Technology

Join the IPMI PDC Committee as we challenge the assumptions and myths shaping parking programs around the world.

The Town of Breckenridge, one of the busiest ski resort towns in the US, has launched a comprehensive parking study to evaluate existing parking conditions and develop long-term, data-driven strategies that balance quality of life for residents with a high-quality visitor experience. The study is being led by DJ&A as prime consultant, with Parkalytics providing specialized parking data collection and analytics support. Parkalytics’ role in the study focuses on delivering high-resolution parking utilization data across a large geographic area. The firm has already completed two 14-hour parking counts in December, capturing peak winter holiday conditions. Additional data collection efforts are planned for spring and summer to ensure the study reflects a full range of demand scenarios. “DJ&A is pleased to lead the Breckenridge Parking Study, supported by the data collection capabilities and analytical expertise of Parkalytics,” said Bill Delo, Senior Project Manager and Transportation Planner at DJ&A. “As project lead, our focus is on identifying strategies to optimize use of the Town’s parking infrastructure through evaluation of existing parking patterns and development of forward-thinking recommendations. The integration of Parkalytics’ specialized data collection approach and analytics is integral to our analysis, providing the data and visualizations to inform our recommendations to enhance the parking program in Breckenridge.” “Resort towns like Breckenridge present some of the most challenging parking environments in the industry, with large geographic footprints, extreme seasonal swings, and competing demands from residents, employees, and visitors,” said Peter Richards, CEO of Parkalytics. “We are proud to support DJ&A and the Town of Breckenridge by providing the hard-to-collect data that makes meaningful, data-driven decisions possible. Our role is to complement DJ&A’s planning expertise with detailed analytics and visualizations that help turn complex conditions into clear, actionable insights.” “The Town of Breckenridge is excited to be working with Parkalytics, through project principal DJ&A, to utilize their innovative technology and analysis to better understand parking patterns across the over 4,000 parking stalls spread across multiple surface lots and on-street offerings,” said Matt Husley, Assistant Public Works Director - Mobility, Sustainability, and Parking for the Town of Breckenridge. “We are confident that this technology will allow staff to make recommendations to Town Council on how best to deploy our limited parking resources in one of the United States most popular mountain resort communities. Balancing the needs of our locals, workforce, and visitors is imperative to creating the friendly and welcoming environment Breckenridge is known for.” See a 360 degree drone video of Breckenridge on the Parkalytics YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/BMtE260Xfek?si=Yc1tld1B4Z4TuzvM About Parkalytics Parkalytics is a drone parking data collection and software company, providing space by space analysis across cities and surface parking lots. Parkalytics determines parking utilization, vehicle turnover, and parking duration at scale, all without collecting any personally identifiable information.  Learn more at https://www.parkalytics.com/

We obtained our first mobile LPR system in 2021 with the intention of going permitless after the first year of working out all the bugs, kinks and nuisances that having virtual permits brings. The uncertainty of budget constraints related to the pandemic and the turnover of staff delayed the roll out by several years. We made the decision that 2026 is the year to go permitless at Kent State! Some initial thoughts to help make the transition smooth include the following.  We’re planning to implement slowly with targeted user groups initially. We’ll start with students first, then faculty and staff, vendors and contractors, visitors, then events. This should allow us time to work through any issues that might arise and eliminate the largest group of permits initially to provide the greatest efficiency upfront. We plan to engage our university marketing and communications team to provide a roll out platform to inform our stakeholders prior to implementation. We envision a social media campaign and email marketing to raise awareness. The most difficult groups to capture and what we foresee being the biggest challenge to permitless operations is the one-time visitors and events. We’re currently analyzing different solutions to see what is the most cost effective and user-friendly options for our guests to campus. These groups have been our biggest hangup because we don’t know quite how to handle them yet in a permitless environment. We’re looking forward to the efficiencies that LPR provides, but we also know that this will be a big change for our campus community. Meredith Garrett, PTMP, is the Assistant Director of Public Safety, Parking & Transit Services for Kent State University. Meredith can be reached at mgarre12@kent.edu.

