Online parking search tool launches today
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If Cultural District visitors have an easier time snagging a parking place from now on, they can thank Bill Benter and his habit of running late.
Mr. Benter, a Strip District resident and president of the Benter Foundation, dislikes the pressure of trying to find a parking space with little time to spare before a show.
His angst led to ParkPGH, which, beginning today, will provide real-time information on space availability at eight parking garages in the Cultural District. The information may be accessed by iPhone application, a website for other mobile phones, a regular website, regular telephone and text message.
"The whole city needs this," Mr. Benter said.
In time, he may get his wish. If the pilot project led by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust goes well, the system could be expanded to the rest of Downtown, Oakland and other neighborhoods.
The Cultural Trust and its partners will launch the program at a news conference today.
When it debuts, ParkPGH will provide space availability and price for eight garages with a combined 4,800 spaces.
The garages are Theater Square; Sixth Street and Penn Avenue; David L. Lawrence Convention Center; Three PNC Plaza; Town Place; Grant Street Transportation Center; Fort Duquesne Boulevard and Sixth Street; and Smithfield Street and Liberty Avenue. The first five are operated by Alco Parking and the others by the Pittsburgh Parking Authority.
In January, ParkPGH will add a ninth location, the parking authority garage at Ninth Street and Penn Avenue. At that point, the system will encompass 5,300 spaces -- 25 percent of Downtown garage capacity.
Software will monitor arrivals and departures at each garage and transmit the information to a central server. From there, the data is disseminated by Web and phone, said Marc Fleming, Cultural Trust vice president for marketing and communications. The data will be updated every 30 seconds.
Other cities in America and abroad already provide real-time parking information, often on electronic road signs. ParkPGH's planners said their system is more comprehensive and technologically advanced than most.
First Published December 15, 2010 12:00 am
