Dynamically managing curbspace in real-time for highest and best use
Abstract
Curbs act as the interface between mobility and accessibility, but the problem is that static, painted curbs are the constraining asset as new mobility options and smart city infrastructure come online. With so many diverse demands in such a restricted space, it’s no surprise that the current industry standards for curbside management are outdated and underperforming. Numerous problems exist today, including: excess demand for curbspace leading to congestion from vehicles circling for parking, inefficiencies of rigid curbside zoning, and safety concerns due to improper use. What urban design concepts can be explored to manage curbspace for evolving mobility patterns?
The widespread adoption of TNC and other on-demand services have induced excess demand for short-term loading/unloading curb access, which can vary throughout the day and week. Passenger loading zones today are not abundant enough to manage these increasing curbside access demands. Alternative mobility options such as e-scooters are flooding the market giving users more transportation choices than ever and forcing cities across the US to react with the regulations to ensure broader goals of safety, equity, and mobility. Cities need to simultaneously think of the best solutions for today while also remaining flexible to technologies of tomorrow.
AECOM is taking a comprehensive, innovative approach by building Flex Zones: an integrated hardware and software system giving operators real-time control over their most in-demand curbspace. Dynamic signage and embedded lights will inform drivers of available spaces and current prices. Sensors will collect data to optimize the streetscape to meet real-time mobility demands. New passenger loading zones that vary in size can help safely clear travel lanes and allow for the highest and best use. Demand-based pricing could “right-price” the curb in high density areas. Automated enforcement could be implemented to help reduce enforcement costs.
This is an abstract for a technical session (ideally panel discussion)
Dynamically managing curbspace in real-time for highest and best use
Category
Urban Planning and Sustainability
Description
Presenter: Ryan Winn
Agency Affiliation: AECOM
Session: Technical Session D3: Planning Through Change: Transportation Demand Management Applications
Date: 6/2/2022, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Presenter Biographical Statement: Ryan is a transportation planner with 10 years’ experience on several key transportation projects with a focus in Los Angeles. He has been involved in corridor planning studies, alternatives analysis, technical studies, environmental mitigation monitoring, and project management. He holds an undergraduate degree in civil engineering and a graduate degree in urban planning providing him a diverse set of technical skills to deliver various planning studies and infrastructure projects. Ryan has conducted both on- and off-street parking studies on multiple large transit corridor studies as well as managed the digital inventory of curb assets in three North American cities. His Master’s thesis quantitatively analyzed over 500,000 electric vehicle charging transactions at Southern California workplaces to study charging behavior, including how parking pricing policies and time of day affect charging patterns. He is currently leading an internal team to develop a hardware and software solution for public and private sectors clients to manage curbspace in real-time reflective of current parking and loading demands.