Municipal/Cities

IPMI & Member News

ParkMobile by Arrive logo
Digital Parking Tech IPMI & Member News Municipal/Cities Vendors/Products

ParkMobile Partners with the SFMTA on Smart City Parking Program

San Francisco, CA – The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which manages the city’s transportation system, has announced the launch of ParkMobile in San Francisco. ParkMobile, part of the global mobility company Arrive, will become one of the primary mobile payment providers for the city’s 26,000 on-street parking spaces. San Francisco has been an early adopter of digital parking technology since 2011 and continues to seek opportunities to offer residents and visitors new resources for a seamless urban journey. Through ParkMobile’s industry-leading digital parking tools, drivers now benefit from enhanced convenience features, including timely notifications before a session expires and the ability to extend parking remotely, delivering a more seamless and reliable parking experience. "Parking in San Francisco just got easier, faster and stress-free," said Scott Booker, General Manager of Parking at Arrive. "With ParkMobile, residents and visitors can pay for parking right from their phone. Our intuitive app puts convenience at drivers’ fingertips, saving time and reducing everyday parking frustrations. By partnering with the SFMTA, we’re bringing a seamless, reliable parking experience to one of North America’s busiest cities, helping people spend less time paying for parking and more time enjoying their day." “This collaboration is a testament to the SFMTA’s commitment to optimize our parking systems,” said Viktoriya Wise, SFMTA Streets Division Director. “This new partnership with ParkMobile allows us to improve the customer experience for visitors and residents parking on our city streets,” With more than 120,000 commuters traveling every day across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge alone, workers are continuing to return to San Francisco's offices where an intuitive parking app can make the commute simpler. ParkMobile is proud to help cities like San Francisco reduce traffic and keep moving by allowing drivers to efficiently get off the road and into their desired parking locations–part of Arrive’s mission to ease urban mobility through the integration of smart mobility technology. ParkMobile recommends drivers download the ParkMobile app before their journey. Depending on the location, drivers will pull into a space, easily open the app, select the zone number, space number or input their license plate number, set their parking duration and begin their session, all with a few simple smartphone taps. Alternative methods to complete the payment process via phone will be provided through updated signage located on existing parking meters. For more information, please visit: parkmobile.io. Press contact Contact us at: mediarelations@arrive.com About ParkMobile  ParkMobile, LLC is the leading provider of smart parking and mobility solutions in North America, and part of the global mobility company, Arrive. ParkMobile offers digital solutions to quickly find and pay for on-street and off-street parking via a mobile device. The company also offers parking reservations at stadiums, venues, and metro area garages. ParkMobile’s technology is used in thousands of locations across the U.S. as well as college campuses and airports. Visit ParkMobile.io or @ParkMobile on X for the latest news and information. For Arrive news, visit arrive.com.

Pumba logo
Data IPMI & Member News Mobility Municipal/Cities Technology Vendors/Products

Pumba Parking Releases the 2024–2025 Parking Report for Central Tel Aviv - A First-of-Its-Kind Data Study on Urban Street Parking Behavior

This report was designed for both local drivers searching for parking every day and decision-makers worldwide exploring urban mobility solutions. Using data from more than 1,000 street sensors monitoring 8,000 on-street parking spaces in Tel Aviv, we analyzed hundreds of thousands of parking events to reveal clear patterns: when spots are most available, how long they stay open, how long searches take, how prices compare locally and globally, and much more. For Tel Aviv drivers, it is a practical guide with insights and tips to reduce time and frustration when searching for parking. For municipalities and industry professionals, it serves as a case study of what computer-vision-based infrastructure can deliver: realtime occupancy monitoring, demand analysis, and the potential to reduce congestion, save CO2 emissions, and create more efficient curb management. Click here to read the full PDF. Pumba Team

City of Bangor, Maine
Digital Parking Tech Enforcement IPMI & Member News Municipal/Cities Vendors/Products

