Edward Papazian, Vice President , Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., opened the session on "Innovations in Parking Management and Pricing,” introducing Soumya Dey, Acting Associate Director D.C. DOT; Jason Schreiber, Principal, Nelson/Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc.; Rachel Weinberger, Sustainable Transport Consultant; and Guillermo Leiva, Assistant Commissioner for Parking, New York City.
Soumya Dey focused on Asset Lite solutions to Value Pricing and Metered Curbside Parking and explained that a parking pilot will start in Washington, D.C.’s Chinatown this year. Dey also discussed a pay by cellphone program for parking initiative that involves a customer payment by cellphone, either by utilizing an app or making a call. Launched in D.C. in July 2011, this pay-by-cell program has been very successful, with 600,000 customers signed up so far and 7 million transactions to date. Dey also shared that 80 percent of pay-by-cell payments are done using an app, showing how technology is steadily making its presence known in the area of parking management.
Jason Schreiber focused less on technology and more on parking availability and walkability to parking. He also discussed the City of New England’s intent to focus on customer and employee parking (with emphasis on how parking time limits discourage customers and is just generally bad for business) while still protecting residential neighborhoods.
Rachel Weinberger shared information about programs in San Francisco (SF Park) and Seattle (Sea Park) that were developed to make parking easier and eliminate congestion; including strategies to eliminate time limits and focus on solutions for traffic cruising which often occurs as a result of drivers looking for parking spaces. Both programs have a large reliance on information technology, including the use of smart meters.
Guillermo wrapped up the session with information on curbside management; explaining that parking really is about revenue in most places; that in New York prices can be raised to “unbearable” rates but customers will still pay in order to access a good parking space. Guillermo says that curb management involves making certain parking is safe and that customers have good access, because both of these have a huge effect on quality of life.