“Smart Parking” employs various types of advanced parking
systems and technologies to assist drivers in finding available parking spaces. IMR’s approach to smart parking management is
to apply advanced technologies to help direct drivers efficiently to available
parking spaces, reducing driver frustration and congestion on highways and
arterial streets.
Smart parking approaches range from dynamic displays on
roadway signs informing drivers of location and parking lot capacity, to use of
the Internet and cell phones to provide space availability, location, and
pricing information. Additionally, advanced
payment systems allow for seamless parking transactions and enhanced
efficiency. Smart parking can make better
use of existing parking infrastructure by creating market-based systems to
improve utilization rates and manage vehicle turnover.
Parking availability influences how individuals commute,
which, in turn, impacts transit use, single occupancy vehicle driving, and
traffic congestion. Through its research
and projects, IMR seeks to create a greater understanding of the impacts of
smart parking strategies on the broader transportation system, including how it
affects people’s decisions to choose a particular mode of transportation over
others.