Bangor Clears $9,000 in Unpaid Parking Fines

This summer, starting July 1st, the City of Bangor, Maine, launched a parking ticket amnesty program allowing overdue fines to be paid without late fees. The program came ahead of the introduction of The Barnacle, a new windshield-mounted enforcement device designed to replace traditional boots. By the end of the month, more than $9,000 in unpaid parking tickets were resolved, demonstrating the success of a program built on fairness and equity.[1][2] A CLEAN SLATE: THE AMNESTY PROGRAM Recognizing that past violations can snowball into burdensome penalties, Bangor’s July amnesty initiative allowed residents with violations over 30 days old to pay only the original fine, waiving late fees and doubled penalties.[2] To ensure residents knew about the opportunity, the city launched a broad publicity campaign that included announcements on local TV and radio stations, social media posts, updates on the city’s website, and signage in municipal garages and downtown areas. This outreach helped spread the word quickly, encouraging compliance, giving people a fresh start, and generating strong community engagement.[3] THE NEXT CHAPTER IN PARKING COMPLIANCE With the amnesty program wrapping up, Bangor prepared to roll out Barnacle devices for ongoing enforcement. Replacing the traditional wheel boot, the Barnacle attaches to a vehicle’s windshield, making it immediately visible and unsafe to drive until resolved. Drivers receive clear instructions for fast, convenient payment and self-removal.[2][4] “The beginning of August, we are launching what’s called the Barnacle, and the Barnacle is what used to be the boot on a car. So instead of on a tire, it’s going to be on the windshield. And so we wanted people to kind of get their ducks in a row in terms of parking so that they don’t have to receive the Barnacle and we wanted to kind of have that time to be able to explain what the Barnacle is,” said Biguita Hernandez-Smith, Economic Development Officer for the City of Bangor.[3] This approach ensures compliance while minimizing disruption, damage, and wait times. PARTNERSHIPS DRIVING SUCCESS  Bangor’s Business & Economic Development Committee emphasized that this success comes from strong collaboration across departments—from finance to code enforcement. Pairing digital tools like the ParkMobile app, a fair forgiveness program, and Barnacle enforcement is helping the city deliver on its promise to make downtown parking easier, more accessible, and more efficient.[5] SETTING A MODEL FOR OTHER CITIES Bangor’s early results show how cities can pairBst compliance and trust. By recovering thousands in unpaid tickets while giving drivers a path to catch up, Bangor is setting an example for other municipalities facing similar challenges.  Watch the Full News Story [6] Sources: Bangor Daily News (September 5, 2025). “Bangor recouped $9K in unpaid parking tickets after threatening to use the ‘Barnacle’.” Bangor Daily News. Retrieved September 16, 2025. News Center Maine Staff (July 10, 2025). “Drivers can take advantage of Bangor parking ticket amnesty before the city deploys the ‘barnacle’.” News Center Maine. Retrieved September 16, 2025. WABI Staff (July 8, 2025). “Bangor to grant amnesty in July for parking violation fees.” WABI (local news). Retrieved September 16, 2025. WGME Staff (July 10, 2025). “‘Barnacle’ parking enforcement is coming to Bangor.” WGME 13 News. Retrieved September 16, 2025. Bangor Mike Staff (July 14, 2025). “July 7, 2025 Bangor City Council Committee Meetings.” Bangor Mike. Retrieved September 16, 2025. Bangor Mike Staff (July 8, 2025). “Bangor to Grant Amnesty in July for Parking Violation Fees.” WABI TV5 News. Retrieved September 16, 2025.

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Curb Management Digital Parking Tech Enforcement IPMI & Member News Municipal/Cities Vendors/Products

Bethlehem Parking Authority & Cleverciti Expand Partnership With On-Street Detection, Guided Enforcement & Digital Signage for Wayfinding

