandemic) is primarily a result of the use of TNCs patrolling the city before, during, and after their rides.

The various electric and/or dockless micro-mobility devices continue to clutter numerous cities’ streets and are found battered and broken. Inoperable and damaged devices are filling landfills. Plus, there have been many riders hurt and some even killed while using hourly-use electric scooters.

Neither of the big TNCs (Uber or Lyft) nor any micro-mobility services have been able to turn a profit and develop a business model that works financially. Their biggest issue is continuing to rely on human labor to provide their service. TNCs need human drivers to provide rides for their customers. Autonomous vehicles have yet to be proven viable and capable of consistently operating in complicated urban environments. Both TNCs have been artificially keeping their rates low, in fact they’re lower than what they have mostly replaced—taxi cabs. While this has help them build market share, it has been at a financial loss. TNC drivers are also increasingly wanting better wages and conditions and the right to form unions to collectively bargain their working conditions and wages. Will the TNCs survive and sustain their current business model, or are they both in a race to autonomy and profitability?

As for micro-mobility, a similar situation is also occurring. Research and development are underway to automate the process that is one of the costliest aspects of the program—the nightly collection, charging, and redistribution of the devices. Until automation occurs, how long can the micro-mobility business model survive?

I would argue TNCs and micro-mobility are only bridge technologies: a means to an end state where autonomous vehicles and automated devices will finally make TNCs and micro-mobility sustainable for the environment as well as financially viable.

Brian Shaw, CAPP, is executive director of Stanford Transportation, Stanford University. This post is part of a five-day series commemorating Earth Day 2020.

IPMI & Member News, Resources, Safety & Security, Transportation & Mobility

Member News: NYC DOT Announces New Effort to Encourage Contactless Payments for City Parking Meters

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April 21, 2020
With COVID-19 concerns, drivers will have a new pay-as-you-go option via ParkMobile smartphone app
Today, the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a new effort to discourage cash payments at the City’s parking meters and encourage contactless parking payment by smartphone. The Pay-By-Cell option protects the safety of both DOT’s workforce and the public by reducing physical interactions with the City’s 14,000 meters.
Two different apps are now available for download to pay for parking at 80,000 metered spots across New York City:

  • ParkNYC: Launched in December 2016 and available for free download in the Apple Store or Google Play, ParkNYC allows account holders to pay for parking at any metered parking space on a new pay-as-you-go basis with no additional fees after loading an initial $25 wallet balance. The popular app was used for more than 22 million parking transactions last year.

  • ParkMobile: To enhance the Pay-by-Cell program and encourage contactless transactions, DOT is now temporarily offering the option to use the nationwide ParkMobile app for single transactions, for a 15-cent per transaction fee. While meters will continue to accept coins and credit cards, we encourage all customers to consider their own safety and the safety of our workers — and opt for mobile payments. The app accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.

 “DOT is asking all New Yorkers who can to switch to Pay-By-Cell, which will reduce the need for physical cash transactions at our 14,000 parking meters.  Contactless Pay-By-Cell reduces exposure risk for the public and our workforce,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “Please help us reduce the need to physically service parking meters and collect, sanitize and securely store cash during this crisis.”
New York City’s parking meters remain in effect to encourage curb turnover, which supports deliveries and essential businesses such as grocery stores, pharmacies and medical providers.  The availability of parking meters also discourages double parking, which enhances safety.  Zone numbers on Muni-Meter decals and under parking signage will work in both apps. DOT encourages all New Yorkers who do not need to travel to stay home to help stop the spread of COVID-19, and expresses its greatest thanks to its own employees — and all other essential workers — for their continued work keeping the city running safely.
About ParkMobile:
ParkMobile, LLC is the leading provider of smart parking and mobility solutions in North America, helping millions of people easily find, reserve, and pay for parking from their mobile devices. The company’s technology is used in thousands of locations across the country, including 7 of the top 10 cities as well as college campuses, airports, and stadiums. People can use ParkMobile solutions to quickly pay for on-street and off-street parking without having to use a meter or kiosk.

 

DOT: Scott Gastel/Alana Morales (212) 839-4850
ParkMobile: Jeff Perkins (404) 219-4720, jeff.perkins@parkmobile.io

CONTACT:
Patrick Christman
617.834.6877
PatrickChristman@arpr.com

IPMI & Member News, Resources, Safety & Security, Transportation & Mobility

Member News: Walker Offers Solutions to Mount Sinai Amidst COVID-19 Crisis

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Healthcare workers

 

Mount Sinai Health System in New York City is perched at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. With thousands of cases throughout the system, Mount Sinai’s employees are working more shifts and longer hours, upending their normal commutes. As authorities advise that the risk of infection is amplified by being in close quarters with others, many workers who regularly commute by mass transit are instead driving to work in private vehicles.

Mount Sinai’s operations team partnered with Walker Consultants to secure additional employee parking options near multiple hospital and medical office sites in three NYC boroughs.

