Downtown parking update?

[Linkin5]

Didn't they do that during CWS and everyone was up in arms over the prices?

It's Omaha. If it isn't paid for by someone else or within half a block, people will |expletive| about it.

I literally just read an article today for my grad classes about how SF did this and had similar results. Also helps people find parking easier so they spend less time cruising around looking for it.

Are you saying there is a real reason to use this demand parking pricing?

Pretty much. 10 different studies in central cities conducted between 1974 and 2011 in various downtowns found on average 34% of cars on the road were looking for parking. A 2011 study in 15 blocks of downtown LA found that people driving around just looking for parking drove a combined 1.5 million kilometers, or 38 trips around the earth or 4 round trips to the moon. A lot of these programs have helped under used blocks attract more parkers, while freeing up more in demand spaces. If I'm gonna pick up something in the Old Market, I may be ok with spending $1 for 15 minutes of parking, whereas if I'm going for a night out I may want to park a couple blocks away and spend $5 for 5 hours.

Are there any studies on cities that have extremely cheap (cheap as in like 25 cents an hour) or free meter parking? It seems like making parking extremely cheap or free in a downtown area would make it more appealing for people in outside areas to visit. That in turn would make the area more vibrant, more businesses open, and you could make up that money on the backend with property/sales taxes.

[Garrett]

Didn't they do that during CWS and everyone was up in arms over the prices?

It's Omaha. If it isn't paid for by someone else or within half a block, people will |expletive| about it.

I literally just read an article today for my grad classes about how SF did this and had similar results. Also helps people find parking easier so they spend less time cruising around looking for it.

Are you saying there is a real reason to use this demand parking pricing?

Pretty much. 10 different studies in central cities conducted between 1974 and 2011 in various downtowns found on average 34% of cars on the road were looking for parking. A 2011 study in 15 blocks of downtown LA found that people driving around just looking for parking drove a combined 1.5 million kilometers, or 38 trips around the earth or 4 round trips to the moon. A lot of these programs have helped under used blocks attract more parkers, while freeing up more in demand spaces. If I'm gonna pick up something in the Old Market, I may be ok with spending $1 for 15 minutes of parking, whereas if I'm going for a night out I may want to park a couple blocks away and spend $5 for 5 hours.

Are there any studies on cities that have extremely cheap (cheap as in like 25 cents an hour) or free meter parking? It seems like making parking extremely cheap or free in a downtown area would make it more appealing for people in outside areas to visit. That in turn would make the area more vibrant, more businesses open, and you could make up that money on the backend with property/sales taxes.

The point of the study was that these places were already being used. Like think of how many cars you see circling around to try to find a place to park on Howard in the Old Market, when Jackson is basically empty just a block away. It’s basically a form of congestion pricing, so yeah you will end up with parking meters that are cheaper than they are now.

[Athomsfere]

Didn't they do that during CWS and everyone was up in arms over the prices?

It's Omaha. If it isn't paid for by someone else or within half a block, people will |expletive| about it.

I literally just read an article today for my grad classes about how SF did this and had similar results. Also helps people find parking easier so they spend less time cruising around looking for it.

Are you saying there is a real reason to use this demand parking pricing?

Pretty much. 10 different studies in central cities conducted between 1974 and 2011 in various downtowns found on average 34% of cars on the road were looking for parking. A 2011 study in 15 blocks of downtown LA found that people driving around just looking for parking drove a combined 1.5 million kilometers, or 38 trips around the earth or 4 round trips to the moon. A lot of these programs have helped under used blocks attract more parkers, while freeing up more in demand spaces. If I'm gonna pick up something in the Old Market, I may be ok with spending $1 for 15 minutes of parking, whereas if I'm going for a night out I may want to park a couple blocks away and spend $5 for 5 hours.

Awesome! Also, if the paper is public or accessible through normal journals I'd love to read it.

I do wonder, were any of those cities "great" cities with great transit? Does it play into trying to make a multi-modal city well? For example, I'd love to let some tourists drive, and those with other real reasons to, and not just because the car is the only real choice. I'd hate to see the prices low enough that the bus or train is less useful.

What I never got on the parking app is why every zone is 115. Whats the point of inputting a zone to pay if the entire city is in zone 115?

What I have seen of it, the app works in Lincoln too, with a different zone. My hunch is the app is skinned per metro, and is a national parking meter app on the backend / database.

