Blogs

To Build or Not to Build a Parking Deck By Meredith Garrett, CAPP

By IPMI Blog posted 6 days ago
By Meredith Garrett, CAPP: To build or not to build a parking deck? Or is the real question, do perspectives need to shift? It’s easy to say, “Build a deck! This will solve all of our parking problems!” and many times, this is the solution that frustrated students give. The question of building a parking deck has come up at our university many times over the years. I have a stack of plans that never came to fruition that I inherited. The last attempt to build a deck was in the spring of 2020. We were in the process of awarding the bid when campus closed due to COVID-19. Financial concerns and enrollment uncertainty scraped those plans, but the question of whether ...

Moving from Parking Punishment to Proportionality By Matt Darst

By IPMI Blog posted 11 days ago
By Matt Darst: For decades, cities have relied on parking fines as static tools—anchored in tradition more than purpose. Yet as transportation networks grow more complex and streets become riskier, this status-quo approach is failing both residents and policymakers. It’s time to rethink how fines are structured so they not only influence behavior, but do so fairly and strategically. Today, fine schedules often apply harsh penalties to low-risk administrative violations while underpricing high-risk behaviors—like blocking fire hydrants—that endanger the public. This mismatch erodes trust, especially when lower-income residents face disproportionate financial ...

Equity Beyond Capital: A Reflection on What True Inclusion Means By Susan Cole

By IPMI Blog posted 12 days ago
By Susan Cole: When we talk about equity in our industry, the conversation often stops at financial support. But “Equity Beyond Capital” challenges us to go further. It reminds me that true inclusion is about access, mentorship, and shared knowledge, things that can’t always be measured in dollars. I’ve seen firsthand how transformational it can be when someone takes the time to guide a small or diverse supplier through the process, explaining how funding works, what lenders look for, or simply helping them navigate contracts and certifications. That kind of support doesn’t just help one company succeed; it strengthens our entire industry. As leaders, we ...

Politics of Parking By Meredith Garrett, CAPP

By IPMI Blog posted 19 days ago
By Meredith Garrett, CAPP: I always knew there was an undercurrent of politics when it came to parking, but until I had to manage those politics I was pretty far removed from it. I’m still learning how to navigate this in my newer role and I’ve had to put my own agenda and thoughts on parking aside. It seems to be a constant battle to get everyone on the same page regarding how parking is run efficiently and for the good of everyone. Why is parking such an afterthought when that is the very first interaction or introduction to a space, place or event? Why do people believe that they shouldn’t have to pay for parking when there is a cost to have parking available, ...

The Public Service Shift – from Parks & Rec to Parking By Zach Pearce, PTMP

By IPMI Blog posted 25 days ago
By Zach Pearce, PTMP: Like so many others in the industry, my parking career began as a backup option. Having worked as a part-time supervisor while an undergraduate with Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation, followed by a stint with Raleigh NC Parks & Recreation after graduating with a degree in geography, I felt ready to take on any Park Management or Planner position in the southeast or mid-Atlantic. But the opportunity didn’t surface, and the monthly student loan payment couldn’t pay itself, so I took a parking facility management position with a private operator. That holiday season as a newly employed manager in the workforce I recall connecting ...

The Largest Building in Wisconsin Might Surprise You By Vincent Campagna, PTMP

By IPMI Blog posted 26 days ago
By Vincent Campagna, PTMP: When you think of the largest buildings in any city, your mind probably goes to soaring skyscrapers, massive stadiums, or sprawling airports. But in Wisconsin, the largest building by square footage isn’t a tower or arena—it’s actually the Parking Garage at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. This six-story, 8,000-space post-tensioned (P/T) structure was built in three phases. The Red Section, closest to the terminal, was originally constructed in 1977. A 1989 expansion, known as the Blue Section, added 126,000 square feet per floor along the western edge, and a 2002 expansion, the Yellow Section, extended the garage along ...

New Resident Student Move-in 2025 By Meredith Garrett, CAPP

By IPMI Blog posted 11-04-2025
By Meredith Garrett, CAPP: Every fall a new group of incoming students move into their dorms and call campus their home. We were approached by University Housing to assist them this past year with the logistics of parking and traffic control for the move-in of 4,500 new incoming students over the course of two days for the fall of 2025. In the past few years since COVID, the approach has been hands off from a parking standpoint. With occupancy of resident students increasing over the last few years traffic congestion, parking demand outpacing supply and frustrated drivers led to the need for a controlled and welcoming move-in experience. Thoughtful and strategic ...

