Digital Parking Tech

Motherboard replacements, EMV reader repairs, ticket jams, sensor cleanings, low ink warnings… and a $20,000+ purchase cost! These challenges defined traditional parking systems (PARCS). At the University of Southern Maine (USM), we asked, “What if this could be a thing of the past?” Since 2005, USM relied on traditional PARCS and paystations, often requiring assistance to resolve issues. Now, with Software Defined PARCS (SDPARCS), we’ve not only eliminated constant repairs but introduced built-in intercoms and live help at the tap of a button—right out of the box. ………all with a simple plug and play android device. With SDPARCS, day-to-day operations no longer include constant troubleshooting. At USM, we’ve reduced paystation expenses by over 93%, saving significantly over 3–5 years. SDPARCS is a streamlined solution: a single column equipped with an Android device and power/internet connection. This small, efficient unit can function as both a paystation and a PARCS system, simultaneously replacing entry and exit hardware. It’s simpler, smarter, and more cost-effective. USM selected ParkEngage as our SDPARCS provider for their ability to customize the system to our needs. The difference between SDPARCS and traditional PARCS is transformative—like moving from a 1960s mainframe computer room to a modern smartphone. For our team, the change has been monumental. We’ve eliminated hours spent troubleshooting machines, enabling us to focus on delivering better service to our campus community. Trystan Henry is a Manager of Parking & Transportation with the University of Southern Maine. Trystan can be reached at Trystan.henry@maine.edu.

How Technology is Changing the Role of Frontline Workers in the Parking Industry

A Different Form of Frontline

West Hartford, CT — Modii, a leader in digital parking and mobility solutions, is partnering with cities and universities nationwide to transform the parking ecosystem for both drivers and administrators alike. In its latest collaboration with the Town of West Hartford (WeHa), Modii continues to do so, by digitizing the city’s parking assets to simplify parking guidance for drivers and optimize operations and management for City Administrators. As part of the West Hartford parking project, Modii has introduced the WeHa Parking Finder, a tool designed to guide users to the most convenient parking locations. Drivers can view parking options based on their destination, access pricing details, pay for parking, and more. Drivers can look for ADA accessible parking spaces or Pick-up Drop-off (PUDO) zones - all from their mobile device. The integration of the Parking Finder in West Hartford is designed to equip drivers with an easily accessible tool that allows them to find parking, and limit the stress associated with it, especially around high-traffic areas. “We are thrilled to partner with the Town of West Hartford to enhance parking and mobility for everyone. As a frequent visitor to West Hartford, I know firsthand that its vibrant mix of shops, restaurants, and businesses makes it a prime destination for people across the state. Through this collaboration, we're not only making parking more convenient for drivers but also equipping city administrators with advanced tools and insights to manage their parking assets more efficiently,” said James Emery, SVP of Operations and Revenue at Modii. As part of the Modii-WeHa initiative, the West Hartford Municipal Parking Division has been empowered with a centralized dashboard that allows them to manage parking assets digitally. This user interface provides administrators with the tools needed to update and optimize existing parking assets and seamlessly prepare for future events. “With today’s lifestyle, consumers want information on demand, readily available and catered to their interests. We want consumers to have options accessible at their fingertips when it comes to parking services in West Hartford Center and Blue Back Square,” said Brooke Nelson, Operations Manager, Town of West Hartford. The Modii—WeHa partnership is dedicated to evolving and enhancing digital parking solutions for the Town of West Hartford. By leading the digital transformation of mobility, we aim to create a more efficient and seamless experience for the entire community.