Here's a novel idea ive wanted for a while. Lets meter all the side streets in blackstone and make those meters start from 4pm-2am. Its impossible to find off street parking in Blackstone when you visit because all those spots are taken by residents.

To me the point of street parking should never be to park your car for 12 hours---it should be a temporary thing.

With a new streetcar and ORBIT bus I dont see why some Blackstone residents cant start to jettison their cars---paying a meter nightly would make it just inconvenient enough for residents to find off street parking or get rid of their cars.

Ive never had an issue parking downtown. Blackstone is a nightmare to find parking.

When I lived in Blackstone, I had a private spot I paid extra for. A lot of people didn't. But when I had guests they used the street spots. They'd park within a block of me, and we'd walk to Blackstone. And often when people stayed overnight the car(s) stayed on the street.

More streetcars / LRT, busses and ORBT are certainly going to help the area in the long term. But I'm not sold that Blackstone needs the meters. I've never had an issue parking there, sometimes maybe 2 blocks away... Benson on the otherhand, I think the time is overdue for meters. But maybe we just start with both so neither get's even worse.

I do hate meters on the sidewalk though. They take away space for people.

[ita]

Didn't they do that during CWS and everyone was up in arms over the prices?

It's Omaha. If it isn't paid for by someone else or within half a block, people will |expletive| about it.

I literally just read an article today for my grad classes about how SF did this and had similar results. Also helps people find parking easier so they spend less time cruising around looking for it.

Are you saying there is a real reason to use this demand parking pricing?

Pretty much. 10 different studies in central cities conducted between 1974 and 2011 in various downtowns found on average 34% of cars on the road were looking for parking. A 2011 study in 15 blocks of downtown LA found that people driving around just looking for parking drove a combined 1.5 million kilometers, or 38 trips around the earth or 4 round trips to the moon. A lot of these programs have helped under used blocks attract more parkers, while freeing up more in demand spaces. If I'm gonna pick up something in the Old Market, I may be ok with spending $1 for 15 minutes of parking, whereas if I'm going for a night out I may want to park a couple blocks away and spend $5 for 5 hours.

Are there any studies on cities that have extremely cheap (cheap as in like 25 cents an hour) or free meter parking? It seems like making parking extremely cheap or free in a downtown area would make it more appealing for people in outside areas to visit. That in turn would make the area more vibrant, more businesses open, and you could make up that money on the backend with property/sales taxes.

The point of the study was that these places were already being used. Like think of how many cars you see circling around to try to find a place to park on Howard in the Old Market, when Jackson is basically empty just a block away. It’s basically a form of congestion pricing, so yeah you will end up with parking meters that are cheaper than they are now.

A guy named Donald Shoup has been referenced in a couple books I have read. He authored a book titled the High Price of Parking. He goes into the cost of construction and maintenance of parking and the reduced revenue stream for governments, ie. property taxes if those parking lots are used for development and parking fees. Ultimately, we build free parking without taking into account the costs; this is particularly applicable in the suburbs.

In addition to the resulting congestion that Garrett alludes to, I think we would be shooting ourselves in the foot by providing free street parking in light of the streetcar project. I think ultimately, we want to reduce auto congestion in our most popular destinations in the urban core, like the Old Market, with the streetcar by funneling cars into strategically placed parking garages and people to destinations and businesses. If you increase on street prices, especially close to destinations, and reduce prices in areas outside of these districts, like parking garages, you can have better control of traffic in and through the districts and reduce pedestrian and automobile interactions. I think that contributes more to vibrancy of a block than would make parking free and bringing unnecessary car congestion.

[JDJase]

What I never got on the parking app is why every zone is 115. Whats the point of inputting a zone to pay if the entire city is in zone 115?

Here's a novel idea ive wanted for a while. Lets meter all the side streets in blackstone and make those meters start from 4pm-2am. Its impossible to find off street parking in Blackstone when you visit because all those spots are taken by residents.

To me the point of street parking should never be to park your car for 12 hours---it should be a temporary thing.

With a new streetcar and ORBIT bus I dont see why some Blackstone residents cant start to jettison their cars---paying a meter nightly would make it just inconvenient enough for residents to find off street parking or get rid of their cars.

Ive never had an issue parking downtown. Blackstone is a nightmare to find parking.

