Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast Recovery Effort Begins
After Hurricane Ian devastated Florida’s gulf coast communities, and it was safe to head over to Ft. Myers Beach, TPS went to Norm’s Parking and Lani Kai, we found that somehow, though damaged by the flooding, their Flowbird pay stations survived.
In order to get the machines operational again, it was necessary to replace the innerworkings by way of a Flowbird conversion kit. This was far less costly than replacing them with new units and also was accomplished in less than one week. Although it will be years before a full recovery, the grit and spirit of Southwest Florida was on full display Thanksgiving weekend as beach goers were already parking at Norm’s. Lani Kai will be close behind when they open their parking operations in early 2023.
Village Of Broadview to Implement Paid Parking
A consultant was brought in by the Village of Broadview to conduct a study as to the feasibility to employ paid parking in the village. After they concluded that the conditions were viable the Village began the search for a reliable supplier and service provider. In contacting local communities, TPS was the obvious choice. Four credit card and coin payment Pay by Plate Stealth touch screen terminals, as well as pay by phone and text will be placed into operation in four off-street parking lots in early 2023. Phase II of the recommended plan will be to install more machines on-street soon after.
Total Parking Solutions Announces Their Expansion to Florida’s Gulf Coast
In cooperation with Flowbird America based in Clearwater, TPS decided the time was right to officially expand operations to the underserved Florida Gulf Coast communities in May of 2022. Almost immediately, TPS secured Norm’s Parking and the well-known Lana Kai hotel and resort as clients. Several pay stations were installed and placed into operation. Both customers were extremely satisfied with not only the quick delivery, installation, and training but also the prompt and courteous service TPS staff provided. The special relationship that all companies aim for has been established and will continue for years to come. TPS will be reaching out to all parking operators and Gulf Coast communities in the area to let them know that they are available and will provide a parking system and the technical service and support they can depend on, a resource that has been lacking throughout the region.
Village of Oak Park Adds More Flowbird Pay Stations
Due to the pandemic, the Village of Oak Park postponed their five-year master plan to replace single-space meters village-wide. Getting back on track, this year they have added forty-one Flowbird/Cale Stealth touch screen terminals to their parking system. Installation will be completed in early October. Plans in 2023 to purchase thirty more will end their longstanding relationship with single-space meters and complete the conversion, with nearly two hundred units in operation.
Deerfield Removes Manual Honor Boxes and Installs Electronic Parking Terminals
The Village of Deerfield contacted TPS in search of a solution to the tedious tasks honor boxes present to their users and Village staff. Flowbird/Cale parking terminals were installed at their Metra parking lots allowing users to pay with credit/debit cards, coins, and by phone. More machines are planned for 2023 as they anticipate their parking numbers to increase.
City of East Chicago Decides on TPS and Flowbird
After a nearly yearlong search, including several presentations, for the best way forward in implementing a paid parking system at their Lake Michigan lakefront parking lots, the City chose TPS to install Flowbird/Cale Stealth pay by plate terminals. Beach goers and boaters will have several options to pay – by credit card, by phone/app and by text. Due to the timing with the season ending the pay stations are to be installed early spring of 2023. Once City staff is accustomed to their new parking system, plans for more paid parking along the lakefront are in the works to be ready for next summer.
Total Parking Solutions adds Highland Park, IL to its’ Client List
Highland Park issued an RFP early 2022 to vendors to replace their honor boxes as the only means of payment for parking. In converting to a fully electronic Pay by Plate system they elected to purchase Flowbird/Cale Stealth parking terminals. Seven pay stations will be installed at strategic locations to cover not only convenient user access for the Metra parking but also for hourly, long-term parking patrons in their adjacent business district. Besides integrating with pay by phone provider Passport, integration with Genetech, their LPR camera system provider, is also necessary. TPS has done this with several other municipalities so it’s a slam dunk. The system is slated to be fully operational November 1st, 2022.
Village Takes the Liberty to Revamp Their Metra Parking Operations
The Village of Libertyville needed a solution for the expansion and restructure of their Metra parking lot system. So early 2022, with the assistance of TPS and their staffs’ experience, their existing pay stations were relocated and an additional pay station added to accommodate the new layout. In this process they are also converting to a pay by plate system so their five existing machines were upgraded to Flowbird Stealths, the latest and greatest technology. LPR integration with provider Genetech was also included.
Wisconsin Dells Replaces Their Remaining T2/Digital Pay Stations
Total Parking Solutions has replaced the last of the T2 pay stations for the City of Wisconsin Dells, Wi. with Flowbird S4 parking terminals. The touch screen model has greatly improved the user experience. Six pay stations were replaced bringing the total number of Flowbird units to eighteen. Another five units are to be added before their 2023 season begins.
New Buffalo, Michigan Adds Flowbird Stealth Terminal for Boat Ramp Et al.
A few years ago, the City installed a Cale CWT for parking payment in their overflow parking lot as well as for boat launching in an adjacent boat ramp. Conditions have changed so they’ve decided this year to add a second unit, a Flowbird Stealth touch screen. Now the original pay station will handle the parking and the new pay station will be strictly for the boaters as well as allowing for the purchase bags of ice.
End of Life for T2 Parking Terminals in Elburn, Il. – Total Parking Gets the Call
With everything reopening again and commuters again taking the Metra trains, Elburn saw they could no longer depend on their old, outdated parking pay stations. Two Flowbird S4 pay stations were installed in March and the city commuter parking lot is back up and running. Credit cards are now accepted as payment. As things progress and the volume of parkers increases, additional machines may need to be added.
Total Parking Wins Bid to Upgrade Crystal Lake to Flowbird Stealth Touch Screen Pay Stations
The City of Crystal Lake advertised a competitive bid for the replacement of their fifteen-year-old Cale 104XL pay stations. The choice was clear. Eight Flowbird Stealth machines with the user-friendly touch screen have provided the City and its’ commuters with an overdue upgrade. The City will consider adding more machines over time as they expect more commuters to travel to Chicago.
Muskego, Wi. Decides on Total Parking for their Solution
Several years ago, the City installed Parkeon Stradas to provide a payment mechanism for both parking and boat launching. Seeing that it was time to go in another direction, they called their neighbors in nearby Lake Geneva, one of Total Parking largest customers with 50+ pay stations. The recommendation was loud and clear, call Total Parking Solutions. Two Flowbird Stealth were ordered with expedited shipping so installation could be done before the boating season began.
City of Evanston is now 100% Multi-Space with TPS and Flowbird
After years of planning and maneuvering to deliver a city-wide, uniform parking program for the City and it’s residents, staff purchased the final twenty eight Flowbird CWT S3 pay stations to complete the goal. This brings their total to one hundred seventy pay stations. Part of the final step was instituting paid parking at their beaches. A successful trial was run last August opening the door to move forward with outfitting the rest of the shoreline with pay stations and signage. Congratulations to Evanston on a job well done.