Parking Facilities

In this joint roundtable between IPMI and the British Parking Association (BPA), we will discuss the similarities and differences between higher education parking in North America and Great Britain and what can be learned from the experiences of both.

Miami, FL – Get My Parking (GMP), a global leader in smart parking solutions, is proud to announce the successful launch of its flagship product, ExpressLane, at River Landing Shops & Residence. This collaboration introduces a ticketless, AI-powered parking experience for River Landing’s visitors, setting a new standard for convenience and innovation in parking management. ExpressLane delivers a fully digital parking experience, powered by a white-labeled app customized for River Landing. Parkers can now enjoy automated access and payments by simply registering on the app, adding their license plate and payment method, and driving in and out effortlessly. Unregistered parkers can claim their parking session by scanning a QR code or entering their license plate on a web app. They can either add a payment method for a seamless exit or tap their credit card on their way out to pay for their stay. River Landing has also set up paperless validations and permits for their retail and corporate partners, who can assign permits, validate parking, or create validated parking sessions through their self-serve portals. With 18 lanes and over 2,500 parking spaces, River Landing’s fully gated facility now operates with enhanced efficiency, powered by GMP’s AI-driven license plate recognition (LPR) technology. Chirag Jain, CEO of Get My Parking, commented, “We are thrilled to partner with River Landing to bring the future of parking to their facility. ExpressLane streamlines its operations and delivers a superior experience for parkers and partners alike.” Andrew B. Hellinger, Developer of River Landing Shops & Residences, added, “The integration of Get My Parking’s ExpressLane solution marks a significant upgrade for the user experience at River Landing. Our visitors now get a frictionless parking experience, while our tenants love the new validation process. This partnership has made life convenient for everyone who visits River Landing.” Steve Resnick, PTMP, President of Get My Parking, NA, shared, “ExpressLane is designed to transform parking operations without costly hardware upgrades. By retrofitting existing equipment, we’re helping operators like River Landing reduce costs, minimize environmental impact, and deliver a digitized, user-friendly experience.” About River Landing Shops and Residence River Landing Shops & Residence is a premier mixed-use destination, offering a blend of retail, office, dining, and residential spaces. With a focus on creating a vibrant community, River Landing is committed to delivering exceptional experiences for its residents, tenants, visitors and partners. About Get My Parking Get My Parking (GMP) is an award-winning global software company revolutionizing smart parking with IoT, AI, and cloud-based automation. GMP’s hardware-light, CAPEX-light solutions seamlessly connect legacy systems to a unified digital platform, enabling real-time management and interoperability across a vast network of facilities. Designed for the future of mobility, GMP integrates with EV charging, connected vehicles, and shared mobility hubs, empowering owners and operators to streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Today, GMP powers 3,500+ facilities in 20 countries and has processed over 100 million transactions.

I have always been drawn to technology. I remember getting excited about after-school computer club and writing code on an Apple IIe computer. One assignment was a Christmas image. I created Santa on his sleigh with his reindeer flying through the air, delivering presents. Fast-forward many years, and I am still involved in technology and love every minute of it. We all read parking and mobility technology blogs, magazines, social media posts, etc. We attend conferences and hear the latest sales pitch. We get excited at what we see and want it—we want it bad! It all looks great, sounds simple to implement, and solves all our problems… or so it seems. A client came to me and said they wanted to eliminate their gated solution and go gateless. He wanted a frictionless system. He saw the articles and awards from a parking conference and wanted that solution. How hard could it be?  (I know some of you are laughing at this statement.)  We met to document the new system's functional requirements/use cases.  We interviewed parking technology solution vendors. We found the vendor that best fits the use cases. The client was excited. Contracts were signed, and the implementation process began.  The implementation of the solution is going as expected; we did not anticipate the parker's lack of access to technology. Transitioning to a fixed lpr solution requires the parker to use their license plate as their permit or ticket. Did I mention this is a mixed-use garage with over 10 user groups and special events (concerts, roller derby, hockey, etc.)?  As we held meetings with each group introducing the new solution and how it worked, we realized not everyone had a smartphone, a computer, or a credit card to pay for parking. Luckily, none of these were showstoppers; we installed a laptop for staff to create an account to manage their vehicles, and cash payments could be made at the pay station or exchanged for a visa card. As parking and mobility professionals, we get so excited about the latest and greatest technology that we forget about the parker and whether they can actually use the technology installed. This implementation made me rethink my approach to my next technology project. Laura Lierz, PTMP, is the Vice President Education & Municipal Services for Reimagined Parking. Laura can be reached at llierz@reimaginedparking.com.

