Cleveland expands smart parking app to Ohio City
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What the new downtown meters look like. Photo and screenshot: Sam Allard/Axios
Mobile parking is coming to Ohio City.
Why it matters: The expansion of the ParkMobile app is a double-edged sword for the near west side neighborhood, a retail and nightlife hub.
- The city says the new system will encourage turnover in front of businesses and increase street parking availability.
Yes, but: It will also extend paid parking zones to residential and side streets where users have long been accustomed to parking for free.
How it works: Mayor Justin Bibb and councilman Kerry McCormack have championed the transition to so-called smart parking, where users download an app and pay via credit card.
- Cleveland introduced the ParkMobile app downtown last year to supplement coin-operated meters.
- The dynamic system enables the city to adjust parking hours and prices in response to demand. It also lets users survey available zones and "feed the meter" remotely.
State of play: The system will roll out over several weeks.
- The first phase will comprise the main commercial corridors that already have parking meters on Lorain Avenue and West 25th Street.
What's next: Additional portions of Lorain and West 25th will follow in phase 2, plus side streets where non-metered, time-limited parking signage currently exists.
- Phase three will include segments of Detroit, Fulton, Bridge, Church and West 28th where there are currently no meters.
What they're saying: In a press release, the city says there will be a two- to three-week grace period for customers to acclimate to the new parking zones.
- Violators will be issued warnings instead of citations or fines during that time frame.