Industry News

August, 2017

The City of Phoenix has contracted with ParkPro, in collaboration with Amano McGann, to replace the existing PARC system at the Phoenix Convention Center. Installation is set to begin in September. ParkPro will be installing EMV-capable exit terminals, pay-on-foot stations and point-of-sale terminals to help the venue stay up-to-date with the latest PCI compliance regulations. Western Region VP Wade Bettisworth elaborated: “Amano McGann’s solution uses EMV-capable terminals that accomplish end-to-end EMVCo-compliant processing using a cloud-based, third-party gateway.” Using the company’s integrated FlexScan technology, paired with its eParcSuite web-based solutions, the convention center will also be able to provide patrons with printed or smartphone scannable short-term passes and validations.

The City of Sedona, AZ, has launched PassportParking, a mobile parking payment app designed by Passport, the leading mobile pay provider for parking and transportation in North America. The app will be available at 101 on-street parking spaces on Main Street. It lets users purchase parking with a debit or credit card from their smartphones. Drivers no longer have to carry change or run back to the meter. Everything can be managed from the convenience of their phones. In other company news, the Memorial University of Newfoundland has expanded the Passport Canada parking app to its Grenfell campus in Corner Brook. The app is currently available at the university’s St. John’s campus in the provincial capital city.

Control Systems Inc. (CSI) has acquired EDJ Technologies, with offices in Orange, CA. The two, which both distribute Designa PARC systems, have combined to form “a strong company with streamlined services and years of experience,” they said. EDJ has begun conducting its business as Control Systems Inc. Organized in 1988 and headquartered in West Hartford, CT, CSI leads in the sales, installation, and service of PARCS from Maine to Virginia.  With more than three decades of experience, the company says it “delivers everything customers could expect, including outstanding service, 24-hour support seven days a week, and value-added solutions.”    

Green Courte Partners, a private equity real estate investment firm, has promoted Timothy J. Jurczak to Vice President, Paul S. Kim to Vice President/Portfolio Controller, and William J. Siroky to Senior Associate. Founded by Randall K. Rowe to invest in niche real estate, the Chicago-based firm celebrated its 15th anniversary in June. It has built two industry-leading niche real estate portfolios and operating platforms: American Land Lease and The Parking Spot. In its 15 years, Green Courte has raised more than $1.3 billion of equity, “generating strong-risk adjusted returns for its investors over a long-term investment horizon.”

HonkMobile, calling itself “North America’s leading provider of on-demand mobile payments for parking,” has expanded to the Town of Gananoque, Canada, just in time for summer tourist season. Residents and visitors can now pay for municipal and trailer parking with the touch of a button using any internet-connected device. Town officials, along with Honk representative Tyson Sinclair, gathered at Town Hall in late June for the app’s official launch. The app is designed to let the Ontario province’s residents and visitors seamlessly search, pay for and top-up parking directly from their smartphone, tablet or computer.

StadiumPark, a mobile payment app for stadium, arena and event parking, launched July 21 at the recently renovated Dome Arena in Rochester, NY, at a performance by Primus with special guest Clutch. The app is designed to provide attendees with a quick, easy and cash-less way to pay for parking at concerts hosted at the venue. The app is intended to improve parking operations at the Dome and enhance the event experience by cutting down on wait times and eliminating the need for attendees to bring cash to concerts. “Arrive, scan and park – it’s that easy!” said Dome Events Coordinator Randy Peck. StadiumPark Founder Jeremy Crane said, “It’s very special to be bringing our app to a venue in Rochester, where I grew up and where I have worked to grow [the company].”

Working in partnership with Arthur D. Riley Ltd., the global parking technology company Smart Parking Ltd. has won a contract for the supply and maintenance of sensor technology for about 945 parking bays in the City of Hamilton, New Zealand. The adoption of this technology comes amid the City Council’s new parking plan to revitalize the city’s Central Business District. These advances are at the forefront of the emerging “smart cities” revolution that is taking place globally, the city said. This order follows the recent deployment of more than 3,500 vehicle detection sensors in Wellington, representing the UK-based company’s further expansion into New Zealand.

SP Plus Corp. (SP+) has been selected by the City of Atlanta to manage its on-street parking program. The municipal division of SP+ will provide parking enforcement, meter maintenance, collection and citation processing services. The five-year partnership was formed to upgrade the city’s 2,400 metered parking spaces — ultimately providing residents and visitors with a state-of-the-art smart-parking system. Immediate upgrades include the conversion to a program using LPR technology for enforcement. Over the coming months, SP+ plans to meet with neighborhood stakeholders to discuss the impact of the new program, enhanced customer service and operational efficiency.

Skidata Inc. has a new contract with the City of Scranton, PA, which is experiencing a surge in growth and redevelopment. The company was selected for the city’s multiple facility installation. Skidata will expand into the area by staffing a full-time service engineer to support this project, which consists of six parking facilities, all managed by ABM Parking Services. When ABM and the city decided to improve on their outdated and obsolete 3M Federal APD system, they envisioned a technologically advanced parking system, with 33 lanes of equipment and 11 pay-on-foot stations, that would be possible, they determined, only with a full suite of Skidata products.

Amano McGann Canada and MG Electrical/Mechanical Services have been contracted to provide the PARC system at Misericordia Health Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Its Overture line of PARCS equipment is being installed in the facility’s visitor parkade, and represents its first such installation in Canada. This automated parking management solution uses linear barcode technology. The entry, exit and pay-on-foot stations will accept EMV credit card payment and use point-to-point encryption.

Industry veteran Bret Johnson has been hired to lead the Parking Division of American Payment Solutions. “Bret brings with him [16] years of valuable parking industry experience,” company President Phillip Heath said. “Bret understands the challenges that operators face, and is here to help private operators, municipalities, universities and airports cut costs and receive exceptional service.”