I guess I'm not fully clear on the goals of your plan here. You want to make it extremely difficult for people who live in the area to own a car, and make them rely on extremely limited public transport for all aspects of their lives, so that...you can drive your car there to go out drinking?

Seems like the more obvious solution here is for you to take public transportation to Blackstone. And of course there's plenty of parking just a short walk away in Midtown Crossing. I understand where you're coming from about street parking ideally being only for visitors, but in older *residential* neighborhoods that lack driveways/garages/surface lots, that's not realistic. That being said, in my experience I've rarely seen the parking on the residential streets around there full (or even half full) during non-peak nightlife hours, so I would dispute that "almost all" of the street parking is taken by residents. It's far more often taken by visitors to Blackstone who parked there to avoid plugging the meters (and avoiding the 2 hour limit) on Farnam. (Same goes for Benson as well).

There are certainly good reasons to advocate improving public transportation to help people live without a car if they so choose. I don't think "make it impossible for them to own a car so that I can park my car closer to the bar" is a good way to go about that advocacy.

But these ideas of creating car-free cities are fantasies that urbanists have had for decades and which reality has nonetheless gone a different direction. We can (and should) continue to build public transportation to aid people who can't own a car, and to create situations where people don't need to use their car (i.e. a night out on the weekend, work commutes, etc); that's still great, and it's realistic. But the fact is the future of transportation is a lot more like Los Angeles, not New York.

[TransitOriented]

But the fact is the future of transportation is a lot more like Los Angeles, not New York.

Which Los Angeles? 20 years ago LA, or 5-10 years from now LA? They have a lot of light rail projects under construction right now, and I'd argue that you do not need a car to live in LA anymore. NYC you definitely do not need a car. Chicago you do not need a car either. Minneapolis just needs another line or two to get me to sell my car.

Also I think Uber/Lyft/Grab have really made an impact on how people think of transportation also. I've been out many times to the popular bar hopping areas mentioned above and have relied on Uber/Lyft/Grab to get me there.

[stadsborgare]

Car owners should celebrate increased public transit options, because the more people who use public transit means less congestion on the streets if you are one to stick with using your car. Do you want everyone driving their cars in a city that is growing bigger and denser by the year? I'm not a glutton for punishment, I don't know about you.

I'd like to go to Blackstone more often, but I don't for lack of parking. Put a streetcar in there, and I'll freely go there whenever I want to.

[Mapguy]

The goal is to reduce congestion and increase the turnover of parking spaces for on-street parking. Why would meters run from 4pm-2am? Because thats when parking is scarce in Blackstone.

All this talk of dynamic parking rates and its lost on you why we would have meters run from 4pm-2am in Blackstone? Thats when people go there.

People avoid Blackstone businesses at night because parking is hard to find. We are investing 300 million in a street-car and 30 million has been spent on ORBT. The rest of the city is subsidizing these transit projects that go through Blackstone---I think the residents there can afford to find off street parking or walk 3-5 blocks to their apts when they are parking their cars for the night. Street parking should be availabele so that visitors can park temporarily and spend money in the district.

The residents of Blackstone are not entitled to free on street parking 24/7 in front of their apts. The street parking belongs to residents of the entire city---theres a chronic shortage there so it should be metered when people go there which is from 4pm-2am.

Most of the people I know who go to Blackstone already carpool or uber together to avoid parking---theres only so many hoops people will jump through to go somewhere. The apt dwellers sucking up all the parking for 6-12 hour stretches are the biggest hinderence to the businesses getting people in the door.

[Athomsfere]

But the fact is the future of transportation is a lot more like Los Angeles, not New York.

Which Los Angeles? 20 years ago LA, or 5-10 years from now LA? They have a lot of light rail projects under construction right now, and I'd argue that you do not need a car to live in LA anymore. NYC you definitely do not need a car. Chicago you do not need a car either. Minneapolis just needs another line or two to get me to sell my car.

I'm sure LA is there yet. I haven't been in a while but... Even SF only a small part of the city could really go without a car IMO. There are a lot of areas with out a true connection, various payment systems, transit frequently late... And SF is supposed to be a good system by North American standards!?

I'm glad LA is changing, and should have started decades ago. But it still has so far to go IMO that I can't see it as a success yet for most of LA. Although I'm sure it's reached a point where if you can afford to live right off a line, you can get rid of a car.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

The goal is to reduce congestion and increase the turnover of parking spaces for on-street parking. Why would meters run from 4pm-2am? Because thats when parking is scarce in Blackstone.

