Drivers heading downtown can now look for open parking spots online, as the City of Victoria introduces software that indicates, in real time, the number of available spaces in the five parkades run by the city.
The software uses motion-sensor cameras to keep track of the number of vehicles entering and exiting each parkade.
The up-to-date information can be accessed via the City of Victoria’s website, where viewers can see both the number of spaces available and how full the parkade is by percentage.
The system also provide updates on the availability of accessible and “one-hour free” parking spaces in the parkades.
Kerri Moore, director of business and community relations for the City of Victoria, says the new system is intended to reduce frustration for those visiting downtown by vehicle.
“With real-time parking space availability, the stress of trying to find a parking space is eliminated, so people can save time and energy during their visit downtown.”
While there are five parkades, viewers are presented with six options, including two for the Broughton Street parkade — one for the Broughton Street entrance and another for the Courtney Street side.
The software was created by Mistall, a Canadian-based company and FastPark Ltd., a Canadian-based contractor, and has been adopted by other municipalities, including Kelowna and Whistler.
Digital signage is expected to be installed outside the parkades in a second phase of the project.
The city pays approximately $2,375 a month in software licensing fees for each camera.
For more information, go to victoria.ca/parking.