Will Rhodin, Senior Consultant in Walker’s Philadelphia office, has been overseeing the project. “We were able to quickly secure agreements with about 25 nearby parking facilities. We implemented solutions immediately, even overnight in some cases.”

Hundreds of Mount Sinai employees are now parking in facilities near their places of work daily, mitigating what would otherwise be a major obstacle in the health system’s efforts to staff its operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mount Sinai is covering the cost of parking for staff.

Walker also assisted with Mount Sinai’s employee shuttle system by contracting additional full-sized coach buses that give workers more room to follow social distancing standards.

Walker continues to be a resource to the health system by updating informational documents, communicating with the garage and shuttle operators, and reviewing parking invoices to ensure that billings adhere to agreed-upon terms.

Rhodin adds, “We’re pleased to be of service to the hard-working, dedicated and selfless healthcare workers at Mount Sinai. Our hope is that they’re able to get to work in the safest, most efficient way that puts themselves, their patients, and the community at the lowest risk. We are also grateful for the eager and generous participation of several NYC-area parking companies, including Champion Parking, Garage Management Corporation, GGMC Parking, Icon Parking, LAZ Parking, Little Man Parking, Manhattan Parking Group, Park It Management, and SP+ Corporation. They each provided facilities to quickly accommodate the Mount Sinai community, and they continue to be partners as needs change during this crisis.”

 

About Walker Consultants

Walker Consultants provides planning, design, engineering, forensics, restoration and consulting for the built environment. Our experts have been advancing industry standards since 1965. We are a 100% employee-owned company that takes pride in the value we provide our clients through integrity, honesty, and excellence.

Free Online Shoptalk: Leadership on Their Terms to Ease Stress and Enable Focus

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Free Online Shoptalk: Leadership on Their Terms to Ease Stress and Enable Focus

Download the Shoptalk here.

IPMI invites all industry professionals in parking, transportation, and mobility to discuss how the COVID-19 crisis has impacted your various mobility programs and options, including how we plan for municipal on street operations post COVID-19.

Now more than ever, empathy, self-awareness, and sensitivity are key aspects to leading teams and maintaining healthy relationships (just ask any celebrity busted on social media for complaining about cabin fever from their palatial home). Meeting employees where their heads are to communicate change, celebrate success, and break bad news are the leadership qualities that win the day in today’s environment.

If you’re leading others and, would like to go from good to better or haven’t really had to lean on these aspects of leadership until now, this online Shoptalk will be well worth your time. Join Colleen Niese and Vicki Pero from The Marlyn Group for a highly interactive session to discuss key strategies and take away easy-to-implement tactics to ensure your leadership from a distance will:

Objectives:

  • Make decisions that consider team members needs in a COVID-19 world.
  • Help manage stress for your team and you(!).
  • Support all in accomplishing the work at hand with as much focus as can be expected.

Moderator: 

Niese headshotColleen M. Niese, SPHR understanding of what makes a business tick comes from her nearly 25 years of parking industry experience, and her insatiable curiosity about high-performing business.

With a background in leading an international shared services center to then consulting in strategic HR and customer service to now overseeing new business development, sales and client relations for Zephire, the people-first complete monthly parking solution, Colleen is well versed when it comes to a parking operator’s priorities in managing seamless monthly parking.  She possesses a unique skillset to listen to a client’s needs and connecting Zephire’s holistic solution to each individual’s expectation.  In her spare time, Colleen is a hopeless Cleveland Browns fan (there’s always next year!).

IPMI Blog, Resources

Five Essential Elements for Planning a Mobility Hub

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Earth day sustainabilityBy David Taxman, PE

I was recently asked to develop a plan for two mobility hubs at two developments in a south Florida city. Mobility hubs are multiple modes of transportation (i.e. train, bus, bike-share, car-share, etc.) at one location, and are typically located at high-frequency, public transit stations.

After reviewing case studies of mobility hubs across the world, I developed a list of five essential elements to consider as part of the planning of a mobility hub.

  1. Consider the users. The modes of transportation provided should be the most beneficial to the users in the area. Make data driven decisions regarding the investment in transportation infrastructure.
  2. Consider the larger transportation network. A network of mobility hubs is successful if the surrounding transportation system effectively supports each mode of transportation. Are there supporting bike lanes, sidewalks, intersections that consider the pedestrian, HOV lanes, etc.?
  3. Place in active locations. Mobility hubs should be in active areas with high transportation and parking needs. The goal should be to reduce both SOV trips and parking demand.
  4. Ensure mobile wayfinding applications. Each mode of transportation should be on a mobile app and possibly offer an easy form of payment through the app or allow seamless transfers with a transit card.
  5. Provide necessary and attractive amenities. There are a variety of amenities that can be provided when you begin to consider the users and the modes of transportation offered. Such amenities could include lockers, café/vending, shelter/bench, interactive map, parking, etc.

David Taxman, PE, is a project manager with Kimley-Horn. This post is part of a five-day series commemorating Earth Day 2020.