All this talk of dynamic parking rates and its lost on you why we would have meters run from 4pm-2am in Blackstone? Thats when people go there.

People avoid Blackstone businesses at night because parking is hard to find. We are investing 300 million in a street-car and 30 million has been spent on ORBT. The rest of the city is subsidizing these transit projects that go through Blackstone---I think the residents there can afford to find off street parking or walk 3-5 blocks to their apts when they are parking their cars for the night. Street parking should be availabele so that visitors can park temporarily and spend money in the district.

The residents of Blackstone are not entitled to free on street parking 24/7 in front of their apts. The street parking belongs to residents of the entire city---theres a chronic shortage there so it should be metered when people go there which is from 4pm-2am.

Most of the people I know who go to Blackstone already carpool or uber together to avoid parking---theres only so many hoops people will jump through to go somewhere. The apt dwellers sucking up all the parking for 6-12 hour stretches are the biggest hinderence to the businesses getting people in the door.

I agree with you in some respects, but I'm curious if there is off-street parking available for residents? If not, what many cities do is to offer a residential permit system where some residential areas, often close to commercial areas, are designated as parking for residents and their visitors only, typically during the evenings and overnight when people are home. Any vehicle not displaying a permit is ticketed and possibly towed. Conversely, commercial areas are provided meters to prevent residents from parking in those areas. I think this is a system that could work well there.

That said, it sounds like you see Blackstone as a place to visit and the residents need to be more accommodating, but it is also their home. Doesn't mean they are entitled to parking an entire collection of cars in front of their house but it does mean they should be given priority since they have invested more of their lives there. Besides, it's largely a bar district and most visitors probably should be getting there by some other means than driving anyway. From a safety perspective, we should be encouraging ride-share and transit usage over driving.

Ideally, instead of simply visiting Blackstone on the weekends, more people should choose to live there.

[buildomaha]

The goal is to reduce congestion and increase the turnover of parking spaces for on-street parking. Why would meters run from 4pm-2am? Because thats when parking is scarce in Blackstone.

All this talk of dynamic parking rates and its lost on you why we would have meters run from 4pm-2am in Blackstone? Thats when people go there.

People avoid Blackstone businesses at night because parking is hard to find. We are investing 300 million in a street-car and 30 million has been spent on ORBT. The rest of the city is subsidizing these transit projects that go through Blackstone---I think the residents there can afford to find off street parking or walk 3-5 blocks to their apts when they are parking their cars for the night. Street parking should be availabele so that visitors can park temporarily and spend money in the district.

The residents of Blackstone are not entitled to free on street parking 24/7 in front of their apts. The street parking belongs to residents of the entire city---theres a chronic shortage there so it should be metered when people go there which is from 4pm-2am.

Most of the people I know who go to Blackstone already carpool or uber together to avoid parking---theres only so many hoops people will jump through to go somewhere. The apt dwellers sucking up all the parking for 6-12 hour stretches are the biggest hinderence to the businesses getting people in the door.

While I haven’t lived in blackstone, I have lived in Lincoln’s haymarket. I found it extremely frustrating to hear and see suburbanites feeling entitled to free parking within a block of their destination. Like someone mentioned, those of us that choose to live in these districts have invested more of our lives to live there.

[Mapguy]

Im not advocating for free parking for suburbanites---on the contrary Im advocating they pay for the privilege of parking in Blackstone. Im also saying we should create an incentive to find longer term off street parking for residents---which meters do.

90% of the people living in Blackstone are likely renters so how much are they really investing in the district beyond rent?

If you want to incentivise ride sharing get rid of the parking on farnam and have a midblock drop off zone for ride shares and give that space back to pedestrians.

Parking fees are what will fund this streetcar so why wouldnt we meter everything within 3 blocks of it to incentivize its use?

Right now parking is inconvenient and free. It should be convenient and moderately priced at $1.50-$2/hr on all side streets within a block of the strip.

[Garrett]

Im not advocating for free parking for suburbanites---on the contrary Im advocating they pay for the privilege of parking in Blackstone. Im also saying we should create an incentive to find longer term off street parking for residents---which meters do.

90% of the people living in Blackstone are likely renters so how much are they really investing in the district beyond rent?

