The modernized parking experience will be implemented in three phases to enable convenient and available on-street parking
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 — Cleveland — The City of Cleveland announced that it has begun modernizing its on-street parking services in the Ohio City neighborhood and will continue doing so over the next few weeks. Last year, after a detailed RFP process, the city selected ParkMobile and Flowbird as vendors to implement modernization plans for its on-street parking system. Last fall, the city officially launched the new digital solution in the Downtown Central Business District and plans to expand it in neighborhoods with high demand for on-street parking.
The Ohio City neighborhood, a major commercial and retail strip in Cleveland, was identified as one of these areas because it has coin-operated parking machines and increased business growth is creating demand for parking on major streets. The implementation process will be done in three phases, with the goal of encouraging more sales in front of stores, thereby increasing the availability of on-street parking. Last week, ParkMobile signs were inadvertently posted at the wrong time in some areas of Ohio City, and the city apologizes for the confusion. The street parking update will occur in the following phases in the coming weeks:
Phase 1: Main advertising
The first phase, to be implemented over the next four weeks, will include the W. 25th St.-Lorain Ave. commercial corridors, which currently have parking meters. In these areas, coin-operated machines will be supplemented by new ParkMobile technology to provide easier, more convenient ways for people to pay for on-street parking. There are no changes in enforcement and in these areas it will continue the same, that is, anyone who violates the parking ban will have to expect summonses and fines.
Phase 2: Select advertising
Once the first phase is complete, the city will move on to the next phase, which will expand metered parking zones along portions of Lorain Ave., W. 25th St., and nearby off-ramps where timed parking is currently in effect. Timed parking signs are posted in these areas, but there are currently no coin-operated machines. The new ParkMobile technology will be installed to provide individuals with a modernized parking option that will also help consistently improve parking operations and management. This phase is expected to last two to three weeks. Enforcement in these areas is temporarily suspended to give individuals time to get used to the change. Anyone who violates the parking ban during the grace period will receive a warning instead of tickets and fines.
Phase 3: Select mixed use
Once Phase 2 is complete, the city will move on to the final phase, which includes mixed-use areas such as Detroit Ave., Fulton Rd., Church Ave., Bridge Ave., and W. 28th St., where there are currently no meters. This phase is expected to last approximately two to three weeks and Enforcement is temporarily suspended to give people time to get used to the new system. During this grace period, warnings will be issued for parking violations in these areas, rather than fines and tickets.
Beyond this initial implementation, the ParkMobile system will provide the City with the ability to examine usage patterns and enforcement trends and analyze other metrics to make data-driven decisions for future on-street parking management adjustments. The system will enable the City to more effectively manage on-street parking by providing the ability to align metered parking hours with evening and weekend business hours and adjust parking rates based on demand – meeting the program goal of providing convenient and available on-street parking.
Ohio City is the second neighborhood after Downtown to receive the enhanced technology. For more information on street parking services, destinations, and the specific plans for Ohio City, visit the city’s website.
How to pay with ParkMobile
- Look for a green and black ParkMobile sign (or a sticker on one of the old parking meters) to find the parking zone number.
- The technology uses multiple payment options to cover a variety of functions –
- MobileApp: Download the ParkMobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Create an account with an email address and password, or order as a guest. Enter the zone number, select the desired parking duration, add your vehicle(s) and choose your payment method. Then click “Start Parking” to begin the session.
- On-line: Access the web version by scanning the QR code on the sign or sticker or by visiting https://parkmobile.io/ and follow the same instructions as in the app.
- Text: Send an SMS with the text “Parking” to 77223 and follow the instructions received.
- Call: Call (877)-727-5009 to make a payment by phone.
You can find more frequently asked questions here.
For reference: Photos of ParkMobile signage and Ohio City’s implementation map.
