Planning

A Decade in Retrospect—High School Reunion Edition

A Decade in Retrospect—High School Reunion Edition

In the world that is parking and mobility, among our primary responsibilities are compliance with laws, regulations, and policies and completing reports to document adherence to applicable requirements. Ensuring the delivery of services in a safe and efficient manner and having sufficient funds for annual expenses can consume much of our time and keep us from stepping back to consider new and different ways of innovating to meet quickly changing needs. In this workplace environment, innovation may not have a place to be explored and generated so it takes purposeful action to ensure we break out of our daily routines. This can occur through employee interactions, meetings and brainstorming where you encourage a wide range of employees to think differently and consider alternative approaches to issues, challenges and problems. It can also include adding to your staff employees who have shown past experience in using innovative approaches so make sure to ask probing questions to get at this during interviews. Although not easy and it may not occur organically, innovation can be incorporated into our workplace providing benefits such as making for a more interesting, exciting and productive place for employees while positioning the organization as a leader in addressing the rapidly changing world of transportation. Mark Hairr, PTMP, is an Executive Director for Wave Transit. Mark can be reached at mhairr@wavetransit.com.

Join us for a free discussion on planning, design, and construction.

Join us for a free discussion on planning, design, and construction.

Change is inevitable, and when it comes to regulation, standing on the sidelines means accepting whatever comes your way—whether favorable or not. The universe abhors a vacuum, and if industry professionals don’t step in to help shape legislation, other forces will fill the gap, often without the insight needed to create balanced, effective policies. Last month, in a message to members of the Legislative Cohort Committee, Mark Vergenes shared an example of how the Pennsylvania Parking Association (PTAP) interacted with the Pennsylvania legislature to advocate for changes in parking enforcement laws. His message was clear: Active participation in the legislative process is essential. With over 15 years of experience in legislative affairs, I can confidently say: Legislators value input from their constituents. Your voice matters. If you’re not in the room, you’re not at the table. Lawmakers don’t intentionally exclude interested parties, but without active participation, your expertise is missing from the conversation. You have knowledge that can guide policymakers. Legislators will rely on industry experts to understand the real-world impact of their decisions. Regulation is increasing. Across the country, new laws are being passed to address concerns about industry practices, often based on the actions of a small percentage of bad actors. Without industry guidance, well-intentioned regulations may have unintended consequences. Advocacy requires patience and repetition. A single conversation isn’t enough—consistent, collective engagement through industry groups or associations is far more effective than a lone voice. Silence is costly. If you choose to remain uninvolved, you’ll have to live with the results, and when it comes to regulation, the outcome may not be in your favor. State-led regulatory efforts are gaining momentum and could significantly alter long-standing industry practices. While some legislation may have good intentions, lawmakers often lack the technical understanding of how their decisions affect businesses. That’s where industry experts play a vital role in educating policymakers and shaping regulations that are both fair and practical. We should collectively advocate for laws that promote good public policy. That means considering both the intended and unintended consequences of legislation. Moreover, when laws adopt industry practices, they provide legal protections against class action lawsuits and other litigation against the industry. Proactive engagement isn’t just about preventing bad laws—it’s about ensuring that industry standards are codified in a way that provides stability and clarity. Change is coming. The question is: will you help direct it, or will you be steamrolled by it? To ensure a fair and responsible regulatory environment, industry professionals must actively participate, educate, and advocate for balanced land fair legislation. Join the conversation. Share your insights. Your engagement is crucial. Scott A. Petri is the President for Mobility & Parking Advisors, LLC. Scott can be reached at Scott@mobilityparkingadvisors.com.

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.

The parking and mobility industry plays a fundamental role in driving sustainability in transportation. Which parking and mobility innovations are promoting a greener, more sustainable future?

Successful Strategies for Implementing, Measuring, and Reporting Green Initiatives

An Operator’s Roadmap for Capitalizing on Parking’s Digital Future Today

I recently dove into the world of planning after being dedicated to the parking industry for 20 years.  In my previous parking career, I had the opportunity to scratch the surface of grants. However, as a planner I dove headfirst into the world of grants, specifically transportation-focused Federal Funding Pursuits.  I quickly got on board learning grant jargon -NOFO, BCA, Justice 40, LMI, etc. Throughout my entire learning process, my parking hat was still on.  I simply refuse to take it off. Old habits, right?! I remember saying to myself while proposing projects, “Why didn’t I look into grants for that and this?” There were so many parallels between parking operations/planning and transportation planning!  Harris County was awarded the 2022 SMART grant for $2M due to a well-thought-out and executed planning study. In all my years as a parking consultant, my biggest frustration was the study never leaving the shelf. This alone justified my career shift to county planning and allowed gaps to be bridged. Unfortunately, with the current administration in DC, many organizations fear not seeing grants come to fruition. If this is the case, planning and construction efforts impacting transportation and safety may be negatively impacted and studies may be put back on the shelf. Comprehensive planning and outreach are vital to set the stage for grants. While we sit tight and rely on our decision-makers in DC, I encourage us to continue to plan and conduct studies, bringing to light the need for infrastructure and/or improvements. Nicole Chinea, CAPP, is a Senior Planner for Harris County. Nicole can be reached at nicole.chinea@harriscountytx.gov.

As leadership dynamics shift within workplaces, many experienced managers wonder if it’s too late to change their leadership style. The answer is simple: it’s never too late. Leadership is a skill, not a fixed trait, and it can evolve throughout your career. Why Change? The traditional, top-down leadership style is no longer as effective in a world that values collaboration, transparency, and empathy. Today’s leaders are expected to inspire, empower, and adapt. If you’ve been leading a certain way for years, it may feel daunting to shift styles. But making small changes can enhance your leadership and improve team engagement. The First Step: Self-Reflection Before making changes, take time for self-reflection. Ask yourself: How do I handle feedback? How do I engage with my team—do I empower or direct? How do I manage conflict? Identifying areas for improvement will help you focus on where change is needed. Reflection is key to unlocking your potential for growth. Overcoming the Fear of Change Many leaders fear that changing their style will disrupt their team's dynamics. But the truth is, small adjustments can have a huge impact. Start by delegating more, actively listening, and building trust. Your team will appreciate your willingness to evolve. Practical Steps for Overcoming your Fear Seek Feedback: Regularly ask for input from your team to guide your growth. Invest in Learning: Read leadership books or attend workshops to gain new insights. Lead by Example: Show your team that change is possible by modeling the behavior you want to see. Be Patient: Change takes time, so be kind to yourself as you evolve. In conclusion, it’s never too late to improve your leadership style. Leadership is a journey, and every step you take to grow will help you become a more effective, authentic leader. Authentic is the goal! Tavris Parker, CAPP, is a Parking Operations Manager for the City of Virginia Beach. Tavris can be reached at TParker@vbgov.com.