Bethlehem, PA — Following the success of its curb management pilot project with Cleverciti, the Bethlehem Parking Authority (BPA) is taking the next step. The two organizations have now extended their partnership to roll out on-street detection, increased enforcement efficiencies, and digital signage for wayfinding—strengthening Bethlehem’s efforts to manage curb usage, traffic flow, parking compliance and the overall mobility experience. Building on a Strong Foundation Earlier this year, BPA and Cleverciti launched a pilot project using Cleverciti’s AI-powered aerial sensors to monitor offstreet availability, occupancy, turnover and compliance in Bethlehem. This pilot has already delivered valuable real-time data, enabling smarter decisions on parking operations. That foundation has proven the value of data-driven curb management for Bethlehem, and now the stakes are rising: to make all of parking more responsive, compliant, and navigable. What’s New: On-Street Detection & Guided Enforcement Under the expanded scope: On-Street Detection: Additional sensors will be deployed along selected streets and to detect when vehicles are occupying curb zones. These will not only monitor if a space is in use, but also capture metadata around duration, turnover, and unauthorized uses (e.g. overstay, loading vs. passenger drop-off vs. parking). Enforcement Efficiencies: With more precise detection data, the BPA can guide enforcement practices toward the broader goal of achieving compliance rather than issuing tickets. Automated alerts will notify officers when violations occur, allowing for more efficient responses. Over time, as patterns of misuse are revealed through data, enforcement strategies can become even more efficient and proactive, reducing the need for ticketing while increasing overall compliance. Wayfinding via Digital Signage One of the most visible changes will be the addition of digital signage across key entry points and thoroughfares: Signs installed at strategic locations will display real-time curb and space availability, guiding drivers toward available areas. The signage will also help with wayfinding: showing directions to nearby parking resources, loading zones, special event zones, or accessible parking. The aim is to reduce cruising, congestion, and emissions caused by drivers circling in search of parking, while sharing impactful information with the community and improving the predictability and experience of arriving in downtown and event areas. Expected Impacts & Benefits: Benefit - What It Means for Bethlehem Improved Compliance / Reduced Violations - Guided enforcement fueled by accurate, real-time detection means fewer illegally parked vehicles, overstays, or misuse of special curb zones. Reduced Traffic Congestion - With wayfinding and visible guidance, drivers waste less time circling, freeing up curb space and easing flow. Better Use of Curb Assets - Data will reveal where curb space is under-utilized or misused, allowing BPA to reallocate, redesign, or manage zones dynamically. Enhanced User Experience - Residents, visitors, delivery drivers, and businesses benefit from clearer information, more reliable parking, and easier navigation. Environmental & Operational Efficiency - Less idling, smarter routing, and more efficient enforcement reduce emissions and minimize overtime or inefficient staff deployment. “These solutions mark another important step in our commitment to providing innovative, data-driven solutions that enhance the parking experience in Bethlehem,” said Steven Fernstrom, Executive Director of the Bethlehem Parking Authority. “Having access to accurate usage data is foundational to creating a more accessible and vibrant downtown for residents, businesses, and visitors.” “Cleverciti is proud to deepen our partnership with the Bethlehem Parking Authority,” said Sonny Samra, Chief Revenue Officer, Cleverciti. “From our initial deployment, we have seen both the challenges and the opportunities for parking in Bethlehem. Adding detection, guided enforcement, and wayfinding signage allows for an integrated approach that creates a closed loop system—where data is continuously collected, analyzed, and acted upon —providing real-time information, actionable insights, and visible guidance, so Bethlehem can deliver a better, smarter mobility experience.” What’s Next As rollout advances, BPA and Cleverciti will monitor metrics such as: Uptake in compliant parking (decrease in violations) Reduction in time spent cruising for a spot Changes in turnover and space utilization in detected zones Operational efficiencies (e.g. enforcement response time, staff allocation) Bethlehem’s journey with Cleverciti shows how modern curb management isn’t just a back-office function, but a visible, interactive experience that shapes mobility, access, and the city’s daily flow. This new phase promises to sharpen that experience for everyone.

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Digital Parking Tech Enforcement IPMI & Member News Municipal/Cities University Vendors/Products

T2 Systems Celebrates 20 Years of Transforming Parking Permit Management Through Software Innovations

