Innovation in Music City

A Strong Partnership for a Smarter City

The most notable initiative to date has been the implementation of a smart parking system integrating the latest parking and mobility innovations to meet the needs of Nashville’s population to date and pave the way for inevitable future growth. The City of Nashville selected national parking operator LAZ Parking to facilitate a comprehensive smart parking initiative. The project included the replacement of approximately 1,700 of the city’s coin-operated meter system with smart parking kiosks that accept several payment types.

The five-year plan will also include a complete overhaul of parking polices and increase meter parking enforcement efforts. One of the primary objectives was to increase the number of metered parking spaces, improving parking space utilization across the city and minimizing instances of people seeking free parking in peripheral city neighborhoods. Along with NDOT, LAZ has also provided additional parking enforcement staff who will be trained to not only manage the parking meters, but also serve as officers to enforce other traffic and parking rules throughout the city.

The new parking program includes several new features. These include:

• Credit card and eCommerce payment options.
• Enhanced and modern parking enforcement solutions.
• Fair market-appropriate parking pricing.
• Custom developed business intelligence and data analytics system.
• 24/7 Service Delivery.

While this entire initiative is aimed at improving the parking experiences for residents and visitors alike, as well as streamlining operations for the city, it will also come with a significant increase in parking revenues. The program is already on track to increase revenues by over $3 million annually. These revenues will be reinvested into the city’s Infrastructure and Parking Program, providing valuable resources to continue to implement parking, mobility, and transportation improvements to keep up with continued rapid growth.

Circling back to the 2019 analysis of the city’s parking program finances, the initiatives that have been put into place through the new parking program anticipate that in just year one, revenues are expected to quadruple, and over the next five years revenues could increase by up to 500%. This is all anticipated to occur while at the same time reducing the number of parking citations issued by integrating more convenient, customer-centric payment options including mobile apps, as well as scan-to-pay and text-to-pay solutions. Not only does this effort simplify parking experiences for residents and visitors, but it provides a foundation to enhance the city’s relationship with the community, all while dramatically increasing revenues that will allow the city to implement future beneficial solutions.

Project Challenges and Roadblocks

Nashville is one of the first major cities to adopt such an advanced comprehensive parking payment system. But this program did not come easily, rather it faced several hurdles along the way. The entire procurement process from beginning to end took nearly seven years. Many were skeptical that this program could be successfully realized without raising parking rates. Some said the financial projections were flawed. Prolonged disputes over the procurement process, changes in the political landscape, lingering impacts from COVID, and anticipated risks to the community delayed the project for many years.

The procurement process included the release of three separate RFPs with varying iterations, goals, and contract terms. The final performance-based solicitation was designed to serve NDOT’s best interests, while meeting several outlined performance objectives. The result was an extremely comprehensive parking program framework, outlining a series of milestones and deliverables that would provide the roadmap to execute a plan that would not only bring the parking program up to speed with the city’s modern infrastructure, but provide the policies, data, and financial resources to continue to grow the program as the city grows.

The integration of the new smart parking meters is just the beginning of this long-term effort to overhaul the parking system in Nashville. The smart meters will provide valuable data that will allow the understanding of parking patterns, identification of inefficiencies, and development and execution of new policies to further accommodate the continued growth of downtown Nashville as well as the evolving expectations of the modern parking customer.

One of the reasons this project has been so successful to date is the consideration of the community throughout the entire process. The team deployed several strategies to keep all potential parkers up to date regarding milestones and changes to their routines or expectations. A comprehensive marketing and communications plan ensured that people received all relevant information regarding important changes, key dates, and how to utilize new technologies for their convenience. Several new parking staff members were hired whose duties include helping any prospective parkers with any customer service needs they may have. Finally, upon the integration of the new smart parking meters, the city implemented a monthlong enforcement “soft approach” issuing warnings and educating the public about changes to meter hours and locations.

The enforcement program has also been expanded to address many other community concerns above and beyond traditional parking enforcement. The role of the NDOT/LAZ Team now includes downtown code enforcement with an emphasis on the entertainment district, which has been a growing concern for many years. Enforcement officers are crossed-trained through the courts, police department, and other municipal agencies to enforce noise ordinances and codes related to entertainment vehicles, food trucks, and other street vendors. In just six months, the expansion of the enforcement program has had a tremendous impact on the community as a whole and has created a safer environment for everyone to enjoy.

Moving Forward

The City of Nashville has embarked on a remarkable journey towards greater parking and mobility innovation, reshaping not only its urban landscape but also its approach to transportation and accessibility. What was once primarily known for its rich musical heritage and cultural charm has now evolved into a bustling metropolis experiencing rapid growth and diversification. With such a dramatic population surge over the past decade, Nashville has become an enticing destination for businesses, professionals, and creatives, leading to an increased demand for housing, infrastructure, and urban amenities.

The city’s commitment to enhanced parking technology, innovation, expanded enforcement, and pricing has not only simplified the experience for residents and visitors alike, but also promises to generate substantial revenues. This increased income will be vital for reinvesting in the city’s infrastructure and parking program, ensuring that Nashville can continue to keep pace with its rapid growth.

While the journey was marked by several challenges and delays, Nashville has emerged as a groundbreaking city, embracing a comprehensive parking payment system that sets the stage for future growth and flexibility. This transformation reflects the city’s dedication to evolving with the times while maintaining its unique cultural identity, promising a vibrant future for Music City. Nashville’s pathway to greater parking and mobility innovation not only enhances the quality of life for its residents but also solidifies its position as a dynamic and forward-looking urban center. ◆