The city of Boston has completed the installation of smart parking sensors and time to destination signs in the Innovation District.
The technology is designed to help manage traffic congestion in the downtown neighborhood. The smart parking sensors and time to destination signs will provide drivers with constantly updated information on available, on-street parking spaces as well as the quickest route to take out of the Innovation District to the highway system during the evening commute. Drivers may begin taking advantage of this new technology on Wednesday, Dec. 11.
A total of 330 smart parking sensors have been installed along stretches of Seaport Boulevard, Congress Street, Summer Street and Boston Wharf Road. Boston purchased the sensors from California-based Streetline Inc. The company’s free mobile app "Parker" works in tandem with the sensors to assist drivers looking for local parking spaces.
Four time-to-destination signs have been installed at the following three locations in the Innovation District:
• Sleeper Street, just before Seaport Boulevard driving from Northern Avenue
• East Service Road, just before Seaport Boulevard driving from Congress Street
• Seaport Boulevard, inbound at Congress Street
The signs use real-time traffic data from area roads to help direct drivers to the least congested road at the time, and then to Route 93 North and South.
"The Innovation District is the fastest-growing area in Boston, and it is well-served by public transportation, as well as safe and attractive walking routes and conveniently located bike lanes," Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said in a statement. "The installation of this new equipment will now ensure a quicker and more pleasant trip to this neighborhood for those commuters and visitors who choose to drive."
The traffic management initiative is part of the city’s Complete Streets Strategy, a plan to improve Boston’s transportation network citywide.
