Brooke Krieger, Regional Sales Director

The need for paid parking

As urban cores continue to grow, cities face increasing challenges related to parking. Many have traditionally offered free downtown, on-street parking, but this approach often leads to congestion, limited availability, and lost revenue opportunities. Transitioning to a paid parking program can address these issues, ensuring better parking availability, reduced traffic congestion, and generating revenue that can be reinvested into city infrastructure and public services. By embracing innovative solutions like ParkMobile, cities can enhance mobility, promote sustainability, and make cities more livable.

Why consider charging for parking now?

As downtowns continue to recover and secondary markets continue to expand in population growth, optimizing a city’s mobility infrastructure to meet the new needs of drivers intensifies. There is a greater opportunity for city’s to review and introduce new parking policies, and implement a paid parking program that will allow them to better manage and streamline its parking infrastructure, and create a more livable city that meets the needs of its residents and visitors.

Reporting & Analytics

Many municipalities are looking for ways to financially recover from recent market challenges, and the revenue generated from a paid parking program can be an additional source of revenue to reinvest in essential services and public projects. As more consumer touch points move to digital, advancements in digital solutions, like those offered by ParkMobile, make it easier to implement and manage a paid parking system with minimal disruption. Additionally, as cities commit to evaluating their carbon footprints, a paid parking program can reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions.

Benefits of a paid parking system

  • Improved parking availability: Paid parking encourages turnover, ensuring that spaces are more available, for more users throughout the day.
  • Reduced congestion: With a better-managed parking program, drivers will reduce the time it takes to search for a spot, reducing traffic congestion and improving mobility.
  • Revenue generation: Paid parking can generate significant revenue that can be reinvested into city infrastructure, public services, or further parking improvements.
  • Enhanced user experience: Digital payment systems like ParkMobile offer convenience, allowing users to pay via mobile devices, making paying for parking quicker and user-friendly.
  • Increased livability: Efficient parking management contributes to making cities more livable by increasing pedestrian safety and creating accessible, desirable dining and retail areas.

Embracing digital solutions with ParkMobile

ParkMobile offers a streamlined approach to paid parking. It’s a user-friendly system that allows drivers to pay for parking through their mobile devices, providing convenience and flexibility.

Steps to implement a successful paid parking program:

  1. Assessment and planning: The first step is to evaluate your city’s parking needs. Engage with stakeholders, including city officials, local businesses, and residents, to gather input and ensure broad support for the new system
  2. Setting Up ParkMobile: Once the planning phase is complete, the ParkMobile team will set up your ParkMobile 360 account and customize the payment options to suit your city’s needs, whether it’s mobile app payments, web payments, or integrated solutions. ParkMobile also offers validations and promo codes that can help to offer discounted parking for patrons of local businesses, making it easier to gain community support and participation.
  3. Implementing the system: Clear communication is key to the success of any new program. Install signage to guide drivers on how to use ParkMobile. Work with the ParkMobile team to launch a public awareness campaign to educate residents and visitors about the new system, ensuring a smooth transition. Integration with any existing parking management, enforcement, or citation systems is also crucial for a seamless user experience.
  4. Integration and testing: Before the launch, cities work with the ParkMobile team to conduct a pilot test to troubleshoot any issues and gather feedback. This phase is essential for identifying and addressing any potential problems. Once the system is running smoothly, roll out the program city-wide alongside ParkMobile.

Future forward with ParkMobile

By adopting a paid parking program with ParkMobile, cities can manage parking more effectively, improve the user experience, and generate valuable revenue. The transition to a digital parking system is a forward-thinking move that addresses the challenges of urban parking, enhances mobility, promotes sustainability, and makes cities more livable, paving the way for a more organized and efficient future.