Indianapolis, IN — T2 Systems, a Verra Mobility (NASDAQ: VRRM) company, announced the 20-year anniversary of its flagship T2 Flex® cloud-based parking permit management and enforcement solution. Since its launch, T2 Flex has helped modernize parking operations for hundreds of universities, municipalities, and private operators. T2 Systems provides the most comprehensive suite of parking and mobility solutions in North America, serving over 2,000 parking organizations. T2 technology manages millions of parking spaces and processes millions of transactions across hundreds of universities, municipalities, and private operators in North America. T2 Flex was one of the first digital browser-based solutions to solve the problem of fragmented, outdated parking systems that cause inefficiencies, silos, and poor customer experiences. Today, T2 Flex is a cloud-based tool that addresses the needs of large universities and cities that struggle to manage complex, high-volume operations spread across multiple systems with its centralized, enterprise-grade T2 UNIFI® Platform for seamless digital payments, virtual permitting, enforcement, and analytics. The T2 Flex platform enables organizations of all sizes to streamline operations, reduce IT burden, and deliver a better experience for customers and administrators. “Two decades ago, T2 Systems launched Flex to lead a technology shift in parking — delivering the first cloud-based, hosted, comprehensive parking system,” said Zack Harmeyer, Senior Vice President of Product at T2 Systems. “Today, Flex is the most advanced parking management platform available, supporting everything from permit sales to license plate recognition (LPR), mobile enforcement, along with Parking Access and Revenue Control System (PARCS) and real-time data analytics across college campuses, hospitals, airports, and cities throughout North America. This milestone is a testament to our customers and partners who helped guide its evolution and shape the modern parking experience.” The flagship Flex platform continues to evolve with software innovations for residential permitting from T2 Reside™, mobile citation payments with Scan & Pay™, and event or interim parking with T2 Tempo™. The company is advancing the solution with T2 FlexForward™, a scalable, fully cloud-hosted solution with enhanced integrations, streamlined user experiences, and deeper connectivity across the T2 UNIFI® Network, which is already being used by more than 60% of Flex customers to enhance parking operations. With its sleek, intuitive interface designed for today’s users, FlexForward provides a faster, cleaner, and easier system to navigate for complex operations or daily tasks. “T2’s collaborative approach to developing FlexForward ensured that customer feedback directly shaped the product. The result is a platform with meaningful enhancements, from the powerful global search to a more intuitive design that streamlines workflows and improves efficiency,” said Andrew Woloszczuk, Permit Specialist and Adjudications Lead, at Duke University. As the industry’s longest-standing and most widely adopted parking management enforcement solution, Flex powers mission-critical parking operations for more than 100,000 users across more than 400 installations in North America. “T2 has been our go-to parking strategy for nearly 25 years, and we’ve been using the Flex platform for the past 18 years,” said Josh Cantor, Director of Parking & Transportation at George Mason University. “From being the first customer of T2’s Parking Access and Revenue Control System (PARCS), to the integration of collections, pay stations, and license plate recognition, T2 has given us the ability to keep expanding our parking solutions under a single platform.” To celebrate the anniversary, T2 is launching the #Flex20 campaign featuring customer spotlights, historical insights, and product roadmap previews at its annual T2 Connect event, the parking industry’s largest and longest-running customer user conference. About T2 Systems T2 Systems, a Verra Mobility company, provides the most comprehensive suite of parking and mobility solutions in North America, serving over 2,000 customers, including universities, municipalities, and private operators. With industry-leading platforms like T2 Flex®, T2 UNIFI®, and Velocity™, T2 helps organizations manage parking permits, enforcement, access, payments, and mobility with confidence. T2 Flex® and T2 UNIFI® are registered trademarks of T2 Systems, Inc. About Verra Mobility Verra Mobility Corporation (NASDAQ: VRRM) is a leading provider of smart mobility technology solutions that make transportation safer, smarter, and more connected. The company sits at the center of the mobility ecosystem, bringing together vehicles, hardware, software, data, and people to enable safe, efficient solutions for customers globally. Verra Mobility’s transportation safety systems and parking management solutions protect lives, improve urban and motorway mobility, and support healthier communities. The company also solves complex payment, utilization, and compliance challenges for fleet owners and rental car companies. Headquartered in Arizona, Verra Mobility operates in North America, Europe, and Australia. For more information, please visit www.verramobility.com.

