Smarter Parking at Transit Stations

Commuters in the Bay Area face difficulties in finding parking spots at BART stations, leading to wasted time and fuel, and deterring potential transit users. This article outlines how smart parking systems that integrate advanced technologies like in-ground sensors, real-time reservation systems, and changeable message signs streamline the parking process and provide daily flexibility. This initiative improves transportation efficiency and environmental sustainability by reducing vehicle miles traveled and encouraging public transit use. The Rockridge BART smart parking experiment showed increased transit use and reduced commute times, with participants expressing a desire for project expansion despite the introduction of parking fees.