Automated parking guidance coming to Downtown Redwood City

in Community

Real-time parking information is coming soon to Downtown Redwood City, with the aim of reducing congestion and making the parking process easier for citizens.

At its meeting Monday, Redwood City’s council voted to award a contract to Cleverciti Systems Corp. to install and operate an automated parking guidance system for Downtown Redwood City. The system tracks parking availability via sensors and relays that information to the public via digital signs, mobile apps and websites.

The project, a partnership between the Redwood City Improvement Association (RCIA) and city, is expected to cost about $904,000 up front, with the city incurring an ongoing monthly charge estimated at about $18,000.

Downtown Redwood City parking facilities include seven lots, two garages, about 1,500 on-street parking spaces and several private facilities that provide public access via shared parking agreements.

Parking occupancy downtown is currently half of what it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, when there were about 100,000 transactions per month for on-street parking, according to city documents. City officials expect parking demand to return and even grow post-pandemic restrictions.

Photos of possible digital signage courtesy of city documents