Transforming Unused Municipal Space through Collaboration

The homelessness crisis in America is real and has far-reaching economic and community impacts. Parking and mobility owners and operators are facing issues on both the operations and enforcement fronts, from people sleeping outside in and around the garages to those seeking shelter in automobiles using parking garages and lots as places to sleep for the night or longer to stay safe.

Organized by the European Parking Association (EPA) from its new base in Brussels, the 21st European Parking Conference & Exhibition is the next edition of the sector’s flagship biennial event.

We are all aware of the famous Benjamin Franklin quote “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail”, yet again and again we are reminded how true that is.  As Parking Professionals, we are often tasked with creating plans and having a plan for an abundance of programs like; Standard Operating Plans, Emergency Action Plans, ADA Plans, Customer Service Plans, Revenue Control Plans, the list goes on and on.  However, Facility Maintenance and Capital Improvement plans seem to take a back seat to the more “parking operational plan” types when in reality, Maintenance and Capital Improvement plans need to be on the top of every parking manager’s priority list.  Failing to prioritize these areas can result in costly repairs and disruptions to parking operations, which ultimately could lead to lost revenue for the owner. As we know, parking often forms the first and last impression a guest has of a building or business, influencing their overall perception.  Yet, many owners fail to implement proper facility maintenance or capital improvement plans for aging parking facilities. Post-tension repairs, concrete repairs, and membrane repairs are rarely considered "exciting" projects that owners are eager to showcase. These projects are typically dusty, noisy, time-consuming, disruptive to parking operations, and VERY EXPENSIVE, so they often get pushed aside in favor of more visually appealing upgrades to the main building or guest entryway. As parking professionals responsible for parking operations, it’s crucial that we communicate with ownership/stakeholders and advocate for a seat at the table to contribute to the discussion on a preliminary capital improvement plan. While most of us may not be engineers by trade, it’s important to familiarize ourselves with the types of parking structures we manage and recognize signs of deterioration. Keep in mind, it will be far more costly to completely rebuild a deteriorating parking facility than to allocate funds annually for ongoing repairs and maintenance. Vincent Campagna, CAPP, is a Manager, Parking & Ground Transportation for Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. Vincent can be reached at vcampagna@mitchellairport.com.

Vancouver, BC — Parking Base, the leading provider of customized cloud-based parking management solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with EasyPark. This collaboration brings Parking Base’s advanced Destination Manager platform to EasyPark-managed facilities across Vancouver, making parking more convenient and accessible for residents and visitors. As part of the partnership, Parking Base’s Destination Manager platform will be white labeled with EasyPark branding, delivering a seamless experience tailored specifically EasyPark customers. The integration will allow drivers to effortlessly make parking reservations at EasyPark facilities directly through the EasyPark website or Google Maps, eliminating the hassle of searching for parking and ensuring a stress-free journey. “We’re thrilled to partner with EasyPark to elevate the parking experience in Vancouver,” said Parking Base Senior Vice President Chris Perry. “By combining our state-of-the-art technology with EasyPark’s commitment to exceptional service, we’re making parking more convenient and efficient throughout Vancouver.” By utilizing Parking Base’s Destination Manager platform, EasyPark can now easily manage rates and inventory as well as create custom reservation workflows tailored to the needs of their tenants, clients, landlords, customers, and employees. “Our mission has always been to simplify parking for our customers, and with Parking Base’s Destination Manager platform we are making parking in Vancouver more convenient than ever,” said Ravinder Bains, Director, Client Services at EasyPark. “At the same time, this is a powerful digital tool that will allow us to manage our parking facilities more efficiently. Our partnership with Parking Base represents a win/win for both EasyPark and our customers.” The integration with Google Maps is a key feature of the Destination Manager platform, offering unparalleled ease of access for drivers who can now plan their trips and reserve parking spaces in advance through a platform they already use daily. This alignment of technology and service reinforces both Parking Base’s and EasyPark’s commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction. 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. Parking Base-EasyPark Digital Parking Program Release About EasyPark  EasyPark is a leader in parking management services, dedicated to providing innovative solutions and excellent customer service across Vancouver. With a strong focus on sustainability and technology, EasyPark continues to evolve the parking experience to meet the needs of the community.