Passport Logo - Passport Issues City Alert to Help Combat Fraud & Protect Consumers
Digital Parking Tech Enforcement IPMI & Member News Municipal/Cities Vendors/Products

City of Boston Modernizes Parking with Passport’s Unified Platform

Boston, MA – The Boston Transportation Department (BTD), including the Office of the Parking Clerk, is upgrading its digital parking infrastructure with Passport, the most trusted technology partner for innovative curb management solutions. The initiative replaces Boston’s decades-old parking system with a unified, digital platform designed to streamline operations, enhance compliance, and improve service delivery for residents, businesses, and visitors. “As part of our commitment to modernizing city services and improving the day-to-day experience, this move makes parking in Boston simpler, fairer, and more efficient,” said Jascha Franklin-Hodge, Chief of Streets for the City of Boston. “From day one, Passport has worked hand-in-hand with us, learning the nuances of our operations and configuring its platform to support a data conversion of over 30 million records and facilitating the sharing of information across departments. Together, we’ve replaced a 40-year-old system of siloed tools with a flexible foundation that will let Boston embrace whatever the future of mobility brings, while giving residents a more transparent, accessible experience today.” “Our ability to deliver the best experience to our constituents relies on the hardworking teams in the city and technology systems that are reliable and secure,” said Santiago Garces, Chief Information Officer for the City of Boston. “Passport was an incredible partner in making the transition to our new system go smoothly. And, by insourcing the management of phones, network, and equipment, our DoIT team was able to save 42% of the annual costs that were previously outsourced to the previous vendor." Just 72 hours after replacing the city’s former vendor, Passport’s end-to-end platform processed more than $750,000 in payments. Since the launch, Passport has processed over $17 million in curbside payments. BTD teams have embraced the technology with speed, hitting 111% of the previous system’s digital activity and completing over 13,000 constituent-serving actions by day three, from appeals and residential permit approvals to citation payments and hearing scheduling. This rapid rollout and immediate impact highlight Passport’s ability to help Boston move faster, serve better, and deliver a seamless experience city-wide. As part of this system-wide upgrade, the highly used ParkBoston app has returned to its original provider, Passport. The app has been upgraded as a key part of the city’s broader digital parking system transformation. Passport’s integrated solutions bring together parking enforcement, permitting, mobile payments, and data management into a single platform, helping one of the largest American cities: Simplify permitting and ticket appeals with a user-friendly, mobile-accessible system Increase transparency around parking rules, notices, and fees Support better compliance and reduce administrative burden across city departments “Boston joins a growing list of cities rethinking how curb space is managed,” said Khristian Gutierrez, co-founder and CEO of Passport. “This collaboration exemplifies what Passport's platform was built for: partnering with forward‑thinking cities to simplify the complex work of managing the curb, with a solution that evolves alongside them. BTD leadership has a tremendous vision for its curbs, and we’re honored to stand by their side during this digital transformation. With our open, API-first platform as Boston’s new foundation, we’re excited for this journey together, helping the city stay ahead of mobility innovation and deliver a seamless, transparent experience for its community.” “In order to deliver such an ambitious and transformative project, the City of Boston engaged Accenture’s public service practice to provide services that included project management, training support, business process improvement, and change management. Tim Rogers, Managing Director in Accenture’s Public Service practice, said: "We’re proud to collaborate with the City of Boston to drive this significant transformation of its parking infrastructure. By leveraging digital technologies, we're helping to create a more efficient, user-friendly parking system that simplifies enforcement, permitting, and payment processing, ultimately enhancing the overall experience for residents, businesses, and visitors." Passport has processed over $4 billion in curbside payments and supports more than 800 municipalities and private operators across North America. Its platform touches one in five Americans through tools like digital permits, mobile parking payments, and citation management. For more information, including best practices and resources, visit https://www.passportinc.com/. About Passport Passport is the trusted technology partner for over 800 cities and private operators across North America, unifying paid parking, enforcement operations, and payment infrastructure into one platform. By simplifying how municipalities manage and monetize the curb, Passport empowers local leaders to boost compliance, unlock new revenue opportunities, and improve how people move around their communities. Passport helps cities thrive by delivering the tools and insights they need to meet evolving mobility challenges and create community-focused outcomes. Media Contact: Aimee Eichelberger (312) 952-1528 Passport@983group.com

Wooden Benches along a Path in a Waterfront Park facing a Beautiful Harbour full of Moored Boats at Twilight. Camden, ME, United States.
Digital Parking Tech Enforcement IPMI & Member News Municipal/Cities Vendors/Products

