Summary

Smart parking management could provide a cost-effective solution to parking problems in dense urban areas like the Bay Area. This project tests a concept called "dynamic messaging," which uses advanced technologies to alert and guide drivers to parking spaces as they become available, making effective use of the existing parking supply.

For this project, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) has set aside 50 parking spaces regularly reserved for afternoon parking, half for same-day parking. A reservation system was established that guaranteed a parking space to drivers prior to their arrival at a BART station.

Participants in the study can either make reservations using ParkingCarma (via Internet or telephone) or, after seeing a changeable message sign (CMS), drive directly to an available parking spot and call ParkingCarma to register their vehicle immediately. To evaluate each method, before-and-after surveys and focus groups will be arranged to answer questions about economic potential, system technology, and travel effects.

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