Parking Division Awarded NPA Innovative Organization of the Year
Serving approximately 10,000 drivers every day, and always seeking to enhance the customer experience, the City of Tampa's Parking Division is honored to have been named "Innovative Organization of the Year," by the National Parking Association (NPA).
The city's parking team was invited to the annual conference in New Orleans, Louisiana last week where it was recognized for its innovative approach to meeting Tampa's rapidly growing population. Over the past decade, the city's nearly 30% population growth has led to an increased demand for parking in Tampa. Mayor Castor’s Transforming Tampa’s Tomorrow Transportation Committee had recommended that the City modernize the parking system.
Among the most notable strides is the implementation of four of the most common parking apps in the country, setting on-street and off-street parking rates to minimize congestion and carbon emissions. Over the past year, 77% of all on-street parking transactions are done through mobile apps.
The service was also added within two of the largest and most utilized garages, William F. POE and the Tampa Convention Center. Now 'frictionless,' an industry term for contactless entrance and exit experiences, these garages no longer have machines printing tickets that users must keep and return upon leaving. Not only does the updated technology reduce the use of paper, but it also saves drivers time, and reduces carbon emissions by preventing cars from idling in the entrance and exit lanes as drivers search for printed tickets.
"Only recently, has revenue generated by parking surpassed our costs," said Vik Bhide, Director of Mobility for the City of Tampa. "We are investing this revenue into our Streetcar Line, powered by TECO, to provide more frequent service, funding sidewalk improvement in support of Vision Zero, and are also using funds to support our eBike Voucher Program, to make moving around the city more affordable."
In total, the City of Tampa maintains approximately 16,000 parking spaces across its garages, lots, and on-street spaces throughout Downtown, Ybor City, Armature Works, and Hyde Park Village.