CLEVELAND – Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is catching on with a trend that is in several airports already. The airport introduced a new program that takes some of the hassle out of finding parking.
The new system uses sensors to guide drivers to open spaces in the hourly/daily garage. As air travelers enter the garage, signs indicate the total number of parking spaces available. At each level, lights over each spot indicate whether they are open or occupied.
According to airport officials, pricing is also changing in the garage. After 72 hours, the short term rate drops to the long-term rate.
The upgrades are part of a $24 million plan to improve parking. The next phase is set for July, when the long-term garage will be torn down and replaced with a 1,000-space lot.
According to the Maryland Aviation Administration, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport was the first to use smart parking technology. The smart-park system is now used at several airports across the country.