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

Frogparking is proud to announce the successful installation of a world-first, customized parking guidance system at the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC). This pioneering system, designed specifically to meet the unique needs of the airport, is set to transform the parking experience for travelers. The Rochester Airport installation includes 1,323 parking spaces equipped with parking guidance technology and an integrated dynamic wayfinding signage package. This advanced system will assist the airport in efficiently guiding drivers to available spaces within its multi-level parking structures, which has been strategically divided into three sections. The implementation of this technology promises to deliver all the standard benefits of a guidance and wayfinding package, including improved utilization, reduced time to park, and decreased cruising within the structure. Responding to the airport's specific safety concerns, Frogparking engineered a unique form factor for its parking guidance system. To mitigate the risks posed by large bird populations nesting on flat surfaces - a significant hazard to aircraft - the system was redesigned to minimize potential nesting sites. Frogparking’s innovative solution positions the LiDAR sensor flush with the soffit and replaces the standard indicator with a sleek LED rope housed within a tube beneath the sensor assembly. This design not only ensures safety but also enhances the overall parking experience for travelers. “We are thrilled to have partnered with Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport to deliver this world-first parking guidance design,” said Shareena Sandbrook, CEO of Frogparking. “Our customized parking guidance system not only enhances the parking experience but also addresses critical safety concerns, demonstrating our commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction.” The installation at Rochester Airport marks another milestone in Frogparking's mission to revolutionize parking management through cutting-edge technology and tailored solutions. About Frogparking Frogparking is a leading provider of smart parking solutions, offering innovative technology designed to optimize parking management for cities, airports, universities, and businesses worldwide. With a focus on enhancing user experience and maximizing efficiency, Frogparking's systems are at the forefront of the parking industry.

As many of you all know the City of Charleston, South Carolina is a coastal city.  Hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th.  Hurricane season can provide many challenges for Charleston County.  Parking Operations is a division under the Facilities Department, all parking employees are required to assist in preparation and recovery after a storm.  In addition, we have employees that assist the Emergency Operations Center with the Citizen Information Line. We have three different operating levels at Charleston County- Opcon 1 – Normal Daily Operations Opcon 2 – Enhanced Awareness Opcon 3 – Full Alert At each Opcon Level, the Parking Division is required to take certain action.  This includes securing signage and trash cans, installing flood panels, parking gate removal, securing pay machines, sandbagging, system backups, drain cleaning, shutting down elevators etc.  In addition, as storms approach, City of Charleston and the County of Charleston offer free parking within the garages for residents and visitors during storms.  Parking is limited to cars only.  As everyone knows people don’t always follow the rules, we’ve had boats, grills, golf carts, trailers, everything but the kitchen sink.  Cars must be out of the garages on specific days and times, if not customers will pay the prevailing rate after the day and time has passed.  From a customer service aspect, we do take into consideration people that evacuated and cannot get back in time to remove their car as to whether to require payment.  This is conducted on a case-by-case basis. Paul Whetzel, CAPP is the Parking Operations Manager for the County of Charleston, SC. Paul can be reached at PWhetzel@charlestoncounty.org.