‘SmartEye’ Electronic Parking Sensor Trial For Pukuatua Street

ROTORUA 13.05.13:  Rotorua District Council (RDC) is testing electronic parking sensors along Pukuatua Street as part of proposed parking initiatives for the CBD.

The ‘SmartEye’ vehicle detection sensor system is being trialled on 30 parking spaces along Pukuatua Street between ASB Bank and the Salvation Army Family Store, and in some other locations known to be high in geothermal activity.

The trial will test how the technology works in Rotorua’s unique geothermal environment and will collect parking data which can be used for comparison with data from traditional parking meters. The sensors send detailed information on vehicle use for each parking space back to a centralised control unit.

RDC Economic and Regulatory Services group manager, Mark Rawson, said the trial will not at this stage impact on parking meter and Pay & Display systems, or fees and enforcement, so people would need to continue feeding meters as usual at present.

“This trial will provide the council with broader insight into the potential for monitoring all parking within the CBD by way of this new technology. It will help Council to assess the potential for introducing time-limited free parking within the CBD in the future.”

Mr Rawson said signage explaining the sensors and the trial will be fixed to each parking meter in the testing area.

He said the parking trial will begin this month (May) and continue for two to three months. In the meantime regular operational enforcement of parking would continue unchanged throughout the testing period.

ENDS

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