If you want to incentivise ride sharing get rid of the parking on farnam and have a midblock drop off zone for ride shares and give that space back to pedestrians.

Parking fees are what will fund this streetcar so why wouldnt we meter everything within 3 blocks of it to incentivize its use?

Right now parking is inconvenient and free. It should be convenient and moderately priced at $1.50-$2/hr on all side streets within a block of the strip.

Renters invest in districts by paying for landlords to own property, on top of being day to day patrons of local businesses, so they're investing plenty and getting none of that money back afterwards.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

Im not advocating for free parking for suburbanites---on the contrary Im advocating they pay for the privilege of parking in Blackstone. Im also saying we should create an incentive to find longer term off street parking for residents---which meters do.

90% of the people living in Blackstone are likely renters so how much are they really investing in the district beyond rent?

If you want to incentivise ride sharing get rid of the parking on farnam and have a midblock drop off zone for ride shares and give that space back to pedestrians.

Parking fees are what will fund this streetcar so why wouldnt we meter everything within 3 blocks of it to incentivize its use?

Right now parking is inconvenient and free. It should be convenient and moderately priced at $1.50-$2/hr on all side streets within a block of the strip.

I don't know that there would be a good off-street solution for residents if it's not there already. Instead, I'd say a garage with that charges a fee could be useful to serve visitors so the streets can remain available for residents to park closer to their homes. It could also offer some monthly parking permits for residents.

There definitely should be a ride share/taxi loading zone. Between the lack of curb management in Omaha and vision for bikeways there seems to be an opportunity for forward thinking in whatever department manages local transportation that hasn't been seized upon.

Parking fees aren't going to pay for much of the costs of the stretcar. More than anything they exist to ensure continuous turnover of parking spaces.

[ita]

Im not advocating for free parking for suburbanites---on the contrary Im advocating they pay for the privilege of parking in Blackstone. Im also saying we should create an incentive to find longer term off street parking for residents---which meters do.

90% of the people living in Blackstone are likely renters so how much are they really investing in the district beyond rent?

If you want to incentivise ride sharing get rid of the parking on farnam and have a midblock drop off zone for ride shares and give that space back to pedestrians.

Parking fees are what will fund this streetcar so why wouldnt we meter everything within 3 blocks of it to incentivize its use?

Right now parking is inconvenient and free. It should be convenient and moderately priced at $1.50-$2/hr on all side streets within a block of the strip.

I don't know that there would be a good off-street solution for residents if it's not there already. Instead, I'd say a garage with that charges a fee could be useful to serve visitors so the streets can remain available for residents to park closer to their homes. It could also offer some monthly parking permits for residents.

There definitely should be a ride share/taxi loading zone. Between the lack of curb management in Omaha and vision for bikeways there seems to be an opportunity for forward thinking in whatever department manages local transportation that hasn't been seized upon.

Parking fees aren't going to pay for much of the costs of the stretcar. More than anything they exist to ensure continuous turnover of parking spaces.

For Blackstone specifically, the 9 story development, I believe it is contemplated to provide public parking for the district, just as parking lot it's replacing did for years. Looking back at one article, it's going to have 400 spaces, replacing the 120 spots there previously. The building 'only' has 160 units, so there should be a lot more public parking spaces to serve Blackstone visitors, and maybe even some residents.

[Athomsfere]

Im not advocating for free parking for suburbanites---on the contrary Im advocating they pay for the privilege of parking in Blackstone. Im also saying we should create an incentive to find longer term off street parking for residents---which meters do.

90% of the people living in Blackstone are likely renters so how much are they really investing in the district beyond rent?

If you want to incentivise ride sharing get rid of the parking on farnam and have a midblock drop off zone for ride shares and give that space back to pedestrians.

Parking fees are what will fund this streetcar so why wouldnt we meter everything within 3 blocks of it to incentivize its use?

Right now parking is inconvenient and free. It should be convenient and moderately priced at $1.50-$2/hr on all side streets within a block of the strip.

Renters invest in districts by paying for landlords to own property, on top of being day to day patrons of local businesses, so they're investing plenty and getting none of that money back afterwards.

Exactly my thoughts.

And for where I was, I think 70% of the apartment renters had a space. Others used on street. And other buildings nearby did not really have parking spaces at all.

