The City of Westerville, Ohio, was settled in 1809 and founded in 1858. Although now one of the largest suburban communities to Columbus, Westerville began with its own downtown, known as “Uptown,” located a block from then Otterbein College. Uptown Westerville was the site of the Anti-Saloon League, an organization that established their headquarters in town to chart the course toward Prohibition. Uptown Westerville is now a historic district with charming shopping, entertainment, and retail. The demand for public parking to reach these destinations has increased steadily over the years. Major events, like Westerville’s 4th Fridays, bring thousands of visitors to the district to explore the old-generation downtown that promises new-generation fun and features. Residents, merchants, and visitors shared the idea that parking was scarce, primarily at the storefront entry. Parking counts and walk-to-shop sites were less than persuasive. Ultimately, city staff recommended a technology solution to study and evaluate the supply and demand realities of public parking in the district. The Uptown Smart Parking pilot uses technology by installing over 350 sensor “pucks” in four Uptown lots. The “pucks” collect data on lot usage and allow real time space availability to be shared with users of a smartphone app. Along with a robust signage program, the data is the process of mass collection to inform parking requirements as the district continues to thrive and grow. Presenters will demonstrate a live parking simulation from actual Westerville lots, while discussing the process of gaining buy-in from administrators, elected officials, merchants, and the public on this program. The accompanying mobile app will be demonstrated in real-time, along with discussion of its development and data-capture opportunities. Finally, presenters will discuss how the city intends to use the data in capital planning processes, as well as the intent to deliver outcomes to the public.

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