by Leo Suarez

Parking In Downtown Raleigh May Get Easier Thanks To Open Data

Throughout the summer of this year, I’ve been part of a competition that started in April and ended yesterday with my team claiming victory. The North Carolina DataPalooza is an open-data competition where developers and entrepreneurs use open data to solve some of society’s problems. Hosted by the entrepreneurial co-working space HQ Raleigh and Forward Impact, NC DataPalooza was unique in that it was the first ever region-wide event of this type in the country.

My team’s idea? To help people navigate urban areas, showing them the best possible parking locations and offering wayfinding to their end destination. Our smartphone application, still in the prototype phase, is the first step in implementing this process. We also have a nice list of features that will make the application very helpful.

If you don’t already know, parking is somewhat of a fascination with me.

Earlier this year, stories like these arose in conversation with other downtowners. Parking in downtown Raleigh turned out to be a real annoyance to a lot of people. The ones that didn’t have a problem with parking sounded like mathematical magicians.

Parking is easy! City decks are free for the first 15 minutes then $1 per 30 minutes after that. They cap you at $12 but it’s cheaper to park on the street for 25 cents per 15 minutes. But don’t go over the limit which varies between 15 minutes and 2 hours. SO. EASY!

Whether you get it or not, the urban parking experience, when compared to the suburban experience, will always be more difficult. Hearing complaint after complaint, I found myself discussing this more with a group of Downtown Living Advocate (DLA) members. We formed a team and started looking into it.

We were motivated by finding a solution towards lowering the bar and making parking easier for casual visitors. Hopefully, this would result in citizens being more confident in navigating downtown Raleigh and possibly increasing commerce.

It turns out this issue is not unique to us.

Throughout the summer, working on this Parking Initiative we found that other areas have the same parking complaints and issues as downtown Raleigh. There are areas around the triangle and cities around the southeast that echoed Raleigh in a very similar way.

All of this research has been an integral part of our winning the NC DataPalooza. We have a busy few months ahead of us as we build up the prototype application, formalize our new company, and move towards launch. I think I speak for the team when I say “Thank You!” to everyone behind the NC DataPalooza, our advisors, and the people behind the City of Raleigh who we’ve worked with.

We feel our approach is truly unique compared to any solution out there so stay tuned, Raleigh.

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6 Comments

  2. I heard recently that the Blount St. deck will go private in a few years if not sooner due to the Edison/Skyhouse development moving forward. Have you heard if spaces will be made available for monthly use for non-tenants? Will be nice to see some more competition for McLaurin come to town.

  4. I just got gouged by the Alexander parking deck on Wilmington street in Raleigh. It used to be free after 5:00 and on weekends. I parked there Friday night and they have installed a new machine that won’t let you out unless you insert a bank card or cash. It cost me $10 for parking that was once free. And Raleigh wants people to come support the downtown businesses –
    It’s just greed – I won’t ever be parking there again.

  5. Glen ingram, just for your information, the Alexander Square deck is private. That scenario does not happen in the city owned decks so please don’t mistake this ad a city supported effort.

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