Join us for a live interview where Kacey Siskind, SVP of Account Management at HONK, sits down with Linda Braak, Director of Customer Care & Planning at UC Davis, to discuss what UC Davis has learned since redefining its permit parking program and why working with HONK has made a difference.

We received so many great responses to the January/February 2026 question that we wanted to share them all!

The Hill Country destination of Fredericksburg, Texas, may have only about 12,000 residents, but it welcomes roughly 1.5 million visitors a year who come for its wineries, walkable Main Street and small-town charm. With 84 wineries in and around the community and a compact historic downtown, legal curb space is at a premium, especially near tasting rooms, restaurants and hotels. The City of Fredericksburg has installed 11 MPS SafetyStick® devices in some of its most sensitive curbside locations. The initial deployment, completed on August 26, focuses on prohibited parking zones and fire hydrants, where blocked access can slow emergency response and create dangerous conflicts between drivers and pedestrians. With only 37 full-time police officers, city leaders were looking for a way to extend their enforcement reach without pulling officers away from higher-priority calls. The SafetyStick® uses solar power, motion detectors and cameras to monitor no-parking areas and provide clear, time-stamped photo evidence of violations that local authorities can review and act on. “Illegal parking undermines the efforts of those who work hard and follow the rules, signaling that laws can be disregarded,” Lt. Seelig said. “The SafetyStick strengthens our ability to deter illegal parking and enforce compliance with parking regulations.” Fredericksburg selected MPS based on the company’s story and patented innovations in parking enforcement, as well as its track record helping other communities protect critical curb space in no parking zones, at bus stops, in bike lanes and around fire lanes. The SafetyStick® is designed as a force multiplier that supports existing enforcement staff, improves compliance in problem zones and makes it easier for residents, visitors and first responders to move through busy corridors. The new SafetySticks are expected to reduce illegal parking near hydrants and other restricted zones and to free up scarce legal spaces for people who are visiting Main Street, tasting rooms and other attractions. Over time, the Fredericksburg deployment will add another case study to the growing list of tourism destinations that are using smart, solar powered enforcement to keep streets safer and parking fairer for everyone. About Municipal Parking Services (MPS) Municipal Parking Services Inc. (MPS) is a pioneer in AI-driven enforcement and compliance technologies. Since 2013, MPS has leveraged its unique platform to deliver cloud-connected parking and safety solutions that reduce illegal parking, increase compliance, and improve safety outcomes. MPS solutions use embedded AI to automate license plate recognition, dynamic pricing, zone monitoring, and enforcement, creating safer, smarter communities. The company partners with leading safety organizations, including Vision Zero, IPMI, IACLEA, and IACP. Headquartered in Austin, Texas. Learn more at www.mpspark.com.

Airport parking used to be a frantic race against the clock—circling crowded garages, forgetting where you parked, and facing long queues at the exit. Now, automated parking technology is finally bringing the convenience of the digital age to the tarmac, transforming the travel experience from the moment you arrive. Modern airports are embracing smart systems that replace traditional chaos with seamless efficiency. These solutions range from sophisticated parking guidance systems, which use sensors and LED lights to direct drivers instantly to open parking spaces, to fully robotic parking garages. In the latter, you simply drop your car in a terminal, and mechanical shuttles whisk it away and stack it compactly. The benefits are numerous. For travelers, it means dramatically reduced parking times, less stress, and the ability to pre-book and pay entirely via mobile app. For airports, automation maximizes space utilization, reduces congestion and vehicle emissions from idling cars, and enhances security through License Plate Recognition (LPR) and constant monitoring. Automated parking isn't just a luxury—it’s a necessary step toward building the streamlined, sustainable airport of the future. Vincent Thomas, MSM, PTMP, is the Vice President, Aviation North for Reimagined Parking, Inc. Vincent can be reached at vincent.thomas@reimaginedparking.com.

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Digital Strategy Sessions and Digital Twins

Long overlooked, parking is now at the epicenter of change.

How Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming Urban Mobility