Camden, ME Launches Complete Park Loyalty Platform

The Town of Camden, Maine, known as the place “where the mountains meet the sea,” has officially launched the complete Park Loyalty platform, including Enforce Pro, Process Pro, and Permit Pro. Camden is one of New England’s most picturesque destinations, attracting thousands of visitors each year for its harbor, downtown, and outdoor recreation. With such a strong tourism presence, parking management is more than a convenience; it is a critical part of supporting local businesses, residents, and the visitor experience. By deploying the full Park Loyalty ecosystem, Camden now benefits from: Enforce Pro for smarter, fairer enforcement. Process Pro for streamlined citation processing and customer service. Permit Pro for a brand-new digital permit program, giving the Town new tools to manage curb space and demand. Together, these solutions create an integrated enforcement and permitting platform that improves compliance, balances parking demand, and provides greater convenience for users. This deployment also includes an integration with Flowbird (Arrive), including meters and their text payment platform, brought to Camden by Butts Ticket Systems (BTS). Park Loyalty is proud to welcome Camden to our growing customer community and looks forward to supporting the Town as it strengthens its parking management strategy in one of Maine’s most beautiful coastal settings. About Park Loyalty Park Loyalty makes parking software simple. Our Pro Solutions platform, including Enforce Pro, Process Pro, Permit Pro, and Rewards Pro, delivers enforcement, processing, permitting, and rewards solutions for agencies of every type. Whether you manage a municipality, university, transit authority, hospital, private operator, or any other parking operation, we offer the flexibility to be the right-fit solution.  We are leaders in omnichannel enforcement, supporting your operations whether enforcement is conducted by on-street patrolling officers, through mobile LPR vehicles, or within automated, frictionless parking facilities. Citations can be issued on the windshield, by ticket-by-mail, or as e-citations, it is all supported within the same platform. With proven rapid deployment, an ever-growing integrations partner network, and deep industry expertise, Park Loyalty ensures that no matter how you manage enforcement, we can support you.  By connecting frontline enforcement with back-office processing, permit management, and customer engagement, Park Loyalty empowers agencies to increase efficiency, strengthen compliance, and deliver measurable results for their communities. Learn more: parkloyalty.com

gtechna logo - Insights on how Galveston Established a Precedent in Texas State Laws Presented by gtechna
Enforcement Municipal/Cities Parking Facilities Technology

Curb the Chaos: LPR and Ticket-by-Mail Innovations in Hallandale Beach Presented by gtechna

Village of Glencoe, IL beachview
Digital Parking Tech Enforcement IPMI & Member News Municipal/Cities Vendors/Products

Village of Glencoe, IL Partners with Passport to Modernize Parking Compliance Management

Glencoe, IL – The Village of Glencoe, Illinois, is partnering with Passport to upgrade its parking compliance operations. With Passport’s centralized platform, the village will unify enforcement, permitting, paid parking, and payment processing for both physical and digital transactions. Passport’s digital parking compliance and enforcement tools enable cities to collect evidence, issue warnings and citations, and deploy resources more effectively. The platform’s embedded payments solution also allows municipalities to manage, view, and reconcile all curb transactions in one system. In addition, the village will introduce Passport Parking, a mobile payment app that gives drivers a convenient way to pay for and manage their parking sessions remotely. Passport partners with municipalities nationwide to modernize and unify systems through a centralized solution. With expertise in seamless transitions and a focus on supporting local needs, the company helps communities thrive. Visit the company website to learn how Passport’s parking compliance platform streamlines on-street parking and enforcement operations for cities of all sizes. About Passport Passport is the trusted technology partner for over 800 cities and private operators across North America, unifying paid parking, enforcement operations, and payment infrastructure into one platform. By simplifying how municipalities manage and monetize the curb, Passport empowers local leaders to boost compliance, unlock new revenue opportunities, and improve how people move around their communities. Passport helps cities thrive by delivering the tools and insights they need to meet evolving mobility challenges and create community-focused outcomes. Media Contact: pr@passportinc.com

NACTO-Event
Curb Management Events Mobility Municipal/Cities Planning

Free Event: Curb Control: Building Modern Programs for Dynamic Streets

Join IPMI, OMF, and NACTO for a free industry webinar on managing the curb. As curb space becomes more dynamic, cities are evolving how they manage access, pricing, and competing demands at the curb. Open to all industry professionals!

