The city of Norwalk is the first municipality in Connecticut to offer residents and visitors instant access to parking availability information via a smartphone app.
In a press release, the city said the move will save parkers time and improve their parking experience.
Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling and the Norwalk Parking Authority officially launched the technology Oct. 14 at the parking lot on the corner of North Water and Washington streets.
The system works via wireless sensors that are embedded in each parking space to detect whether the space is occupied.
Data from the sensors is relayed to the cloud and then to the app, showing real-time parking availability.
National parking data solutions provider Case Parking will collect occupancy data from lots and garages, while California-based Streetline has outfitted on-street parking spaces with sensors. All the data will be streamed into Streetline”™s mobile app, called Parker.
Real-time information about open parking spaces is available for the Yankee Doodle Garage, the Haviland, North Water Street and Webster lots and some metered parking spots in the city.
The app is available for smartphones at norwalkpark.org/smartparking.
Earlier this year, the Norwalk Parking Authority implemented the first phase of its “smart parking” plan with real-time parking availability information at the South Norwalk train station garage online at norwalkpark.org. This information and data from other parking facilities and metered spots will be integrated into the new smart parking system.
“Smart parking is a great benefit to Norwalk, providing an easy way for residents and visitors to find a parking spot quickly, get out of their cars and enjoy all that the city has to offer,” said Rilling. “In addition, with people driving around less, smart parking improves congestion and saves on gas, making it better for the environment.”
“By staying at the forefront of technology, the Norwalk Parking Authority is improving the parking experience for our customers,” said Julius Hayward, chairman of the Norwalk Parking Authority. “It is another indication of the Parking Authority”™s commitment to efficiently manage parking to support Norwalk as a great place to live, work and visit.”
The Norwalk Parking Authority is a self-sustaining organization responsible for the operation and maintenance of the municipal parking system in Norwalk and is not financed by taxpayer dollars.
