SmartPark: Real-Time Parking Availability, 6-Month Field Operational Test

FMCSA completed Phase I by field testing a technology, namely, combined Doppler radar and laser scanning/light curtain. The test results from the contractor (independently verified and validated by Volpe) showed that the technology met three necessary performance requirements. Therefore, a decision was made to proceed to Phase II. Phase II covered information dissemination, reservations, maximization of space, gathering of historical data to make forecasts of availability, and self-sustainability. Phase II of the SmartPark field operations test took place at mile markers (MM) 23 and 45 northbound on I-75 in Tennessee. MM 23 was approximately 20 miles north of Chattanooga and MM 45 was halfway between Chattanooga and Knoxville. At both MM 23 and MM 45, there was truck parking. For each of the two truck parking areas, there were two variable message signs providing notice of truck parking availability (“available,” “limited,” or “full”) for a total of four signs. For each truck parking area, one sign was at 1 mile upstream of the truck parking area, and another sign was about 400 feet upstream of the truck parking area. At each of the truck parking areas, there were five spaces that could be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. In the 6 months of field testing, researchers demonstrated and gathered data on the feasibility of the truck parking reservation system, historical utilization of truck parking spaces, and the viability of linking the two truck parking areas together (i.e., were truckers diverted by the variable message signs if one area was filled and the other was not?)

• Record URL:
  https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/research-and-analysis/smartpark-real-time-parking-availability-6-month-field-operational-test

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $220,000
• Contract Numbers:

  DTMC7515C00028

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Kwan, Quon

• Performing Organizations:

  Gannett Fleming, Incorporated

  209 Senate Avenue
  Camp Hill, Pennsylvania  United States  17011
• Start Date: 20150927
• Expected Completion Date: 20160926
• Actual Completion Date: 20160900

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Field tests; Intelligent transportation systems; Motor carriers; Parking; Technology; Testing; Truck traffic
• Identifier Terms: SmartPark
• Geographic Terms: Chattanooga (Tennessee); Knoxville (Tennessee)
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01626331
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
• Contract Numbers: DTMC7515C00028
• Files: RIP, USDOT
• Created Date: Feb 22 2017 3:28PM