[Coyote]

ParkOmaha to implement parking plan that includes ‘smart loading zones’
City says Automotus will help make changes that focus on utility and efficiency



City officials recognized a parking problem during the height of the pandemic: Parking spots were being used for non-parking reasons. “Typically the curb in the past has always been for parking; it’s no longer just parking anymore,” said Omaha parking and mobility manager Ken Smith. “We have to get your ride-share services like Uber, Lyft... We need to get the Amazon, FedEx, UPS -- we need to get them up to the curb so they’re not blocking the street.” ParkOmaha’s plan involves bettering the use of the city’s available parking space.

“Maybe it’s a loading zone in the morning when services and restaurants are loading up, and it switches over to a parking place in the evening,” Smith said. “We’re able to create this smart zone for efficiency and utilization at the curb.” Omaha is working with Automotus, which plans to help increase parking availability and make things safer for delivery drivers and ride-share drivers. A camera will keep track of who parks in the loading zones by capturing an image of the vehicle’s license plate.

“We don’t actually store anything on our servers,” said Anil Merchant, Automotus’s chief product officer. “We process the activity in real-time, and then we’ll extract data including how long the vehicle is parked for, what sort of parking activity happened, and then take that back and analyze it.” “It’s an automated system,” Merchant said. “Eventually, we’ll charge them according to the use of that space and that will remove the fees from the property owner onto the user of the space. That drives efficiency, too. Now it’s not just one property owner, it’s the others in the area that can use that zone, and then we also get the turnover in that space.”

[Trips1]

This could be a great first step if done right.

There is an almost zero chance of rideshare drivers using it if they charge the driver for under 8 minutes. Even if it is $.25 that could be $400 to $500 a year for some drivers. Most drive for Uber and Lyft so it would be hard to send the bill to them.

If they geofence the area to require riders to be picked up there, like the airport or during CWS, they risk not having enough spots. This also can cause drivers to pass on pickups like they do after a CHI event.

Riders get the first 2 minutes free and are charged for the next 5 minutes. At 7 minutes a driver can cancel and get $4. Free for the first 8 minutes with $.25/minute after is a good solution.

[Coyote]

Downtown and Midtown parking rates and procedures to change soon

Park Omaha announced plans on Wednesday to significantly change parking rates and procedures in the coming months for parking downtown and in midtown. The most significant changes will be a tiered hourly charge, in which rates will be lower for people parking a shorter amount of time and then go up the longer you keep a car parked. Along with that tiered system will be the removal of limited time meters.

[skinzfan23]

Wow thanks for posting that....it seems really confusing though. The story is talking about green, blue and purple zones, but the map only shows green, orange and purple.

So the basic thing I got out of this is that hourly rates will be lower for 1-2 hr stays, while if you stay longer it will progressively go up.

Hope that the public is easily made aware of the changes and is able to understand.

[Garrett]

It’s a very good change though. Way more efficient

[WBR_Tom]

Wow thanks for posting that....it seems really confusing though. The story is talking about green, blue and purple zones, but the map only shows green, orange and purple.

So the basic thing I got out of this is that hourly rates will be lower for 1-2 hr stays, while if you stay longer it will progressively go up.

Hope that the public is easily made aware of the changes and is able to understand.

3+ zones are orange, as shown on the map -- not blue as WOWT and KPTM initially reported. They've both updated their stories to reflect that.

The numbers reflect when the rates start to increase, hence the plus sign (instead of indicating when you will get a ticket if you don't move). 2+ means after two hours, the rate begins to go up, to a daily max of $29. 3+ means after three hours, the rate begins to go up, to a daily max of $15.50. E or economy zones are the same flat 25 cent per hour rate, up to a max of $6 per day. Way simpler than before where there was five zones, all of which required you to move your vehicle after the number of hours indicated by the zone name.

The signs and multi-space meters will be color-coded to match the zone you're in. I think people will catch on pretty quick.

[ita]

This is quite an overhaul. Here are some changes noted:

Most notably, the first two to three hours of parking at a meter will be lowered to $1 an hour. Users will be able to pay for parking in a variety of ways and worry less about receiving a citation. While parking meters will have a lower initial rate, the rate will progressively increase the longer a vehicle stays parked.
...
The following garages are city owned and operated:

10th & Jackson Garage: $2/day Monday - Thursday, FIRST HOUR FREE Friday - Sunday, $1/hour thereafter with a $10/day maximum.