EasyPark PR, Park It Forward
Community IPMI & Member News Municipal/Cities Vendors/Products

“Park It Forward” Launches: EasyPark Turns Parking Change Into Community Change

Anchorage, AK – The Anchorage Community Development Authority (ACDA), through its EasyPark division, is excited to announce the launch of the Park It Forward: Downtown Anchorage Grant Program—a bold new initiative that reinvests parking meter revenue into local projects that spark energy, creativity, and life in downtown Anchorage. “This is more than a grant—it’s a promise that every quarter dropped into a meter supports our community,” said Mike Robbins, Executive Director of ACDA. “Park It Forward strengthens the heart of our city by putting public dollars back into public spaces.” Through this new program, EasyPark will award grants ranging from $1,000 to $25,000 to local nonprofits, small businesses, and community groups for projects like murals, events, beautification, and public activations. The goal: fuel community-led ideas that make downtown more vibrant and engaging. “The Park It Forward initiative is a fantastic example of what can happen when we think creatively about our municipal resources and take proactive steps to invest in our future,” said Mayor Suzanne LaFrance. “It’s a clear win for our community as we work together to revitalize downtown and build a more dynamic and thriving Anchorage for all.” $6.1 Million and Counting Since 2002, ACDA and EasyPark have invested over $6.1 million directly back into the community—supporting beautification, infrastructure upgrades, public art, and partnerships that keep Anchorage’s downtown thriving. Park It Forward builds on that legacy by empowering locals to bring their ideas to life. Built on Community Voice The program is directly shaped by findings from ACDA’s Downtown Community Survey, where 747 respondents called for: More public art and murals Vibrant public spaces and creative events A stronger, people-first downtown identity Apply Now Applications are now open at www.easyparkalaska.com/grants from September 18 - October 9, 2025. Awards will be announced within 4 weeks of the cycle closing. For more information or assistance with your application, contact Melinda Gant at mgant@acda.net.

Compliance Related Words Written on Wood Blocks Sitting on Wood Surface
IPMI Blog Municipal/Cities Policy TDM Technology Transit

Policy Corner

How does parking policy align with the goals of a growing, multimodal city? And how can cities densify without overwhelming their parking systems? These questions have been central in Columbus, Ohio—the Midwest’s fastest-growing city. 2024 was pivotal. In November, Central Ohio voters approved a new transit sales tax to fund a Bus Rapid Transit system. Months earlier, Columbus City Council adopted Phase 1 of “Zone In,” a zoning overhaul creating new districts to spur housing and walkable, transit-oriented development. A major feature: eliminating minimum parking requirements in these new districts. In recent years, cities like Minneapolis, Austin, and Denver have repealed parking minimums to support affordability and transit-oriented growth. Yet, as any parking professional knows, residents are often vocal about street parking access. Columbus was no exception. In response, the City established a new Parking Impact Study process, giving the Division of Mobility and Parking Services authority to evaluate potential spillover from new developments. Studies document on-street occupancies, estimate demand, and determine whether mitigation is needed. If impacts are modest, projects commit to Transportation Demand Management (TDM) measures—such as subsidized transit passes, carshare, rideshare, or bike/scooter share—that reduce driving needs. Larger impacts trigger layered mitigations plus a parking management fee, designed to fund new permit zones or other operational tools to protect neighborhood parking access. One year in, only a handful of projects have required studies, and none have yet triggered fees. Still, the policy is already considered a win. Columbus successfully removed parking barriers to new housing—an urgent priority for city leadership—while establishing safeguards to protect residents and manage curb demand. The Columbus model may not fit every city, but its lesson is broader: parking concerns need not block goals around housing affordability or transit-oriented development. With creativity and community dialogue, parking can shift from being a barrier to becoming part of the solution. Justin Goodwin, AICP, PTMP, is the Mobility and Parking Services Administrator for the City of Columbus. Justin can be reached at jmgoodwin@columbus.gov.