Technology

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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As described by the McKinsey Center for Future Mobility several months ago, micromobility—bikes, scooters, and other personal transport devices—is reshaping transportation. Students appreciate the convenience and sustainability these options provide, but as adoption grows, so do concerns about pedestrian safety and infrastructure gaps. How do we balance innovation with responsibility? Recent studies show accident rates on campuses are climbing, often linked to distracted riding and unclear infrastructure for separating pedestrians and riders. According to a survey published by UPCEA Cener for Research and Strategy, liability and insurance coverage remain gray areas, especially when accidents involve bystanders. Add behaviors like riding under the influence or speeding, and the risks multiply. At Old Dominion University, policy emphasizes pedestrian right-of-way and mandates the responsible operation of micromobility devices in designated areas. Riders must follow traffic rules, maintain safe speeds, and dismount in congested zones. Helmet use is strongly encouraged, and headphones are permitted only on one ear for safety. Other universities have introduced designated lanes and scooter corrals to reduce conflicts - steps worth considering as we design safer systems. As parking, transportation, and mobility professionals, we have an opportunity to lead. What do you think—should universities focus on stronger rules, better infrastructure, or more rider education? What’s been successful on your campus? I would love to hear your ideas and experiences to help create programs that keep everyone safe and make sustainable transportation even easier. I'd like micromobility to become a welcome and respected program in the overall campus community. Lisa Copeland, PTMP, is the Associate Director for Data and Administration at Old Dominion University. Lisa can be reached at lcopelan@odu.edu.

Automotus, a Los Angeles-based software company that sells curb management, traffic and associated payment technology, has raised $9 million in a new funding round. According to Jordan Justus, the company’s CEO and co-founder, the round includes $7.5 million in equity and $1.5 million in credit from a single investor. Total equity funding to date for the company, which traces its roots to 2017 while Justus and co-founder and CTO Harris Lummis were students at Loyola Marymount University, stands at $26 million, Justus said. This funding round included Santa Barbara Venture Partners, Weatherford Capital, BarronKent Ventures, Techstars Ventures, kineo, and other investors, according to a statement. Automotus offers a platform powered by computer vision that cities and airports can use to monitor and control traffic at curbs, including via data analytics and automated payments. The rise of ride hailing along with consumer dependence on retail deliveries help make curbside spaces increasingly busy. An example of the technology in use comes from Lincoln, Neb., where cameras provided by Automotus have helped officials craft parking policies for downtown. Automotus says it has deployed its tech in “dozens of markets across the country.” The fresh capital will go toward deeper product offerings, market expansion and customer support. “Cities and airports are under immense pressure to modernize the curb as commercial traffic surges and they’re forced to grapple with AVs,” Justus said. “This investment allows us to scale our impact and continue delivering technology that makes streets safer, more efficient and more sustainable.”

Orikan Group has acquired UbiPark, a parking technology company headquartered in Melbourne and with a growing footprint in the US. UbiPark specialises in digital solutions for commercial property owners, parking operators and large institutional operations, maintaining a strong customer base across Australia, New Zealand, UK and the US. The agreement will see UbiPark’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer Mosstyn Howell join Orikan as a member of the Executive Team, bringing a team of thirteen people to Orikan’s business. Peter Neale, Orikan Chief Executive Officer, cites strong synergies between the two businesses as a key driver for the acquisition. “UbiPark’s modern set of digital technologies complement our own, broadening our technology offering in the off-street parking segment. Alongside our July acquisition of GPS USA, the acquisition of UbiPark builds on our expansion into the US market. By joining forces with UbiPark we can offer our holistic, end-to-end parking solutions to even more communities, off-street operators and institutions across Australia, New Zealand, UK and the US.” In his new role, Mosstyn Howell says the agreement will be particularly beneficial to all customers. “Our strategic partnership with Orikan marks a pivotal step forward enhancing our capabilities and accelerating investment in our technology stack to deliver smarter, more seamless solutions for our customers.” The acquisition represents a further step in Orikan’s growth strategy, expanding regional reach, combining complementary capabilities, and enhancing the technology delivered to customers.

The City of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania is expanding its SafetyStick® program after a successful first year of automated parking enforcement in high-risk curbside locations. What began as a small deployment of 10 devices downtown has grown into one of Municipal Parking Services’ flagship SafetyStick® programs, with the city now operating 42 units and planning to add 20 more in the coming months. The initiative focuses on illegal parking that creates safety hazards rather than routine meter enforcement. SafetySticks monitor handicap spaces, bus stops, fire hydrants, corners, commercial loading zones and other restricted areas where blocked access can put people at risk or slow emergency response. Proven Results in the First Year In a little over a year of operation, Wilkes-Barre’s SafetyStick® program has generated 9,883 citations for parking violations, uncovering the true scale of unsafe, previously under-enforced activity at key locations. Over that same period, the city received $126,135 in revenue from citations issued through the SafetyStick® program. Just as important as the revenue, city leaders report that citation volumes in the earliest deployment zones have begun to drop as drivers change their behavior. Fewer violations in those original locations suggest that motorists are learning to avoid unsafe stopping and parking where SafetySticks are installed, even as new devices are added in other areas. Expanding to School-Adjacent Corridors As the program has grown, Wilkes-Barre has pushed beyond the downtown core to address additional safety priorities and annoyance parking. New SafetySticks are being installed along Old River Road near Kistler Elementary School, where vehicles were previously parking on grassy areas and blocking sight lines when children were arriving and leaving. “By extending automated enforcement to school-adjacent corridors, the city aims to keep pick-up and drop-off zones clear and reduce risky driver behavior during the busiest times of day for pedestrians,” said Robert Sliker, head of parking enforcement. “We have parking enforcement officers, but they can’t be everywhere,” Mayor George Brown said in a recent interview with FOX56. A Safety-First Model for Other Cities Wilkes-Barre’s experience shows how cities can pair automated enforcement with a clear safety narrative to build public understanding and long-term compliance. Key elements of the city’s approach include: Starting with obvious safety hazards such as hydrants, corners, handicap spaces and bus stops to demonstrate why enforcement is needed. Using solar-powered, AI-enabled devices to provide continuous monitoring without major capital projects or added staff. Framing the program as a public safety initiative that protects residents, schoolchildren and emergency responders rather than a purely revenue-driven effort. Expanding in phases as results, community awareness and internal comfort with the technology grow. With dozens of devices already delivering strong results and additional SafetySticks on the way, Wilkes-Barre has become a leading example of how automated enforcement can improve safety, strengthen compliance and support city budgets at the same time. 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.