Shoppers will be able to identify available parking BEFORE arriving Uptown. The devices are concentrated along Washington Road and the South Lot (by Bill Few).
Update June 23, 2016 7:25 AM Here is the rest of the story.
ParkSight offers a clean, fast, and beautiful way to see your parking story in digital form. Data is captured in real time, around-the-clock… and then produced into stunning analytics charts and graphs that uncover easy-to-understand parking patterns.
Our parking analytics platform offers historical reports to let you slice and dice your data to see everything holistically… or break it down. You’ll be able to assess demand by area, block, or blockface… and even by hour of the day.
Reports are based on key metrics our customers use to make information-backed decisions and include insights such as average length of stay, enforcement actions, occupancy, parking sessions, potential violations, and turnover.
Update June 23, 2016 11:06 AM A Lebo Citizens reader wrote this to the commission and manager:
Parking in Mt. Lebanon is getting a bit outrageous in price, is it not? Especially at the Academy Lot.
$10 per hour?? Apparently I can purchase 24 hours of parking for same price as 1 hour.
From: Keith Mcgill [mailto:kmcgill@mtlebanon.org]
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2016 10:51 AM
To: Nicholas Meduho, Jr.
Cc: Nicholas Schalles <nschalles@mtlebanon.org>; Andrew McCreery <amccreery@mtlebanon.org>
Subject: Re: streetline
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2016 10:51 AM
To: Nicholas Meduho, Jr.
Cc: Nicholas Schalles <nschalles@mtlebanon.org>; Andrew McCreery <amccreery@mtlebanon.org>
Subject: Re: streetline
Good morning Mr. Meduho,
Mt. Lebanon will be and is already utilizing a variety of the applications offered by Streetline. Nick Schalles or Andrew McCreery would be able to provide you with a more comprehensive response as they are the individuals working directly with the vendor. A comprehensive update and publicity effort related to parking and parking services is planned for an October release.
Keith
On Thu, Jun 23, 2016 at 10:35 AM, Nicholas Meduho, Jr. wrote:
Mr. McGill,Streetline offers apps (Parker and ParkerMap) that allows folks to find empty parking spaces in Mt. Lebanon.Streetline also offers parking analytics (ParkSight) that offers reports such as average length of stay, enforcement actions, occupancy, parking sessions, potential violations, and turnover.
For clarification purposes, what all will Mt. Lebanon be using from Streetline?
Thank you,
Nicholas Meduho
Mt. Lebanon, PA
Update June 23, 2016 11:19 AM I found the press release from the PIO introducing this program. http://www.mtlebanon.org/documentcenter/view/10499 I am just a peon who is either sitting behind the computer or the sewing machine and not earning six figures, nor understands how to do a press release, but it would be helpful if She would date her press releases. Additionally, I cannot find out the cost of this program. I did a search on the new municipal website and found nothing in the commission agendas. It was discussed in Parking Facilities Committee meetings. February 26, 2015 Agenda If this group is authorized to spend tax dollars, then why aren't they required to file Statements of Financial Interests? Mark Quealy is listed as Parking Enforcement.
So what information will these new meters be sending out? Will they be informing the parking authority that a certain individual was parked at a certain meter longer than he/she was supposed to be? Will it tell the parking meter person that a certain meter is just about to expire? Is this more of a money grab based on increased citations or just a convenience for residents because they can use an app to find parking ahead of time?
ReplyDeleteWill this new system cause more distracted driving because drivers will be focused on their app on their smartphone rather than paying attention to driving in a straight line down Washington Road?
Nick M.
Nick M. asks: "Is this more of a money grab based on increased citations or just a convenience for residents because they can use an app to find parking ahead of time?
ReplyDeleteWill this new system cause more distracted driving because drivers will be focused on their app on their smartphone rather than paying attention to driving in a straight line down Washington Road?"
It will certainly make it easier for the municipality to issue parking tickets, and I'm sure some people will find it a convenience; so, in my opinion, yes and yes.
As to Mr. M's "distracted driving" point; a resounding YES! Stand along any major street in the PRML and count the number of cars that are being operated by drivers using a cell phone as it is; it's amazing! And major roadways aside, neighborhood streets are not immune to this phenomenon. In addition, it seems pedestrians are no longer able to walk from point A to point B without a cell phone at their ears. I dare say that if some of these people are asked to stand up straight with both arms down at their sides they would not be able to do it!
Here's what I don't understand. Mt. Lebanon is advocating a program called "Look Up Lebo" which is designed to promote pedestrian safety including bicyclists and to reduce automobile crashes. On the other hand, Mt. Lebanon is now promoting a new app called Parker that allows drivers to use their smartphones to help find empty parking spaces. This new app will encourage drivers to use their phones...while driving...to find those empty parking spaces.
ReplyDeleteMt. Lebanon also has a brochure called "Road Sense" where it states in the brochure, "Always keep your eyes on the road and avoid all distractions such as eating, texting, grooming, reading and writing." It's kind of hard to keep your eyes on the road when your looking at your smartphone looking for that perfect parking spot.
What part of this makes sense? On one hand they want us to pay more attention while driving, on the other they want us to use our phones while driving to find parking spots. Talk about mixed signals.
Nick M.
Nick M., this makes perfect sense. MTL is promoting this new app under the guise that it will help motorists. In reality, it is to generate more revenue in parking fines. Think about it. There is a two hour parking limit on Washington Road. Remember how people have received parking tickets because they kept feeding the meters? This will help track those pesky meter feeders. Do we really need an app for parking along Washington Road? How many times have you seen people waiting for the spot to empty out, so they could pull in? What will the sensors show? That a spot is open for ten seconds?
ReplyDeleteThis is just another way to screw the people who support small businesses along Washington Road.
Elaine
How does the Smart Parking collect the $900,000 of missing parking revenue for the municipality?
ReplyDeleteAutomated traffic sensors will increase the parking rate automatically based on higher demand for parking. With apple pay, google pay or credit card billing, the municipality could increase the parking rate even while you are parked and eating dinner. Parking rates could be adjusted back down again for municipal and school district employees.
Think of the possibilities. Jaywalkers and complainers could pay a higher parking rate.
If it's tied in with the tax office records, people making six figure plus salaries could get a parking discount. We don't want to chase away the big money!
Do the sensors work for small vehicles like motor scooters and motorcycles?
I can see people running over parked scooters because their app says nothing is parked there.
Next we will have automated pedestrian enforcement using red light cameras and facial recognition technology.
Other ideas coming to Mt. Lebanon are "No Spitting", "No Gum Chewing", "Droopy Drawers" and "Pedestrian Helmet" ordinances.
David Huston