Manitou Springs, CO – Parking Base, the leading provider of customized cloud-based parking management solutions, today announced that it has been selected by the city of Manitou Springs, Colorado to provide comprehensive digital parking management for municipal parking spaces. The Manitou Springs digital parking management program will utilize Parking Base’s cutting-edge Permit Manager platform to enhance the parking experience for residents, while improving parking operations. An historic and picturesque destination nestled at the foot of Pikes Peak, Manitou Springs attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Managing parking effectively has become a priority for the town to ensure smooth traffic flow, ease of access to local attractions, and support for its vibrant downtown businesses. City managers are particularly invested in assuring that designated residential parking spaces are preserved for residents and aren’t misused by visitors, and this is a focus of the Parking Base parking management program. “We are proud to be bringing our innovative parking management solutions to Manitou Springs,” said Parking Base SVP Christopher Perry. “Parking should be simpler and smarter to provide the greatest benefits to residents, visitors, and municipal operations alike. Our parking management technology will make parking more convenient for drivers and more manageable for the city.” Key Features of the New Parking System include: 1. Digital Permit Program: The solution provides an efficient and simplified process for applying and approving residential, business, and temporary parking permits. 2. Data-Driven Insights: The digital platform will collect and analyze parking utilization data, allowing the town to optimize parking policies and improve future urban planning initiatives. 3. Support for Sustainability Goals: By streamlining parking and reducing unnecessary driving, the system supports Manitou Springs’ sustainability initiatives, reducing emissions and promoting eco-friendly practices. The digital parking management system is expected to launch in January of 2025. About Parking Base Parking Base is the leading company offering cloud-based parking management solutions to handle all aspects of parking operations. Its comprehensive suite of products includes Permit Manager, Valet Manager, Destination Manager, and Access Manager, and it delivers a seamless and customizable digital, cloud-based solution in a single platform. Parking Base’s tools are designed to optimize efficiencies for parking owners and operators, while enhancing the customer experience. For more information about Parking Base, please visit www.parkingbase.com.

Yonkers, NY — Flowbird, the leader in curbside and off-street mobility solutions, is proud to announce its collaboration with Risetek Global, an industry leader in cutting-edge technology integration, to deploy its advanced parking access and revenue control (PARCS) technology at the Ridge Hill shopping center in Yonkers, New York. Located in Westchester County, just 18 miles from Manhattan, Ridge Hill is a modern town square that blends shopping, dining, entertainment, and outdoor spaces. Ridge Hill provides a vibrant community hub with over 60 shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. To enhance the customer experience and streamline parking operations, Flowbird has integrated 15 of its ‘Flowbird GO’ Off-Street devices, along with Risetek’s cutting-edge License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras across the center’s three parking facilities: Market Street Garage, Archer Garage, and North Otis Garage. Flowbird’s Off-Street devices have fully configurable touch-screen interfaces, dynamic user management capabilities, and LED signals to communicate real-time parking availability. These features are designed to improve the efficiency of parking operations, reduce costs, and deliver a more seamless experience for visitors. Combined with Risetek’s LPR cameras, which use artificial intelligence to capture and record license plate numbers, this solution enhances security, enforces parking regulations, and ensures parking spaces are used efficiently. “Utilizing both companies’ cutting-edge smart parking technology solutions makes perfect sense for clients who require a hybrid frictionless environment,” said Garrett Hofeld, Vice President of Risetek. By integrating Flowbird’s expertise in parking management with Risetek’s AI-powered LPR technology, the two companies are helping to create a more innovative, sustainable parking environment at Ridge Hill. This collaboration aims to optimize parking operations, improve security, and deliver a user-centric experience for shoppers and visitors alike. The enhanced PARCS solution is part of Flowbird’s ongoing commitment to providing innovative, cloud-based solutions that make urban environments more efficient, user-friendly, and connected.