15th & Douglas Garage: $1/hour with a $10/day maximum

17th & Chicago Garage: $1/hour with a $10/day maximum

19th & Capitol Garage: $1/hour with a $10/day maximum
...
Not all of Omaha’s paid parking spaces will have the progressive rates, Smith said.
...
Gates will be removed from all garages and surface lots managed by Park Omaha as the new ecosystem is implemented. Instead, newly installed cameras will read users’ license plates as credentials for entrance and exit, similar to some newer car washes. Monthly parkers will be scanned in and out, and daily parkers will be able to pay via the Park Omaha app or a multi space meter in the garage.
...
Park Omaha’s new “smart loading zones” will debut later this year. As part of a partnership with Automotus, Park Omaha will deploy a citywide network of automated loading zones that will reduce traffic congestion while improving parking turnover and creating safer, faster curbside pick-up for local businesses.

The Smart Loading Zones will be equipped with computer vision technology for safer and more efficient use of the curb with a focus on safety. Details on each zone are outlined below. The automated zones are an addition to the City’s existing network of standard loading zones.

[Coyote]

Upgrades coming soon for Park Omaha in downtown, midtown

[omaha79]

The 2 hour minimums in most areas were insane. It was barely enough time to grab dinner or go to a show. This is a great change.

[Athomsfere]

The 2 hour minimums in most areas were insane. It was barely enough time to grab dinner or go to a show. This is a great change.

Do you mean maximums?

[omaha79]

The 2 hour minimums in most areas were insane. It was barely enough time to grab dinner or go to a show. This is a great change.

Do you mean maximums?

yes. Maximums. whoops.

[Trips1]

"All new zones will be equipped with Automotus’ AI-powered camera system, which can identify vehicles as they pull up to the curb to immediately initiate toll road-like automated payments, saving drivers valuable time"

This sounds like a tax on rideshare passengers.

Right now drivers and passengers are not paying to park as they are only picking up or dropping off. For the drop offs the passenger will want off just before the toll zone so save the tax. Like I said before, the first 7 minutes needs to be free or they will not get used.

[Athomsfere]

"All new zones will be equipped with Automotus’ AI-powered camera system, which can identify vehicles as they pull up to the curb to immediately initiate toll road-like automated payments, saving drivers valuable time"

This sounds like a tax on rideshare passengers.

Right now drivers and passengers are not paying to park as they are only picking up or dropping off. For the drop offs the passenger will want off just before the toll zone so save the tax. Like I said before, the first 7 minutes needs to be free or they will not get used.

If someone would rather walk a few blocks instead of putting another car in the mix of the Old market to save $1, that sounds like win to me.

[Coyote]

Redesigned Park Omaha system with new rates and no more time limits
The new pay structure will take effect Tuesday, May 30, according to the city’s parking manager



If you’ve been downtown or midtown recently, you might’ve noticed purple, orange, or green posts for parking. And if you’ve tried to use them, they’re not ready yet. They will be Tuesday; the city’s parking and mobility manager, Ken Smith, tells 6 News that’s when the new system and new prices are set to go into effect for the downtown and midtown areas.

Gisela Robles, born and raised in Omaha, said the current system with time limits can be inconvenient for her. “Usually I run out to my car and end up putting quarters or go to another meter that has longer hours, like for instance 3 hours or 10 hours,” she said.

[jjjjhskr]

they’re leaving the meter poles in the sidewalks, should be interesting starting tmw.

[jjjjhskr]

Update - here’s what the updated meter poles will look like.

[nativeomahan]

If it means I won’t have to leave home with a pocket full of quarters I’ll be happy.

[Dusty]

I was curious if anyone had feedback on how opening week went with new parking meters? Good, bad, etc?
I did see some complaints on my facebook feed of others who were downtown. Some cry babies in the bunch. Some glitches which are to be expected in opening week.

A summary of their comments:
-It may be convenient for the city, but NOT for me!
-I tried putting coins into the kiosk, but it wouldn't take them
-I tried using my card to pay, but kept getting errors. Told to call help line.
-I was stuck behind an elderly couple who couldn't figure it out
-I walked over a block and couldn't find the kiosk
-I forgot my phone, kept defaulting to pay through app. Other functions were not letting me pay.

[Brad]

I was curious if anyone had feedback on how opening week went with new parking meters? Good, bad, etc?

My only complaint, in part of downtown, like along capitol ave, the numbers are on the back side of the meter so if you are in your car, trying to pay with the app, you can't see the zone on the meter...

