Blogs

By Steven Bergin, CAPP In October 2024, I wrote about how the City of Richmond was embarking on a study on a hybrid parking permit model. The key objective was to examine the feasibility and best practices surrounding a hybrid residential/employee parking permit program and examine shared parking opportunities between public and private entities within the parking districts. As urban areas continue to evolve with the removal of parking minimums, so do the challenges, which has led to city officials and residents voicing concerns about the potential negative impacts from this change in zoning parking legislation. Understanding the Challenge Residential parking ...
By Liz Young Who would have thought something as mundane as parking could ignite such a boom in the tech world? We’ve come a long way from punching holes in tickets and counting cars on our toes. The idea of effortlessly gliding into a parking garage—without even glancing at an entry device—once felt as futuristic as flying cars and robotic maids. And yet, here we are—zipping in without a care in the world, our cars recognized automatically, payments handled invisibly, and spaces reserved with a tap on our phones. Behind this seamless experience lies strategic collaboration that has driven this growth. As an industry, letting go of rigid proprietary thinking ...
By Tavris Parker, CAPP In the workplace, it’s easy to get bogged down by challenges, deadlines, and pressure. But here’s a simple truth: a positive mindset can make all the difference in how you approach tasks and ultimately succeed. A Positive Mindset Matters A positive attitude isn’t just about feeling good—it’s about changing your perspective to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth. Whether you’re studying for exams or tackling a tough project at work, your mindset shapes how you respond to hardship. When you focus on solutions instead of problems, you’re more likely to find creative ways to overcome them. Benefits of a Positive Approach ...
By Mark Hairr, CAPP As with many mobility and transportation agencies, Wave Transit in Wilmington, North Carolina has a strong commitment to sustainability initiatives by working to grow ridership, reducing dependence on automobiles, limiting emissions, and minimizing our carbon footprint. Recently, Wave implemented a program that takes advantage of our use of Compress Natural Gas (CNG) for fueling buses by producing monthly revenue through a unique program. CNG has low amounts of nitrogen dioxide, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide while being an average of 33% less than diesel. This particular program falls under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Renewal ...
By Zach Pearce I am a firm believer that an organization’s work culture will determine employee longevity and overall success or shortcomings for a company. While the Keurig coffee machines and donuts are appreciated when supplied, culture goes beyond these types of perks and instead centers on professionalism, understanding and respect across an entire department. I also believe most working employees strive to perform their jobs efficiently with favorable behavioral patterns. It is the primary responsibility of leadership to guide and maintain positive working cultures, which includes the below: Engaging management style Encourages staff on a consistent ...
By Tavris Parker, CAPP We all have that one thing that kickstarts our day—the equivalent of a cup of coffee (even if we don’t drink it, “I do”). Whether it’s a morning ritual, a music playlist, or a specific task that helps you feel energized, there’s always something that gets us out of bed and into work mode. In my office, the morning routine is crucial. Some reach for the classic caffeine fix, while others may choose something a little different. If you’re not a coffee person, maybe it’s a quick workout or a few minutes of meditation that gets your mind sharp. For others, it might be simply checking off a small task first thing, like sending an email or ...
By Benito Pérez, AICP, CTP, CAPP With a mobility ecosystem rapidly evolving, what are the topline mobility issues to be aware of, who are the key decision makers framing mobility policy, and how can you and your organization help steer the mobility conversation? The transportation and mobility space is constantly evolving, impacting how people and goods move through and between our communities. That ecosystem is framed around a policy framework developed by decision makers at varying levels of government. Most mobility practitioners are in the business of implementing policies and programs that help manage the safe and efficient movement of people and goods. ...
By Anthony Caddell We all know about New Year’s Resolutions and sayings like “New Year, New Me.” Sometimes, these resolutions are jumping-off points for positive life changes. Often, they are forgotten or given up by the end of January, but hey, it’s the thought that counts, right?! What is always true with the turn of the year is that new opportunities lie ahead. That can mean many different things to many different people. The pace at which our industry is moving is faster than ever, and if you’re reading this blog, it means you, too, have an entire 12 months ahead of you to take advantage of new opportunities. Whether you’re a technology provider hustling ...