An interview with Stephen Kowal of Nextivity

How Real-Time Flight Data and Technology Are Revolutionizing Airport Parking

Aligning Technology Trials with Operator Realities

Stories of Innovation

Enhanced Enforcement Efficiency Arrives in South Miami Known for its bustling shopping and dining scene, South Miami is taking parking management to the next level with Park Loyalty’s Enforce Pro®, enhancing accuracy, speed, and integration across its expanding ecosystem of parking technologies. South Miami has launched Park Loyalty’s Enforce Pro solution, entering a new era of parking efficiency that overcomes past challenges and positions the City to stay ahead. Facing system reliability issues and limited support for real-time integrations, South Miami required a robust, streamlined enforcement management system that could accommodate their expanded lineup of pay-by-cell providers, mobile LPR technology, and future permitting solutions. Park Loyalty’s Enforce Pro was selected not only as the enforcement solution but also as the ecosystem aggregator, bringing together multiple technologies to improve accuracy, speed, and overall efficiency. The performance numbers since launch underscore the effectiveness of the solution. Within 48 hours, city staff were fully adapted to the new system, issuing citations with unprecedented speed and precision. The average time to issue a citation now stands at just 35 seconds—more than twice as fast as with the previous system—while ticket void rates have dropped to less than 0.05%. This rapid adoption is a testament to the ease of Enforce Pro’s design and the reliability of the integrated systems, enabling South Miami to maintain smooth, efficient operations with minimal adjustment time. Park Loyalty is proud to partner with South Miami in their mission to bring innovative, reliable parking solutions to the community. This success wouldn’t have been possible without the assistance of our ecosystem partners—ParkMobile, PayByPhone, Passport, and Survision—whose technology integrations played a key role in making this launch a success. As South Miami moves forward with Enforce Pro, they are now well-positioned for future enhancements that will further streamline parking and improve service for residents and visitors alike. About Park Loyalty: https://parkloyalty.com/

West Chester, PA -- The Borough of West Chester, Pennsylvania has announced an exciting upgrade to its parking system in partnership with Butts Ticket Systems and Flowbird Group, the leader in curbside management and urban mobility solutions. The Borough has updated its parking system with modernized touch-screen pay-by-plate parking kiosks, fully equipped with the industry’s latest technology, and two new mobile payment options – The Flowbird Mobile App and Pay-by-Text. The new parking system will feature parking kiosks with a 9.7” full color touch display. The touch screen has the look and feel of a tablet, walking users step-by-step through the transaction process. The kiosks will also allow for credit card payments as well as contactless payments such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. The environmentally friendly kiosks are solar powered - saving the Borough from any additional infrastructure costs - and paperless, allowing users to opt for text receipts instead. The new parking kiosks will use a ‘pay-by-plate’ parking system. This means that users will not be required to return to their car to display a receipt on the dashboard. Instead, all they need is their license plate information. The Borough is also excited to announce the release of two other digital parking solutions; The Flowbird Mobile App and Pay-by-Text! Those who used the Flowbird App on West Chester University’s campus will now be able to use the app downtown! The Flowbird App allows patrons to pay for parking from their mobile devices, receive text notifications when parking time is about to expire, and extend their time without having to visit a parking kiosk. The app features a map-based user interface, integrated with Waze and other navigation systems, to guide users to their preferred parking location. The app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store. In addition to the app, users can also use the Pay-by-Text functionality to make faster, easier payments! Pay-By-Text is an easy-to-use web-based solution that allows drivers to pay for their parking session without creating an account or downloading an app! Users can simply send a text with their parking code to 727563, and Flowbird will respond with a secure payment link. (The location parking code will be posted on-street signs and nearby parking kiosks!) Once the license plate and credit card information are entered, they’re all set! By implementing modernized parking solutions with convenient payment options, the Borough of West Chester will be able to better manage parking turnover and visitor influx during peak periods and provide a more user-friendly experience. The addition of digital payment options will bring a consistent and higher level of customer service to the parking public. About Flowbird FLOWBIRD operates in 4,350 towns and cities across 80 countries. The company is constantly innovating and breaking new ground to help provide solutions. Its mission is to facilitate the individual journey and maximize a city’s unique mobility potential, while considering all city stakeholders and end-user experiences. Through its devices, elite service platform and teams, Flowbird enables a new era for maximizing urban harmony and value throughout the city’s core.