We’ve all had those days where parking is just impossible. We circle endlessly, idling our engines, clogging traffic lanes, and watching the gas gauge slip down while we wait for a spot to open up. The clock ticks; greenhouse gases and frustrations rise.
With gas prices hovering around four dollars a gallon, none of us can afford to waste fuel like that.
That’s one reason I’m excited about SFpark, a new service funded by our Federal Highway Administration that provides real-time information on parking availability and pricing in San Francisco--before you leave home.
SFpark Overview from SFpark.
With SFpark, you'll know the parking conditions while you can still make travel decisions. Parking spaces where you're heading looking full? Maybe today's the day to take transit, or even ride your bike. Whatever you decide, armed with better information, you can make better choices.
FHWA Deputy Administrator Greg Nadeau helps launch SFpark
SFpark was built by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency using a $19.4 million grant from the FHWA. And FHWA Deputy Administrator Greg Nadeau was on hand for the unveiling of the pilot project last week.
“This innovative system will save drivers time, fuel and frustration,” Nadeau said. “It’s also good for the economy because it will make it easier to shop and do business within the city.”
Here's what parking conditions look like on SFpark.org
The pilot project will apply to 6,000 metered on-street parking spaces and 12,500 spaces in more than 14 garages and lots in eight areas of the city.
Now, as useful as this new service is, it’s also important to remember that SFpark is meant to be used in advance of your trip, or by a passenger, and never a driver behind the wheel of a moving vehicle--whatever your speed.
SFpark is one more tool the Department of Transportation is fostering to help Americans plan ahead, dirve safer and save money on gas. I can't wait to try it out myself.
This is very interesting. Truly it could save money for a lot of people and lower their gas costs. Plus it could save them time.
It would be interesting if this type of program could be implemented with "traffic conditions" on GPS devices. Like basically when trying to park, a GPS could download the "open" parking spaces directly and encourage people where to park.
But this type of program will be a blessing. It's sometime seems impossible to find a parking spot in San Francisco, and this could be a great benefit. Something like this could go nationwide and possibly worldwide if implemented with GPS devices.
Excellent and exciting news.
Posted by: Matthew J. Money | May 02, 2011 at 12:35 PM