Wearable Cameras for Safety and Efficiency in the Field By Henry Broback

By IPMI Blog posted 10-21-2025
By Henry Broback: “For the first time in a long time, I’ve gone over a month without being spit on.” “People see that I can document how they behave and they act differently.” “I had somebody see me with my camera and tell me, ‘Oh, I can’t harass you anymore.’” “I feel like people finally believe me when I talk about how interactions really went.” “I don’t want to start my shift without my camera.” In recent conversations with three different parking enforcement officers who recently started utilizing wearable cameras, a harsh reality became clear: there is a void in the existing toolset that officers face when trying to do their job while ...

Low-Cost Way to Digitalize Event Management By Meredith Garrett, CAPP

By IPMI Blog posted 10-16-2025
By Meredith Garrett, CAPP: Event management has been a struggle to keep everyone on the same page since I stepped into my role in 2024. We would receive multiple requests for event parking each day through a variety of different avenues. Phone calls and emails to different people within the department, never any consistency. Sometimes multiple phone calls AND emails for the same event! The ability to be able to charge for special event parking and offering a variety of options (hangtags, dashboard permits, do not enforce a lot) was also a hurdle I was up against. I needed a solution and fast, because I was spending an exorbitant amount of time on phone calls ...

October’s Ask the Experts – More Great Answers!

By IPMI Blog posted 10-14-2025
The October Ask the Experts column featured some great responses from IPMI thought leaders, but there is never enough space for all the great answers! Here are more thought-provoking responses. How can large-scale parking operations (education, healthcare, airports, business parks, retail centers, etc.) leverage emerging technologies to improve both parking management and the overall mobility experience? Scott Petri, President, Mobility Parking Advisors “Analyzing gaps in existing technology or identifying best-in-class technologies for operational functions provides efficiencies, potential revenue, enhancements, ...

How Onsite Parking Fuels Airport Growth By Vincent Campagna, PTMP

By IPMI Blog posted 10-09-2025
By Vincent Campagna, PTMP: Most travelers may know that flying out of their local airport helps create demand for airlines, which can lead to more routes and destinations. Many also understand that purchasing food, drinks, or gifts at the airport supports local jobs and drives demand for more concession options. What some may not realize, however, is the significant role that onsite airport parking plays in helping an airport grow—both financially and operationally. Non-Aeronautical Revenue For most airports, parking is the largest single source of non-aeronautical revenue, often accounting for 20–40% of that total. This revenue is critical—it ...

ChatGPT is a Tool, Not a Talent Strategy By Dr. George J. Mclean, MPA, DBA, PTMP

By IPMI Blog posted 09-25-2025
By Dr. George J. Mclean, MPA, DBA, PTMP: In a world where generative AI tools have become so prevalent, they now serve a multitude of purposes, from writing emails to setting reminders to creating presentations. Yet a concerning and growing trend has emerged among organizations both large and small. Instead of prioritizing employee development, many have become dangerously obsessed with leveraging AI as a replacement rather than a supplement for their human capital workforce. This is where it becomes alarming at the organizational level, and why we must raise awareness before it spirals out of control. Employee development and generative AI are two distinct ...

The ROI of Diversity By Madison Huemmer

By IPMI Blog posted 09-24-2025
By Madison Huemmer: Diversity and inclusion aren’t just moral goals; they’re revenue levers and public service musts. Companies with diverse leadership teams innovate faster and achieve higher returns. Public agencies produce better policies and have increased community trust. A McKinsey study showed companies in the top quartile of diversity efforts were 36% more likely to outperform their peers in profitability, and those with gender-diverse leadership had a 25% higher likelihood of above-average profitability. BCG ties diverse workforces to 19% higher revenue due to increased innovation. Study after study asserts that investment in diversity provides high ...

The Frontline Struggle is Real! By Vanessa R. Cummings, PTMP

By IPMI Blog posted 09-23-2025
By Vanessa R. Cummings, PTMP: Who you gonna call? Parking Busters! Don’t you wish! But that’s who you may feel like calling when you have the occasional run-ins that take a lot out of you. As a parking administrator and a pastor, I know what it’s like to be on the frontline of someone else’s emotions. I have had to turn the other cheek a few times and pray. As an administrator, I found my kindness sometimes wanting to take a backseat to what I saw as the customer’s shenanigans. Nothing would grate my nerves more than a customer who claimed they did not, or could not read signs posted, rules handed to them at the beginning of the year, or warnings given to ...