By Zach Pearce Leaving a well-established role and organization for a new opportunity is often bittersweet for those taking the next step in their career. When assessing skills gained, accomplishments, growth patterns, and culture, employees often are able to dial in on compatibility, growth, and longevity, as early as the initial employment review cycle. However, many of us find work environments to be extremely complex and continually evolving which can either shorten or prolong career trajectory. When I left my previous position at another University, I found the most difficult aspect to be the ending of strong professional relationships which had been ...
By @Michael Harris , CAPP As campuses grow, transportation needs evolve. The Campus Master Plan often outlines new roads, buildings, and infrastructure, with parking lots becoming prime construction sites for future development. This creates a domino effect, pushing parking to the periphery and necessitating changes in the campus transportation system. When parking shifts to the edges, it impacts both your budget and transportation logistics. Perimeter lots, often cheaper to park in, will reduce revenue from prime spaces, while new routes must be added to connect these distant lots to the core campus. So, how can transportation departments meet these ...
By Trystan Henry, PECP Motherboard replacements, EMV reader repairs, ticket jams, sensor cleanings, low ink warnings… and a $20,000+ purchase cost! These challenges defined traditional parking systems (PARCS). At the University of Southern Maine (USM), we asked, “What if this could be a thing of the past?” Since 2005, USM relied on traditional PARCS and paystations, often requiring assistance to resolve issues. Now, with Software Defined PARCS (SDPARCS), we’ve not only eliminated constant repairs but introduced built-in intercoms and live help at the tap of a button—right out of the box. ………all with a simple plug and play android device. With SDPARCS, ...
For January’s issue of Parking & Mobility magazine, we asked our experts: The frontline position has changed significantly over the last decade, yet some core challenges remain. What are the biggest challenges facing today’s Frontline employees, and how can they be overcome? We had so many great answers that they did not fit in the magazine! Here are more insightful responses: Larry J. Cohen, CAPP Executive Director Lancaster Parking Authority “Frontline staff have the new challenges of dealing with technology and the potential issues our customers may encounter.” Christopher Jones Operations Manager, Ground Transportation & Parking ...
By Maria Irshad, MPA, CAPP If you work in a municipality, chances are you’ve received an email from a colleague in another city requesting information—anything from a simple meter rate survey to more complex issues like commercial loading zones or managing ADA parking in the on-street environment. Or perhaps you’ve been the one sending that email. You may have also participated in numerous IPMI municipal roundtables, whether in person at the annual conference or virtually. One of the unique aspects of our profession is our willingness to share challenges and solutions. If Houston is facing a particular issue, cities like LA, Seattle, or Miami have probably ...
By Tavris Parker, CAPP In today’s fast changing world, businesses are rethinking their customer service approach. Rather than relying on large teams, many are opting for self-service tools and effective messaging to empower customers to manage their own accounts. This shift isn’t just about cutting costs—it’s about improving efficiency while maintaining high service standards. Why Less is More Traditional customer service models focused on staffing large teams to handle daily service needs. But today, customers want instant, 24/7 access to solutions. From updating accounts to finding answers online, self-service platforms are the key to giving customers ...
By Maria Irshad, MPA, CAPP In a recent blog post, Casey Jones, CAPP, PMP, played a game of two truths and a lie and I thought I would play a game with our readers too. So, let’s play Would You Rather : Fly or be invisible? Travel to the past or the future? Pet dragon or a pet unicorn? For me – fly, future and dragon. Fly because I spend far too much time in traffic in Houston, where we rank #4 on a list of the worst cities to drive in . Future because I am excited about what is going on in the transportation realm and how great to imagine a world where we are no longer making lists of cities with the worst traffic. Finally, dragon ...