So your probably thinking, just get out of the car and go look at the backside... You would be correct, but when its raining, I would rather pay on the app from inside the car and stay dry before I get out and run off to my destination.

That said, I have seen the numbers are still on the front side in other parts of downtown.

The app is the way to go, the kiosks should be pointless for 80% of the Omaha residence.

[Dusty]

I thought the meter detects when someone pulls in and leaves. Do you manually enter the meter number or does it auto connect with the app? The reason I ask is rideshare drivers were worried they would get charged if they pulled in a spot to pick someone up. Also, can you preload cash on your account so it deducts it (like Sunpass, Peachpass, etc)

I have used these kiosks in other cities. Words of wisdom...take a picture of your plates and meter number. There is nothing more annoying when you are working the kiosk and have no clue what you plate number is. (Sigh) Cancel screen, walk all the way back to car, and start over.

[Brad]

I thought the meter detects when someone pulls in and leaves. Do you manually enter the meter number or does it auto connect with the app?

I used me regular Park Omaha app
Before you would put in zone 115 (I Think all of Omaha was zone 115). Then you would add the spot.

The new "meter" had zone 268, and then it asked for my license plate number, never asked for a parking spot.

It never asked to connect to anything. Everything else seemed to be the same.

[Night Train]

I was curious if anyone had feedback on how opening week went with new parking meters? Good, bad, etc?
I did see some complaints on my facebook feed of others who were downtown. Some cry babies in the bunch. Some glitches which are to be expected in opening week.

A summary of their comments:
-It may be convenient for the city, but NOT for me!
-I tried putting coins into the kiosk, but it wouldn't take them
-I tried using my card to pay, but kept getting errors. Told to call help line.
-I was stuck behind an elderly couple who couldn't figure it out
-I walked over a block and couldn't find the kiosk
-I forgot my phone, kept defaulting to pay through app. Other functions were not letting me pay.

I parked downtown today and after a bit of trial and error ended up downloading and using the Park Omaha app. If I didn't know about the parking meter changes beforehand, and expected to pay with change, I would've been a bit more frustrated. I saw multiple people parking and sitting on their phones trying to figure the new system out.

The app is convenient and will be good for future use, obviously, but I can definitely see where there will be some headaches arising. I had change in my back pocket and tried finding a kiosk. Again, if I didn't know there was a kiosk (say I'm from out of town or had no idea about the parking meter changes) I would've had no idea where to pay with change. Needless to say I couldn't find one and didn't want to waste the time to do so. The meter says to download the app and so on. Not everyone wants to pay for parking by an app; throwing some coins in right when you park is a bit quicker.

All in all it wasn't a big deal using the app and I like it's convenience but I can definitely see this being frustrating for people (I won't totally single out the elderly) who don't use their phone for things like this. I'm a middle aged guy with average intelligence and it took me close to 15 minutes after I parked to figure everything out.
This included walking around trying to find a kiosk, scanning the barcode on the meter for instructions about the app then trying a couple of times to download the app. After parking downtown today, it will only take a fraction of the time next time.

I'm just kind of "meh" or in the middle on it. Not my intention to complain but also not totally ecstatic on the changes with the parking. Seems like a good ol' fashioned "sign of the times"

[Brad]

I thought the meter detects when someone pulls in and leaves. Do you manually enter the meter number or does it auto connect with the app?

Quick update. I pulled in to a spot and waited a little bit before I paid for an hour in the Park Omaha app. After my hour was up, I stayed for a little while longer just to see. I was working right next to my car so there was no worry about getting a ticket. Anyways, there no extra time on my receipt, just the one hour I paid for. I don't believe there is anything detecting when cars pull up and leave.

[Dundeemaha]

I thought the meter detects when someone pulls in and leaves. Do you manually enter the meter number or does it auto connect with the app?

Quick update. I pulled in to a spot and waited a little bit before I paid for an hour in the Park Omaha app. After my hour was up, I stayed for a little while longer just to see. I was working right next to my car so there was no worry about getting a ticket. Anyways, there no extra time on my receipt, just the one hour I paid for. I don't believe there is anything detecting when cars pull up and leave.

The new meter boxes / rates are separate from the automated loading zones. That's for commercial drivers, here's the page about it: https://www.parkomaha.com/parking/loading-zones