Policy Corner By Justin Goodwin, AICP, PTMP

By IPMI Blog posted 09-16-2025
Balancing Parking Policy and Growth in Columbus By Justin Goodwin, AICP, PTMP: How does parking policy align with the goals of a growing, multimodal city? And how can cities densify without overwhelming their parking systems? These questions have been central in Columbus, Ohio—the Midwest’s fastest-growing city. 2024 was pivotal. In November, Central Ohio voters approved a new transit sales tax to fund a Bus Rapid Transit system. Months earlier, Columbus City Council adopted Phase 1 of “Zone In,” a zoning overhaul creating new districts to spur housing and walkable, transit-oriented development. A major feature: eliminating minimum parking requirements ...

Public Safety at the Forefront of Robust Parking Operations By Zach Pearce, PTMP

By IPMI Blog posted 09-09-2025
By Zach Pearce, PTMP: Attractive and attentive parking and transportation management techniques will display public safety initiatives best servicing our communities by providing dependable access in well maintained facilities. Safe parking destinations demonstrate consistent cleaning and equipment upkeep, lighting functionality, clear wayfinding signage and pedestrian paths, and surveillance. As it relates to transportation, safe bus stops are defined by strong visibility, clear sidewalks, positioning out of direct vehicular traffic, and signage providing the user real time tracking. Depending on location, many of us in the industry experience periodic or ...

Low-Cost and No-Cost Ways to Improve Parking Lot Safety By Vincent Campagna, PTMP

By IPMI Blog posted 09-04-2025
By Vincent Campagna, PTMP: Parking lot safety is at the top of many parking professional’s priority list—and for good reason. However, addressing safety concerns can often be challenging, time-consuming, and expensive. As parking professionals, we’re expected to find smart, effective solutions that improve safety, enhance customer satisfaction, and—ideally—increase revenue. And if we’re being honest, we’re often asked to do it on a tight budget… and with a deadline of “tomorrow.” With that reality in mind, here are some low-cost or no-cost ideas to help you improve the safety of your parking facility—without breaking the bank. No-Cost 1. Conduct ...

Ungated Environments: Best Practices for Parking Payment Providers By Mike Drow, PTMP and Todd Tucker, PTMP

By IPMI Blog posted 08-28-2025
By Mike Drow, PTMP and Todd Tucker, PTMP: Accepting payments, both digital and traditional, in ungated parking environments is commonplace in all parking markets. Traditional notions of payment acceptance become more complicated in new, ungated environments due to the still-evolving regulatory and legal environments. Most reputable ungated service firms will indeed indemnify and protect their operators and landlords from many (not all) of these challenges, but that doesn’t mean the landlord doesn’t have affirmative duties in the ecosystem to uphold. The webinar , article , and white paper , “Ungated Environments: Best Practices for Parking Payment ...

Isn’t It Great When They Really Get It? By Shawn Conrad, CAE

By IPMI Blog posted 08-15-2025
By Shawn Conrad, CAE: I have been fortunate to hear from many city officials about their views on parking and its influence on overall livability, growth, and economic development in their communities. At the inaugural Midwest Parking & Mobility Association Conference , recently held in Kansas City, Missouri, attendees were welcomed by Deputy City Manager Kimiko Black Gilmore , who shared the following positive message: As Deputy City Manager and Executive Director of Convention and Entertainment Facilities, I wear a couple of hats that make me especially appreciative of this moment. Whether it’s managing large-scale events at our convention ...

How to Improve Operational Efficiency with Smart Parking Technology By David Sparks

By IPMI Blog posted 08-14-2025
By David Sparks: Technology has redefined how to improve operational efficiency—especially in the parking industry. Today’s operators are leveraging innovative parking solutions like reservation systems, smart sensors, and dynamic pricing to drive growth and streamline operations. A parking reservation system is one of the most effective ways to increase operational efficiency. These platforms allow drivers to reserve spots in advance, reducing search time, traffic congestion, and emissions. Paired with a parking management system, they offer real-time data, enhance space utilization, and improve the overall customer experience. Modern parking lot management ...