By Robert Ferrin and Brandy Stanley, CAPP

Everyone hears a lot about curb management, congestion mitigation and data gathering, but sometimes finding solutions in action can be difficult. Join us for a free, online, IPMI Shoptalk June 2 to learn more about the real-life solutions two cities are testing to manage the curb.

In late 2019, the City of Columbus worked with partner curbFlow on a six-month pilot to reimagine how loading zones could be established, evaluated, and monitored by testing innovative strategies. The program is all part of a broader culture of innovation and testing born out of Columbus’ Smart City Challenge award and work program implementation.

The City of Las Vegas has launched a program aimed at helping TNCs operate in the downtown area.  The program consists of both on-street and off-street components:

• A loading and unloading zone managed by 8-foot digital displays, including countdown timers by individual space and enforcement notifications.
• An off-street staging area where TNC drivers can use a restroom, get access to Wi-Fi, and rest while waiting for their next ride.

Launching these two programs required a lot of collaboration with many different stakeholders, including elected officials, business and property owners, TNC regulatory agencies, Uber and Lyft, taxi companies, TNC drivers themselves, etc.  It also meant creating new and expanding existing partnerships with private companies to develop the hardware, software and support needed to put the solutions in action.

Join us online June 2 to learn more about these pilots, lessons learned, and how these two cities are moving from pilots to scalable solutions for curbside and loading zone management programs. Click here to register, and bring your questions.

Robert Ferrin is assistant director, parking services with the City of Columbus, Ohio.

Brandy Stanley, CAPP, is parking services manager with the City of Las Vegas, Nev.