VDOT is testing the ParkZen app at select parking lots in Northern Virginia and those who participate are eligible for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card.
ParkZen is an app that shows the availability of parking spaces in real time. VDOT began testing the app last month. The hope is making it easier to find parking in commuter lots will encourage more people to park and carpool or take public transit.
“Commuters have told us that not knowing whether parking is available at commuter lots is a deterrent to using transit, carpools, vanpools, and slugging,” said Amy McElwain, program manager for VDOT’s Office of Strategic Innovations. “We know that taking the guesswork out of parking makes it easier for commuters to get out of their single-occupant vehicles. However, the challenge has always been finding the resources to install and maintain reliable counting technology.”
According to VDOT not only does the app instantly determine when there are unoccupied parking spaces in the lots where it’s used but the app also provides turn-by-turn guidance to lead drivers there.
The trial is being conducted on six lots, including Saratoga Park and Ride in Springfield, Stringfellow Road Park and Ride in Centreville, and Horner Road Commuter Lot in Woodbridge. It’s also being tested at three Virginia Railway Express (VRE) station parking lots, including Backlick Road in Springfield, Brooke Road in Stafford, and Leeland Road in Falmouth.
“The more drivers who use the app during the trial period, the better job we will be able to do to validate this technology before scaling up to more locations,” said McElwain.
That evaluation period ends in January. If the trial period is successful, VDOT will consider rolling out the technology for other commuter lots throughout Northern Virginia and the Fredericksburg area starting in the spring of 2025.
The free app is available in the App Store for iOS devices and the Google Play Store for Android devices.
VDOT said top users will have a chance to earn a $50 Amazon gift card from ParkZen.
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